For someone who volunteers his time at the UW, Dennis Lang, guiding light behind the Disability Studies Program, has made a tremendous mark on the University. It was Lang’s activism in part that resulted in the program’s creation. Then just as he expected his part was done, he was — quite fittingly it seems — he became the founding director of the Program

Time: 1/1/2008

Twenty-two dancers converged on the UW Aug. 9-14, 2010. five of them in wheelchairs. The occasion was the Integrated Dance Summer Intensive, and the aim was to share processes whereby dance can be made more accessible to those with disabilities. 

The intensive is organized by Jurg Koch, assistant professor of dance. He first created such an intensive in 2005.  See full article here: 

http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/id/59829

Time: 1/1/2010

On January 22, 1855, Chief Si’ahl of the Duwamish, along with other chiefs and delegates of tribes, bands, and villages in the Puget Sound region, and Isaac Stevens (1818-1862), Governor of Washington Territory, signed the Point Elliott Treaty.  Through the Point Elliott Treaty, the region’s Native peoples ceded lands they had lived on for thousands of years.  The United States Senate ratified the Treaty in 1859.  Both the 1861 and the present campus were built on these lands. Today the UW is honoring the original Native occupants of these lands with the construction of an Intellectual House, a longhouse-style facility.

For more information:  http://www.duwamishtribe.org/elliottreaty.html

Time: 1/1/1855

Hope, a special canine mascot at the UW, is safely back at home after wandering alone in the wilds for two days last month.

Named by low-income, disadvantaged middle school students enrolled in the GEAR UP program when they were on campus last summer (Web Site), Hope was rescued by Burlington Northern Santa Fe engineer Randy Golubic and conductor Dale Wallem. The 1-year old husky was hungry and tired, but otherwise in good shape.

Hope was on a hiking trip with neighbors when she took off after a deer outside of Scenic, on the Deception Falls trail. Friends began a frantic search for the young Siberian husky that lasted two solid days.

Finally, Eastbound Burlington Northern Santa Fe engineer Reggie Anderson spotted the dog in the 8-mile long Cascade Railroad tunnel on his way through, but could not stop in time. He contacted fellow engineer Golubic, who was headed west. Golubic slowed to a crawl through the tunnel and turned off the train’s fans so as not to churn up dust. He and conductor Wallem brought the train to a halt and were able to approach the tired dog. They carried her on board and headed for Seattle.

“She was one scared and hungry pup,” said Golubic. “We fed her a sandwich and she slept for the whole two hours to Seattle.”

Luckily, Hope’s tags had stayed attached. A 3:30 a.m. phone call brought an end to the exhaustion, worry and grief of Betty Schmitz, the dog’s owner. “If she had been lost, a lot of hearts would have been broken besides my own,” said Schmitz, who is the director of the Curriculum Transformation Project in the College of Arts and Sciences. “The GEAR UP children gave Hope her name. She really represents their aspirations for college and success in life.”

In a thank you letter to Hope’s rescuers, the undergraduate students who serve as mentors in the GEAR Up program wrote, “Hope demonstrates how sometimes you have to go through adversity, but you can get through it and there are wonderful people in the world to help you when you need it.”

Everyone is happy that Hope was returned in time to greet the summer GEAR UP participants when they are back on campus July 9.

Schmitz offered a reward for Hope’s return, but the railroad folks declined. “We’re just glad there’s a happy ending to this story,” they said.

Time: 1/1/2001

In 2007, UW Tacoma created the position of Assistant Chancellor for Equity & Diversity to lead and oversee diversity issues on the Tacoma campus. Dr. Sharon Parker is the first person to serve in this capacity. That year also marked the start of another new tradition launched by the Black Student Union (BSU):  the Unity Breakfast in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  UW Tacoma and the BSU continue this tradition every year.

In 2008, the newly created Office for Equity & Diversity instituted several new programs to expand the visibility and scope of campus initiatives focusing on diversity.  These include:

• STEPS (Students Together Empowered for Personal Success), an institutional mentoring program for high school youth by UWT students, was established.  It encompasses 30-40 UWT mentors and serves two Tacoma high schools
• The Symposium on Contemporary Native American Issues in Higher Education was created to focus attention the unique ways that higher education can serve Native American students.
• The Memorial Day Commemoration honoring our military personnel.
• The Student Success Program providing mentoring for UWT students by faculty and staff.

Time: 1/1/2007

In Spring 2009, in conjuction with UW’s celebration of 40 years of diversity, Viewpoints Magazine published a special issue to  honor emerging leaders who make a difference.

Time: 1/1/2009

The University of Washington Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity’s (OMA&D) new Ethnic Cultural Center (ECC) will be named in honor of the late Dr. Samuel E. Kelly, the founding vice president for the department and a pioneer for diversity on campus. The UW Board of Regents approved the naming of the center at its meeting on January 12, 2012.

Full story:  http://depts.washington.edu/omad/new-ecc-to-be-named-in-honor-of-dr-samuel-e-kelly/

Time: 1/1/2012

Each year, the Q Faculty and Staff organization (QFSUW), founded to build and facilitate academic and social community for faculty and staff, organizes UW’s participation in the Seattle Pride Parade in June.  In 2011, the Q Center organized a committee to create a new banner.  The banner states:  “where justice, equally, compassion and respect prevail… you are welcome here.” 

Sponsored by the Q Center, Office of Student Life, Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity, Q Faculty & Staff, ASUW-GBLT Commission

Time: 1/1/2010

Time: 1/1/2011

The University of Washington is engaged in a series of planning initiatives to shape its future as a premier research and education institution in the context of changing demographics, challenges of global scale, and tough economic times. As part of planning for change, the University Diversity Council developed goals, strategic priorities, and metrics to guide planning efforts to embed diversity across the University.

The Diversity Blueprint has six goals encompassing major areas of emphasis for diversity: leadership and governance; student, faculty and staff diversity; curriculum and research; and institutional and classroom climate.

For more information, http://www.washington.edu/diversity/blueprint/

Time: 1/1/2010

On July 1, 1969 the Office for the Recruitment of Minority Graduate and Professional Students was created to serve the needs of graduate students of color at the University of Washington.  In the first year, staff members traversed the nation spreading the word about graduate education in Seattle.  In 1970, the first cohort of minority graduate students entered UW and found a home in The Graduate School. 

Through the years and a couple names changes–Minority Education Division (1979), and ultimately, Graduate Opportunities & Minority Achievement Program, GO-MAP (2000) –  the mission has remained the same: To serve our students’ needs while building a sense of community and belonging.  GO-MAP achieves this goal by assisting UW departments in graduate minority recruitment and retention efforts and building a sense of community and belonging among graduate students.

Time: 1/1/2010

Bill Colman, a member of the tribal council for the Nooksack Indian Tribe, speaks at the repatriation of the granite sculpture T’xwelátse, seen in the foreground wrapped in a cedar bark cape.

 Full story:  http://www.washington.edu/news/archive/id/27333

Photo credit:  Mary Levin

Time: 1/1/2006

 Upper Skagit Tribe elder Vi Hilbert (1919-2009) donates her extensive Lushootseed materials to the University Libraries.  The Ethnomusicology Archives have created a website to honor her memory: http://music.washington.edu/ethno/hilbert/

Time: 1/1/2005

In academic year 2005-2006, UW Tacoma established the Diversity Resource Center UWT campus with funding from the Presidents’ Diversity Appraisal Fund.   In 2006 the campus also hosted the Power Of One Conference, a northwest student leadership conference designed to encourage and empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning college students, their allies, and the faculty and staff who support them.

For more information:  http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/diversity/drc/

Photo courtesy of R. Guerrero

Time: 1/1/2005

The University of Washington Q Center facilitates and enhances a brave, affirming, liberatory, and celebratory environment for students, faculty, staff, and alumni of all sexual and gender orientations, identities, and expressions. The Q provides access to respectful and expansive gender and sexuality information as well as social justice education. It is an access point for advocacy, networking, social engagement, resources/referrals, community space, and cross-issue collaborations with Seattle communities, campus organizations, and departments.

The Q provides transformative programming in which students’ intersecting identities are nourished and affirmed. Through it engagement and commitment to intellectually and culturally vibrant programs and services, it helped UW earn recognition as one of the top 100 colleges and universities for gay college students in The Advocate College Guide for LGBT Students. More than 1500 students, staff and faculty have participated in the Q Center’s free “Safe Zone” training, which provides education and resources to help prevent discrimination at UW. The Q:  bringing social justice and fun to an issue important to you!

 For more information, see www.qcenter.washington.edu http://www.facebook.com/uwqcenter and  http://www.washington.edu/alumni/viewpoints/pdf/viewpoints_2007spring.pdf

Time: 1/1/2005

In 2005, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity created a distinguished faculty lecture series to honor Dr. Samuel E. Kelly, the first Vicby a UW faculty member focusing on diversity and social justice. The first lecturer was Dr. Quintard Taylor, Professor and Scott and Dorothy Bullitt Chair of American History, who wrote the assisted autobiography,  Dr. Sam: Soldier, Educator, Advocate, Friend, published by the UW Press in 2010.  Dr. Kelly  attended every lecture until his death in 2009.

For information on the Lecture and other Lecturers in the series, see http://depts.washington.edu/omad/samuel-e-kelly-lecture/

Time: 1/1/2005

In 2002, the Center for Curriculum Transformation hosted a national conference, funded by the Ford Foundation, to celebrate its tenth anniversary.   Curriculum project leaders from around the county attended the conference and explored how both individual work and collaborations among faculty members, students, and administrators could effect significant curricular and institutional change.

Curriculum transformation emerged in higher education in the 1970s as scholars of women studies and ethnic studies recognized that their new research, methods and pedagogies had import for all fields of study. Over the years, faculty members participating in Center activities have introduced into their courses analyses of power and difference, interweaving multiple perspectives on knowledge creation.  UW has become nationally known for its work in curriculum transformation.

Photo courtesy of Betty Schmitz

Pictured l. to r.: Priti Ramamurthy, Beverly Guy-Sheftall, Johnnella Butler

Time: 1/1/2002

Students founded the Student Ambassador Program to intensify UW outreach and recruitment in the wake of Initiative 200, barring consideration of race and gender in University admissions. This was the first UW program in which students worked alongside UW recruiters, hosted events, and assisted with the application, admission and enrollment of underrepresented students. The Ambassadors received the 2002 Brotman Diversity Award in recognition of their exemplary advancement of diversity for the University community. In 2003, the program was featured at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity. Now in its 13^th year, the Ambassadors continue to serve as a model program both locally and nationally.

 For more information:  http://depts.washington.edu/reach/student-ambassador-program/student-outreach-ambassador-overview/

Time: 1/1/1999

The Washington State Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement Program (MESA) provides enriching opportunities in mathematics, engineering and science for underrepresented students in grades K-12.  It was formally started in 1982 it has consistently served students throughout the state and won awards for leadership and exemplary programs.  In 2009, Washington MESA moved from the College of Engineering to the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity.

 For more information:  http://depts.washington.edu/mesaweb/index.html

Time: 1/1/1982

Time: 1/1/1975