University of Washington, Seattle
PA-7: Support for Underrepresented Groups

The University of Washington, as an institution established and maintained by the people of the state, is committed to providing equality of opportunity and an environment that fosters respect for all members of the University community. Executive Order No. 31 - Nondiscrimination and Affirmative action outlines the university policy on nondiscrimination:
http://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/PO/EO31.html

The University of Washington values and honors diverse experiences and perspectives, strives to create welcoming and respectful learning environments and promotes access and opportunity. If any member of the UW community suspects incidents of bias, they are are encouraged to file a report, which will be reviewed by the UW’s Bias Incident Advisory Committee.

The Bias Incident Advisory Committee will:

* Refer those who report incidents to appropriate campus offices and programs that can effectively respond in accordance with applicable University polices and principles of expression.
* Catalog all reported incidents and track for trends.
* Assess avenues for minimizing or eliminating future incidents of bias.
* Consult with the vice presidents for the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity and the Division of Student Life regarding possible institutional responses.
* Work with campus offices and departments to develop strategies for addressing bias trends and patterns at UW.

Depending depending on the nature of the reported incident, the committee may:
• Offer the reporting individual options for consultation and support, and provide information regarding available resources;
• Explain to the reporting individual the proper routes for requesting an investigation and/or resolution in accordance with applicable University policy and principles of free expression.

https://www.washington.edu/bias/

https://uw-s3-cdn.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/147/2020/03/16190723/Bias-Incidence-Advisory-Commitee-Annual-Report-2018-19.pdf

The University of Washington’s Diversity Blueprint articulates the tri-campus community’s aspirations for becoming a truly inclusive and equitable environment for learning, research, service, and outreach. Goal #2 of the 2017-2021 Diversity Blueprint outlines efforts and goals to attract, retain, and graduate a diverse and excellent student body.
http://www.washington.edu/diversity/diversity-blueprint/

Multicultural Outreach & Recruitment (MOR) offers programs and opportunities to attract, prepare and increase the number of underrepresented minority students who successfully matriculate to the UW.
http://depts.washington.edu/reach/

In 2021, the UW announced an initiative to further the UW’s goals for diversity, equity and inclusion, including $5 million in funding for faculty hiring in the next two years. The initiative builds upon and supports efforts University wide and aims to accelerate and benchmark progress on an annual basis.
https://www.washington.edu/news/2021/02/22/uw-launches-faculty-diversity-initiative/

The Office for Faculty Advancement (OFA) promotes the hiring, retention, and success of a diverse and inclusive faculty at the University of Washington.
https://www.washington.edu/diversity/faculty-advancement/

The University of Washington is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty and staff. The Office of Staff Diversity supports this effort by part­nering with non-UW com­mu­nity orga­ni­za­tions to adver­tise job postings and cre­at­ing a pipeline of applicants. Additionally, we assist with reten­tion efforts by pro­vid­ing sup­port to the faculty/staff Affin­ity Groups and by keep­ing abreast of employ­ment trends to imple­ment pro­grams and ser­vices that meet the needs of diverse fac­ulty and staff.
http://www.washington.edu/diversity/staffdiv/

Additional programs developed and maintained by the UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity:
http://www.washington.edu/omad/

The Educational Opportunity Program, located in Advising Counseling Services, is a division of the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.
The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) promotes academic success and graduation for under-represented ethnic minority, economically disadvantaged, and first-generation college students at the University of Washington.
EOP academic counselors are generalists, trained to successfully steward students through the selection and scheduling of classes, exploration of possible majors, and development of career goals. The EOP team also assists students with financial aid, housing, personal matters, and a host of additional supportive services.
http://depts.washington.edu/omadcs/eop/

The Graduate Opportunities and Minority Achievement Program (GO-MAP) has been housed in the University of Washington’s Graduate School since 1970. We take pride in focusing on graduate students of color across all disciplines and campuses.
We foster, expand and strengthen equitable and sustainable environments and practices that promote success in educating a diverse graduate student body.
https://grad.uw.edu/equity-inclusion-and-diversity/go-map/

Affinity groups are supported by the UW as a way to advance recruitment and retention efforts. Organizations in higher education and the corporate sector have used affinity groups as a way to build community and to improve recruitment and retention of diverse talent. If you are interested in building community or fostering connections with other faculty and staff at the UW, we invite you to get involved with one of our faculty and staff affinity groups. Affinity groups are jointly sponsored by the Leadership, Community and Values Initiative and the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.
https://www.washington.edu/diversity/staffdiv/

There are also a number of other resources available to faculty and staff: https://www.washington.edu/diversity/faculty-staff/

The Research Exchange is a place for Ph.D. students and postdoctoral fellows to be matched with a researcher in their area of research at nine of the nation’s most prominent universities. Through this program, advanced Ph.D. students or postdoctoral fellows visit with a faculty member or research scientist for a short period to learn new techniques, engage in collaborative discussion for innovative problem solving and face-to-face interaction between scientists at any of the participating institutions. Visits last approximately one week and applicants will be awarded up to $1,000 for intra-state visits, and up to $1,500 for inter-state visits. The goals of the program are to promote cross-institutional exchange between students and faculty across the alliance institutions, aid students in their search for postdoctoral mentors, help researchers identify future collaborators, and welcome students into the broader scientific network.
Eligibility is for Ph.D. students or postdocs who meet the following criteria:
*are in the Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Computer Science, and Engineering
* belong to an underrepresented minority group (African American, Chicano/Latino, Native American/Alaskan Native or Pacific Islander)
* are US citizens or Permanent Residents
https://www.grad.washington.edu/uwresearchexchange/

GO-MAP also offers diversity fellowships & awards to underrepresetned graduate students. The Graduate School and GO-MAP are committed to supporting underrepresented students throughout every aspect of graduate education, including academic, financial, professional, and social support. We work with various partners to ensure graduate students admitted to the University of Washington are given ample opportunity to succeed.
https://grad.uw.edu/graduate-student-funding/funding-information-for-students/fellowships/diversity-fellowships/

Information on gender-inclusive housing options can be found here:
https://hfs.uw.edu/Gender-inclusive-housing

Gender-neutral bathroom list:
https://sites.uw.edu/qcenter/wiki/resource-repository/on-campus-gender-neutral-bathrooms/