University of Washington, Seattle

While highlighting efforts to make UW more "equitable", UW's President noted during a recent speech, "With that in mind, we recently dropped the requirement that UW applicants submit an SAT or ACT score, in part because it created barriers to application and entry for too many. But, no doubt, there is much, much more to be done!"

UW's "Diversity Blueprint 2022-2026" makes the following recommendation: "Establish collaborative relationships with central recruitment and outreach services to better coordinate K–12 pathway programs, pathway programs with two-year and tribal colleges, and other initiatives that connect potential students to the University."

UW's Human Resources Department offers a variety of diversity, equity, and inclusion related professional trainings which include an "inclusive pronoun" training.

UW's "Diversity Blueprint 2022-2026" makes the following recommendation: "Regularly offer education and training within the unit that addresses anti-racism, sovereignty, equity, broad diversity, neurodiversity, access, belonging, and other relevant DEI topics."

The university will consider re-making its existing diversity requirement, saying, "We support a re-examination of the diversity requirement with the goal of both increasing the number of credits required and giving it a clearer focus on BIPOC populations, systemic inequities and social justice."

UW's "Diversity Blueprint 2022-2026" makes the following recommendation: "Develop understandings of the history of student activism on our campuses and of the history of activism in our local communities. Incorporate these understandings into relevant curricula and programming."

On May 1, 2017, UW reported that in 2016, the School of Public Health "passed a new school-wide competency specifically addressing the effects of racism on public health."

UW provides a form for students, faculty, and staff to report an incident of bias. (This reporting tool was created in partnership with the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, the Office of Student Life and the president’s Race & Equity Initiative.) 

"The first [hiring initiative] will focus on hiring more faculty whose teaching, research and service include areas directly related to social and racial inequities and/or racism and its various manifestations through history and into the present. Examples include how racism affects health and the health care system, why environmental degradation disproportionately affects communities of color, the role of race in the criminal justice system, and how the marketplace fails underserved communities."

UW launched a fund whose aim is to "support our Black students by acknowledging the harm that systemic racism has on the Black community, take action to address these inequities and injustices and fund a strategic agenda that meets immediate and on-going needs of our Black students, faculty and staff. It will serve as an extension of the work already underway through the UW’s Race & Equity Initiative."

UW's School of Public Health announced the launch of the Center for Anti-Racism and Community Health (ARCH) which would "serve as a community-driven academic hub focused on the critical interrogation and disruption of racism and racialization within systems while centering those most impacted by legacies of U.S. colonization." The goal of ARCH is to "co-develop a structure that includes opportunities for consultation, collaboration and partnership, advocacy and activism, and shared decision-making with Black and Indigenous communities as a form of reparations for legacies of slavery, genocide, and assimilation."

On September 8, 2020, UW's President sent a memo to the BSU (Black Student Union) Executive Committee which states, "After listening to BSU about your concerns and needs, we established the Black Opportunity Fund to fund strategic priorities that meet immediate and ongoing needs of our Black students and faculty."

UW College of Education's Center for Multicultural Education focuses on "research projects and activities designed to improve practice related to equity issues, intergroup relations, and the achievement of all students." The Center also "engages in services and teaching related to its research mission."

UW President announced initiatives to "reimagine" campus safety: "We are undertaking a reimagining of campus safety that takes a more holistic approach and minimizes the presence of armed police on our Seattle campus while continuing to keep safety among our highest priorities. I will soon be announcing a town hall to engage in a discussion of what aspects of public safety can be better served by non-armed safety responders and/or by those with more mental health training and how to develop a more appropriate workforce to meet those needs."

UW libraries has created a "Racial Justice Resources: Antiracism and Solidarity" site.

IT Connect offers an IT Inclusive Language Guide.

UW's Health Sciences Library offers an in-depth list of "Critical Race Theory Readings" which includes a category devoted to "Children and Youth."

UW's Department of English links to many publications, research articles, and graduate dissertations on the topics of critical race theory and racism.

UW's Human Resources Department offers a variety of "Inclusive Hiring" resources which include "Tools for evaluating applicants" which suggests asking candidates to "provide diversity statements and use DEI-related questions in your interviewing."

On December 20, 2004, UW published its comprehensive "Diversity Appraisal Report" which outlines its diversity initiatives and strategies across the University.

UW published a comprehensive list of "Anti-Racism" resources for "all who would like to gain a deeper understanding of historical and present-day manifestations of racism in the United States."

UW's Center for Teaching and Learning offers resources for teachers who are committed to promoting inclusive and equitable learning outcomes. The Center states the following: "Instructors who pursue an inclusive teaching practice value the diverse strengths that they and their students bring to the classroom, and also acknowledge the systems of power and privilege that shape the learning environment. By teaching inclusively, we play a part in creating a more just society."

UW's Diversity Council "advises the Vice President for Minority Affairs & Diversity and University Diversity Officer and works to ensure that diversity, expressed in various forms, remains integral to excellence at the University of Washington campuses in Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma."

In response to demands to tear down certain monuments, the University said, "We support a re-examination of campus symbols, figures or names that are connected with racism, past or present. We also believe it is important to consider additional opportunities for symbols or namings that more fully recognize BIPOC contributions to our community, especially to our state and university."