Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical to the success of our students and are embedded in our culture – from how we support all of our students, including our Black, Latinx, Native American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific islander* students, to how we partner as colleagues, researchers and community members.
To foster a supportive, accessible and welcoming environment for all students, the Office of Equity and Justice (OEJ) provides faculty and staff with helpful tools to create an inclusive community, culture and curriculum, including:
Holistic admissions review refers to practices that promote an inclusive and rigorous graduate application review process that evaluates applicants through a variety of methods, rather than prioritizing GPA, standardized test scores such as GRE scores, or former school of attendance.
Providing Black, Latinx, Native American and Pacific Islander students with advisors who will mentor and encourage opportunities for social and intellectual engagement creates a sense of belonging and increases retention for students. Many Black, Latinx, Native American and Pacific Islander graduate students may be hesitant to seek assistance or may not easily network with their peers.
In addition to a strong financial package, guidance and a sense of inclusion help Black, Latinx, Native American and Pacific Islander students successfully complete their degrees and graduate in a timely manner. To connect Black, Latinx, Native American and Pacific Islander with continued funding and/or fellowship opportunities and resources, please review the Graduate Funding Information Service (GFIS) and Graduate Student Funding Resources.
Equity Focus Office Hours are a series of events hosted by the Office of Equity and Justice (OEJ) and The Office of Graduate Student Equity and Excellence (GSEE). The series features current topics that impact Black, Latinx, Native American and Pacific Islander graduate students and is designed to support faculty/staff invested in the success of Black, Latinx, Native American and Pacific Islander graduate students. The series often hosts campus partners and guest speakers committed to moving beyond theory and performative action and has included topics ranging from cross-racial mentorship to hosting affinity groups to engaging in difficult dialogues changemaking.
The Graduate School’s annual tri-campus summit is a partnership with equity-focused, graduate student facing units across the UW. The summit guides faculty, staff, graduate students, and campus leaders to not simply observe or feel bad about inequalities in graduate education, but to learn the tools to change those inequalities.
The Holistic support series, hosted in collaboration with Graduate Student Affairs, offers quarterly programs designed to attend to the most pressing issues impacting our graduate students. In the fall, we host a session connected to holistic admissions, in the winter we host a session on mental health support, and in the spring we host a session on mentorship.
GSEE: The Office of Graduate Student Equity and Excellence
*Federally recognized underrepresented minority populations (Black/African American, American Indian/Alaska Native/Indigenous, Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander and Latino/Hispanic). OEJ also serves Filipino and Southeast Asian student populations.