Skip to content

Actions and updates

UW Race & Equity Initiative general update

The goal of the Race & Equity Initiative (R&EI) is to affirm and expand the University of Washington’s commitment of inclusion and equity for students, faculty and staff. The Initiative seeks to advance equity and inclusion on all three campuses, in our region, state, and beyond.

The Advisory Committee has ensured that its work plan has aligned with the goals of the 2022 – 2026 Diversity Blueprint and its six priorities, which are listed below:

  • Cultivate an accessible, inclusive, and equitable climate
  • Attract, retain, and graduate a diverse and excellent student body
  • Attract and retain diverse academic personnel
  • Attract and retain diverse staff
  • Develop place-based education and engagement to advance access, inclusion, and equity
  • Improve accountability and transparency at all levels 

Our work to date includes

  • Hired an Education & Training manager and developed content to support professional development and growth.
  • Conducted tri-campus climate survey 
  • Partnered with Seattle Arts and Lectures for relevant author events including Ta-Nahesi Coates, Carol Anderson, Luis Alberto Urrea, Sonya Renee Taylor, and Connie Walker (2019-2022).
  • Designed RFP for student-led, student-coordinated spring programming.
  • Extended training program to serve up to 1,200 faculty and staff from January through May 2017.
  • Partnered with Advancement on a custom designed training program.
  • Produced video to share UW equity values and provide resources to incoming students 2018.
  • Offered stand-alone racial equity training opportunities for UW leadership.
  • Produced video to share UW equity values and provide resources to incoming UW staff 2020.
  • Hosted 2017 winter and spring affinity-based conversations with UWPD.
  • Expanded school/college web portal to Bothell, Tacoma and administrative units.
  • Collaborated with Provost Office on Provost Race & Equity Report.
  • Started “Elevate” for communicators to meet and discuss diversity and inclusion in communications.
  • Hosted Student Salon with Patrisse Cullors (Co-Founder, #BlackLivesMatter) in 2016.
  • Hosted campus-wide Speech & Counter-Speech event 2017.
  • Partnered with Simpson Center and Whole U for Alondra Nelson (Social Life of DNA) reading and discussion group 2017.
  • Provided funding support for UWAA/CCDE Interrupting Privilege class 2016-2017.