This message was sent on January 13, 2026 to all University of Washington staff, faculty and graduate student employees who are required to complete the Understanding Civil Rights employee course.
Dear Colleague:
Understanding Civil Rights is a required online course designed for UW employees. This course introduces the University’s civil rights policies and practices with a focus on protections related to race, color and national origin and meets a key requirement under the University’s January 2025 resolution agreement with the U.S. Department of Education.
You must complete the Understanding Civil Rights course by Tuesday, March 10, 2026. The course is available in Workday Learning and takes approximately 30 minutes to complete. Managers can view course completion records in Workday for employees within their supervisory organizations.
The University is committed to ensuring an environment free from discrimination, harassment and sexual misconduct. This course provides necessary information for every employee to do their part in building a culture of respect and belonging for all.
Accessing the course in Workday Learning
To locate and complete the course, follow these steps:
- Log in to Workday.
- Select Menu in the upper left corner.
- Select the Learning app.
- The course will appear on your Learning Home page.
To have your completion recorded in Workday, you must complete both components of the course:
- Understanding Civil Rights media lesson, and
- Civil Rights Employee Course Survey (3 questions).
For more information, visit the Civil Rights Employee Course page. If you experience any technical difficulties accessing the course or navigating Workday Learning, email hrhelp@uw.edu.
Thank you for your attention to this required course and for doing your part to ensure the UW community is welcoming and safe for all.
Valery Richardson
Assistant Vice President for Civil Rights Compliance
Compliance and Risk Services
University of Washington