A primary purpose of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House is to increase Native American students’ success at UW by preparing them for leadership roles in their tribal communities and the region. While the UW has made promising gains in recruiting Native American students, retention and graduation rates for Native American students fall short of those of other student groups, both at UW and at colleges across the country. wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House will support students’ ability to remain involved in their home tribes and communities through its social and academic programs and its symbolic design. We envision that tribal elders and community members will gather together at wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House for dialogue, storytelling, and sharing knowledge with our students.
wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House officially opened on March 12, 2015. The site is located on the Northeast section of the campus, between the Quad and MacMahon Hall.
wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House is an 8,400-square foot building that features a gathering hall for 600, a large kitchen that accommodates teaching space for indigenous food preparation and a meeting space. This building and the current outdoor gathering circle complete the first phase of the project.
