Anti-racism and equity must be at the core of everything we do. We reaffirm this commitment: that together we continue to combat the racism and inequities, both individual and institutional, that persist at the University of Washington and throughout our society.
President Ana Mari Cauce launched the UW Race & Equity Initiative in 2015 with a challenge: that all of us — students, faculty, staff and university leadership — take personal responsibility for addressing our own biases and transforming the University culture to make it more equitable.
To improve and sustain equity, inclusion and belonging for all at the UW, as well as in the local, regional and global communities we serve, we must directly confront bias and racism at the individual, institutional and systemic levels. We approach this in three key ways:
Progress begins with each of us. We start by not being part of the problem — by acknowledging that we are not all the same, and that recognizing, valuing and celebrating our differences makes our University and our world stronger. Every person has biases, but when we learn to identify, question and interrupt our own biases, then we can change our attitudes and our interactions for the better. We are all teachers and learners when it comes to advancing a more equitable and just discourse that leads to change.
The Race & Equity Initiative works to foster the difficult but necessary conversations and personal learning experiences that will help us interrupt bias and take action to improve equity.
Many deeply rooted institutional policies and practices ignore the social issues and realities of the present. Often these are vestiges of less progressive times, and they must be identified, acknowledged and addressed.
The Race & Equity Initiative is working to change exclusionary or biased policies and institutional practices that lead to and maintain racial and other forms of inequity and deny people opportunities.
The current national climate can make it difficult to hold diversity and equity as core values; to not only respect but also celebrate differences; to believe in justice and fairness; and to hold dear the idea that all people were created equal and should have equal opportunities to achieve their goals and contribute to society. Yet in the face of barriers and challenges, our institution must hold fast to these guiding ideals.
Our University must be critical and thoughtful about its influence in this larger system. Its identity as an institution of higher learning has an impact well beyond the borders of our campuses — an impact that we can shape.
The Race & Equity Initiative is forging new partnerships with community partners to work in a broader, more comprehensive way to address equity and fairness for all in our community.
Equity Focus: story hub
Students, faculty and staff across our three campuses are working hard to advance diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at the UW. Visit our Equity Focus page to read about UW community members who are making a difference.
Campus programs
Programs and initiatives that advance the goals of race and equity abound throughout the University’s campuses, colleges and schools.
Anti-racism resources
Looking to learn more, get involved, take action? Find a wealth of resources, both within and beyond the UW, for learning about equity and working to achieve it.
Campus climate survey results
As part of our commitment to transparency and inclusion, the UW completed its largest-ever campus climate survey across all campuses. Current students, faculty and staff can view executive summaries and campus-level reports. A NetID login is required.
Race and equity is a tri-campus effort
Find resources for the UW Bothell and UW Tacoma campuses.
Diversity Blueprint
The 2022–26 Diversity Blueprint presents the framework that guides the University of Washington toward its goals of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. UW academic and administrative units are expected to align their DEI plans with the Blueprint.
“Our most effective work of building a culture of inclusion and belonging that celebrates diversity is done together, but it begins when we embrace our individual capacity to create impact within and beyond our University community.”
Advisory committee co-chairs
Rickey Hall
Vice President for Minority Affairs and University Diversity Officer
Ed Taylor
Vice Provost and Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs