Supporting Details

Salem, Our Community

Willamette University - A Community Resource

Willamette's Waller Hall and the State Capitol Willamette University enriches the community with cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities and with abundant volunteerism and community service. As one of the area’s major employers, Willamette is also an important player in the local economy and, as such, contributes leadership, support and resources to worthy community initiatives. The University offers hundreds of free or low-cost entertainment, educational and cultural events each year.

Educational Events

The community can attend lectures almost every week of the school year. Notable speakers have included Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Ambassador Joe Wilson, Ira Glass, Benazir Bhutto, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, George Will, Molly Ivins, E.O. Wilson, Cokie Roberts, Amy Tan and Frank McCourt. Lectures cover everything from politics and social issues to the arts and sciences. Speaker series are sponsored by the President’s Office, the College of Law, the Indian Conversations program, the Dempsey Environmental Speaker Series, the Mark O. Hatfield Library, the Centers for Excellence and various student organizations.

Forums, panel discussions and readings provide educational activities, and conferences draw local and worldwide audiences. Willamette conferences this year include the international Cultural Heritage Conference, the Pacific Northwest AIDS Conference and the Sustainability Conference, along with conferences on green building, climate change and sustainable businesses. Films and documentaries, such as the recent “Common Ground,” moderated by Secretary of State Bill Bradbury, are offered.

Retired residents are invited to return to school with the Institute for Continued Learning, which provides low-cost courses, access to professors and access to the Hatfield Library.

Cultural Events

Maori Weaving Demonstrations at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art Willamette offers 30-40 concerts a year, including choral music, classical, new music, folk, jazz, blues, operettas and world music. The Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series brings notable guests from around the world. Willamette is also home to the Salem Chamber Orchestra and hosts Salem performances of the Oregon Symphony. Plays and dramatic performances are presented by the Willamette Theatre Company.

The Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University attracts 30,000 visitors each year with exhibits of regional and international significance, ranging from 1960s rock posters to Maori feather weavings to ancient Egyptian artifacts.

Family and Athletic Events

The Annual Star Trees Lighting in Early December Family events include the annual lighting of the Star Trees, the Wulapalooza earth and music festival, Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations, annual Luaus, Africa Day and annual Social Pow Wows that draw hundreds of Native Americans and others. Athletic fans can attend softball, basketball, football, soccer and track events.

Special Programs

Willamette Academy is an intensive academic program that helps local, ethnically diverse teenagers prepare for college, at no cost to them or their families.

Tokyo International University of America (TIUA) welcomes 100 Japanese students to live and study at Willamette each year, contributing to Willamette’s reputation as one of the most diverse undergraduate schools in Oregon. TIUA also sponsors Japanese cultural programs for local children during the summer.

Sponsorships

Willamette University supports the local community through sponsorship of local events, including the Salem Art Fair, World Beat Festival, Portland Arts & Lectures, Clay Ball, the Crystal Apple Awards, Salem Film Festival, Academic All-Stars and more. Willamette Academy Students in Class

Service

Inspired by the school motto, "Not unto ourselves alone are we born," Willamette students, faculty and staff volunteered 66,362 service hours in the Salem Community during 2008-2009.

Undergraduate students mentor children at Bush Elementary and Parrish Middle School, assist migrant farm workers, and work in homeless shelters and restore native habitat. College of Law students contribute thousands of hours of legal assistance to Salem residents through the Willamette Legal Clinic, MBA students assist local and regional businesses and nonprofits, and students with the School of Education teach children in local schools.

Faculty volunteer as well, contributing to more than 100 community projects, nonprofit organizations and schools, including United Way, the Salem Art Association, and the Salem Chamber of Commerce.

Library / Bookstore / Food Services

The Mark O. Hatfield Library and the College of Law Library provide academic resources for the public, and the Willamette Bookstore allows customers to special-order books. The campus food service, Bon Appetit, has a strong reputation for low-cost, fresh food and for its support of local farmers and ranchers. Many people who work downtown eat meals at Goudy Commons, and a new Japanese-themed dining hall at Tokyo International University of America is attracting the public as well.

Economic Contribution

As one of the area's largest employers, Willamette University contributes $168* million each year to the local economy. This includes spending by the university itself, plus faculty, staff and students pending.

The university provides $36.4 million in PAYROLL to more than 500 employees residing in Marion and Polk counties

The university provides $19.4 million in LOCAL SPENDING, plus spending by faculty, staff and students. This includes approximately $3 million** in local spending by an estimated 15,000 campus visitors each year.

* Source: Salem Economic Development Corporation (SEDCOR) and Willamette’s Office of Institutional Research. To calculate true economic impact of every dollar spent locally, economists apply a factor of three.

** This number refers to spending by alumni and family members attending four annual events: Commencement, Parent & Family Weekend, Reunion Weekend and new student orientation. It does not include local spending by the approximately 80,000 who attend nearly 1,500 events such as lectures, performances, exhibitions, meetings, athletic events, conferences, camps and other events taking place on the Willamette campus every year. (Source: Office of Scheduling, Events & Summer Conferences)