Image: New faculty standing together on the UWT campus walkway.
The UW Tacoma Race and Equity initiative was established in 2015 as part of a tri-campus effort to disrupt the policies and practices that uphold systemic racism in our institutions. While there are many dimensions of diversity, this on-going initiative, led by UW President Ana Mari Cauce, involves a special focus on race. In keeping with our campus-wide Race and Equity Action Plan and Goals, The Office of Equity and Inclusion is committed to increasing everyone's ability to acknowledge and dismantle institutional and individual biases that negatively impact students, staff and faculty of color because anti-racism work is all of our work.
We also dedicate time and resources to support for Black, Indigenous and other faculty of color who are underrepresented in all faculty ranks. Broadly, our support includes hiring committee consultations with Academic HR, social gatherings, personalized mentoring and advocacy, alumni networks, grant opportunities, presentations, leadership training and professional development facilitated by colleagues of color with similar experiences; all offered through a critical racial equity lens. This year we are also coordinating a Community of Support specifically for faculty of color who teach diversity designated courses and/or diversity related course content, knowing that these topics are often challenged by intersectional dynamics of power and privilege which create unique, complex teaching experiences for faculty of color to navigate.
Together we continue to work towards creating a welcoming, inclusive environment that is socially just. As our capacity grows, the Office of Equity and Inclusion hopes to providing additional support to other diverse faculty whose minoritized social identities and experiences - both visible and invisible - have been marginalized in higher education. All of us are challenged to uplift our community by creating spaces and opportunities that promote healing, recovery, and a sense of belonging, as well as equitable accountability systems rooted in care.
For information about how you can get connected to a community of support, please contact the Office of Equity and Inclusion, (253) 692-4776.
