Peninsula College is proud to unveil culturally relevant wayfinding signs to further promote a sense of equity, inclusion, and belonging for everyone who visits campus.
Campus wayfinding has been noted as a concern in frequent student satisfaction and campus climate surveys. There are six signs at the Port Angeles campus and one at the Forks campus. The Port Angeles campus signs include maps of the campus to help students and college guests navigate their visit.
The wayfinding signs were designed in collaboration with the Tribal Advisory Group which included Tribal representatives from the six Sovereign Nations that the college most directly serves: Hoh, Quileute, Makah, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Jamestown S’Klallam, and Lower Elwha Klallam.
Together the Tribal Advisory Group and Indigenous language experts choose words of welcome and encouragement that were included on the signs in Klallam/S’Klallam, Makah, and Quileute and Hoh languages. Also included on each sign is a territory acknowledgement and recognition of Tribal sovereignty.
“We are deeply grateful for the Tribal Advisory Group’s dedicated consultation throughout the completion of this project,” said President Suzy Ames. “This collaboration further cultivates a sense of equity, inclusion, and belonging in our college community. We are committed to a shared vision of educational access and success.”
The signs were funded through a grant to improve student engagement, equity and inclusion across PC’s campuses. The total cost of the Peninsula College Pathways to Completions and Equity (PACE) Project was $2,762,938, with the US Department of Education funding 81% of total costs ($2,227,618), and Peninsula College contributing the remaining 19% ($535,320) of project costs. Other projects funded with the PACE grant were the development of the veteran’s center and improved technology for students with disabilities.