Women's Resource Center
The Women's Resource Center (WRC) at the University of Utah served as the central resource for educational and support services for women. The Center Honored the complexities of women's identities, the WRC facilitated choices and changes through programs, counseling, and training grounded in a commitment to advance social justice and equality. [1]
The WRC was founded in 1971 by a group of visionary women faculty, staff and graduate students. During the 1970s and 1980s the Center was at the forefront of many changes on and off campus. The Center helped found the Women's Studies Program in 1975 (later named Gender Studies), founded a training program in feminist-multicultural counseling in 1994, advocated for campus child care, monitored the general campus climate for women, advocated for the hiring of women faculty and staff, and established scholarship programs for single-parent, non-traditional aged and first generation students. [2]
The Center also played a role statewide and nationally, helping to found organizations such as the Consortium for Utah Women in Higher Education; The Utah Math Science Network; The National Women's Studies Association; and HERS/WEST, a professional development and networking organization for women in the Rocky Mountain West. The WRC engaged in social justice work to help end racism, sexism, homophobia and all other biases that may lead to violence, intimidation and threat on the University of Utah campus. [2]
Due to HB261, which forbids cultural centers focusing on "personal identity characteristics" to offer resources related to "student success and support," the Women's Resource Center and other campus centers and offices was closed in 2024. All support programs previously managed by the WRC are now administered by the Center for Student Access and Resources, while cultural education, awareness, and celebration activities will be administered by the Center for Cultural and Community Engagement. [1]
Women's Resource Center Collection Finding Aid
[1] Women’s Resource Center - The University of Utah. (2024). Utah.edu. https://womenscenter.utah.edu/