Draft University of Washington Interim I-200 Student Policies

The University is committed to extending the broadest possible educational opportunity to a richly diverse cross section of society. It strives to achieve this broad definition of diversity while respecting the laws governing its activities.

The University is committed to extending the broadest possible educational opportunity to a richly diverse cross section of society. It strives to achieve this broad definition of diversity while respecting the laws governing its activities.

I. Applications for admissions
A. I-200 does not prohibit the University from asking for information regarding the applicant’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, and sex on its application forms. It is permissible to use this information for statistical purposes, such as tracking the effectiveness of the University’s recruitment and outreach efforts. The University will continue to ask these questions on its application forms in order to be able to measure the effect of changes in admissions procedures upon these groups.

I-200 does prohibit the consideration of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, and sex in admission decisions, and programs must discontinue any consideration of these factors in deciding which applicants to admit. It is recommended that to the extent it is feasible, programs keep this information separate from the packet reviewed when admissions decisions are made. Although I-200 does not require keeping this information separate from the admissions packet, the separation offers some legal protection against a claim that the program considered the information in making admissions decisions. Standardized information request language is included as Attachment A.

B. Some programs ask applicants to write essays regarding their cultural experiences and educational and economic disadvantage, and, in professional schools, intent to serve under-served populations. Such questions are permissible as long as they are not merely disguised attempts to obtain information regarding race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex for use by admission committees. An acceptable sample inquiry might be:

The [department] welcomes students who have varied cultural experiences or educationally or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and will therefore contribute to the intellectual and social enrichment of the department/program. If you wish to have these factors included in the review of your application, please provide a statement concerning your personal history, family background, and influences on your intellectual development. This statement should include educational and cultural opportunities (or lack thereof), social and economic disadvantages that you may have had to overcome, and the ways in which these experiences affected you. Include your special interests and abilities, career plans, and future goals. [Where appropriate, add] Describe how you have demonstrated an interest in serving under-served populations.

C. Application forms should include federally required statements of nondiscrimination and reasonable accommodation. See http://www.washington.edu/admin/eoo for the latest version of statements. Questions regarding citizenship may be asked; care must be taken in admissions decisions not to use country of citizenship information as a proxy for discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin or ethnicity. You may wish to consult with Assistant Attorney General Thornton Wilson if you have questions regarding use of citizenship. Forms should not include questions regarding disability. If you believe that some disabling conditions would make an applicant ineligible for admission and if you have not yet developed approved technical standards, please consult with Assistant Provost for Equal Opportunity Helen Remick before making any inquiries of applicants.

D. It is permissible and desirable to assure diversity by race, ethnicity and sex on admission committees. For example, a member of a departmental minority committee could be invited to be part of the admissions committee. It is not permissible to review or process applications differently based on these characteristics (e.g., applicants of minorities could not be given an extra review, in part because the required procedure would not allow for identification of minority applicants and in part because treating a group differently on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color or sex would be a violation of I-200).

II. Special recruitment outreach efforts for minorities and women
A. It is permissible and desirable to make recruiting visits to schools, colleges and universities and to participate in recruitment fairs, so long as recruiters meet with all students desiring information about the University of Washington. The University can target institutions or areas with a high proportion of minority students for these activities. It is permissible to assign staff members to make special recruiting efforts aimed at under-represented group members.

B. It is permissible for programs to prepare special recruiting materials targeted to under-represented groups. Such materials should include the statement that:

Admissions decisions are made without consideration of race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex. Decisions may include consideration of diverse cultural experiences and educationally or economically disadvantaged background.

C. After admissions decisions have been made, it is permissible to make special contact (e.g., phone calls) with minority and female admittees to encourage them to accept admission offers. Departments are encouraged to make this special effort.

D. It is permissible to bring applicants from under-represented groups to campus at University expense as part of special recruiting efforts, so long as they are not promised such things as special admission consideration or special scholarships.

E. It is permissible for programs whose names reflect targeted groups to maintain those names, as long as offerings are open to all and publications so state.

III. Educational Development Outreach
A. The University of Washington is committed to increasing community outreach programs to K-12 and community college students, designed to increase the college readiness and participation rates of under-represented groups.

B. Educational development outreach programs may target schools with large minority populations, with high percentages of disadvantaged students, etc. Attendees from under-represented groups may be targeted, though participation must be open to all.

C. Such programs may continue to have as part of their title reference to the targeted populations. Participation in the programs must be open to all, and written materials must include a statement to that effect. A sample statement follows:

Admission to this program is not based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, or sex.

IV. Scholarships and Fellowships
A. The University does not accept endowed scholarships or fellowships that direct the University to award the scholarship based on race, color, national origin, or ethnicity. The University may continue to accept endowed scholarships limited to one gender under specific, very limited circumstances (e.g., some athletic scholarships).

“Diversity” scholarships and fellowships, in which the donor expresses interest in helping members of specific groups but which can be given to members of any group, can be accepted and awarded by the University. Please contact the Development Office or Assistant Attorney General Thornton Wilson if you have questions about specific restrictions the donor wishes to place on the awarding of a particular scholarship or fellowship.

B. Already-existing scholarships or fellowships which specify that recipients be of a specific race, national origin, ethnicity or sex will be reviewed on a case by case basis. Programs administering such scholarships or fellowships should discuss them with Assistant Attorney General Thornton Wilson or Development Office staff.

C. Qualifications for scholarships or fellowships can include contribution to the intellectual and social enrichment of the department or program. A demonstrated interest in serving underserved populations may also be a factor in the selection process.

D. The University may accept and award scholarships and fellowships funded by federal agencies and limiting recipients on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex.

E. With permission of the affected students, the University may provide lists of eligible students to outside organizations that are awarding scholarships or fellowships which include race, color, national origin, ethnicity and/or sex requirements.

F. The University may inform its students of scholarships or fellowships awarded by outside entities and that have specific race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex requirements.

G. The University may assist in the disbursement of scholarships and fellowships awarded by outside entities which have specific race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex requirements but may not participate in the selection of recipients.

H. Central offices of the University may award additional money to departments for subsequent award as a scholarship, fellowship or assistantship to students, based upon the success of the department in attracting a diverse student population or upon their efforts at recruitment outreach. Departments may not use race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex in selecting the ultimate recipients of the scholarships.

V. Bridge Programs

A. Bridge programs are defined as those offered to persons after their acceptance to the University but before their regular enrollment. They may continue to be offered as a form of educational development outreach, but participation must be open to all admittees meeting the requirements. For example, if the programs are designed to provide compensatory study skills to persons admitted with educational or economic disadvantages, then all persons with those characteristics must be included, regardless of their race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex.

B. Bridge programs previously tied to special admission based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex must alter their purpose and eligibility to reflect the required changes in the admission procedure.

VI. Post-enrollment classes and programs
A. No class or other University-sponsored program or event will be limited in participation on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, or sex.

B. Enrollment in classes may be limited for a variety of factors, such as only to those with or without certain prerequisites or to those above or below certain grades in prerequisite courses.

C. Programs whose purpose has been to increase the representation and retention of under-represented groups may continue to have this purpose and to have as part of their title reference to the targeted populations. Participation in the programs may not be limited to members of the under-represented groups, and written materials must make reference to this fact. A sample statement follows:

Participation in this program is not based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity or sex.

C. Student organizations will continue to be required to adhere to the University nondiscrimination policy.

D. It is permissible for University programs to sponsor programs, events, receptions, email lists, etc., targeted to certain groups on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, or sex, so long as no member of the University community is barred from participation on those bases. (See appendices below.) ¶