What does PWI mean in INSTITUTES

A Predominantly White Institute (PWI) is a higher education institution in the United States where the majority of students, faculty, and staff are White. PWIs are often contrasted with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), which were founded specifically to serve students of color.

PWIs typically have a long history of White supremacy and exclusionary policies. They often have a curriculum that is centered on White perspectives and experiences, and they may have a lack of diversity among their faculty and staff. As a result, PWIs can be alienating and hostile environments for students of color.

PWIs are facing a number of challenges, including:

• Declining enrollment: The number of White students graduating from high school is declining, which is leading to a decrease in enrollment at PWIs.
• Increasing diversity: The number of students of color is increasing at PWIs, which is leading to a need for these institutions to become more inclusive and welcoming.
• Financial pressures: PWIs are facing increasing financial pressures, which is making it difficult for them to invest in diversity initiatives.

PWIs are taking a number of steps to address these challenges, including:

• Increasing outreach to students of color: PWIs are increasing their outreach to students of color through programs such as summer bridge programs and mentorship programs.
• Creating more inclusive curricula: PWIs are creating more inclusive curricula that include the perspectives and experiences of students of color.
• Hiring more diverse faculty and staff: PWIs are hiring more diverse faculty and staff to create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for students of color.