This message was sent to all staff, faculty and academic personnel across the University of Washington on November 25, 2025
Dear colleagues,
As a public university, the University of Washington exists to serve people across our state and beyond — expanding access to world-class education, lifesaving patient care, life-changing discoveries and partnerships that strengthen communities. That mission and the values that underpin it are enduring. These values include our commitment to removing barriers to success and creating opportunities for all.
We acknowledge the federal government’s statements and executive orders on diversity, equity and inclusion programs have cast into doubt longstanding interpretations of federal civil rights laws.
We continue to support diversity and belonging work and programming that are within the parameters of current state and federal laws and institutional policies. Those laws include Washington’s I-200. Passed by voters in 1998 and affirmed in a 2019 statewide referendum, this law bans discriminating against or giving preferences to people based on race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin, regardless of intent.
In our decentralized University structure, we all share the responsibility to understand and meet our legal obligations while also upholding our values. To do so from an informed position, leaders across the UW were directed last month to review their programs, policies, practices and partnerships to ensure they meet the standards outlined in several checklists. The checklists were also one of the topics discussed at an Oct. 30 convening of faculty leaders. These reviews are due to be completed by the end of December.
These reviews are taking place in the context of work that began three years ago to better support civil rights compliance across our decentralized institution. The checklist on programs and activities was first released in early 2024 at the request of unit diversity leaders. Two additional checklists — one on employment and training and one on admissions and scholarships — were developed earlier this quarter to address frequent questions in these areas. They are intended to guide UW leaders, managers and employees on how to appropriately construct programs and engage in activities that uphold our shared responsibility — and our shared value — of access for all.
We remain committed to ensuring our University is a beacon of opportunity for our students, of hope for our patients, and of progress for communities across Washington and beyond. Thank you for your shared commitment to those goals and for the work you do every day to make them a reality.
Sincerely,
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