Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SET

Misson

The School of Engineering & Technology (SET) at the University of Washington Tacoma, provides focus for the rapid development of high-technology academic programs which serve the needs of the state of Washington. Launched in 2001, SET has supported the community by building facilities, classrooms and labs. Through innovative partnerships with area companies, internships and funded research projects, SET students gain real world experience to tackle the challenges of a continually evolving industry. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) council was formed to lead the school in acknowledging ways that engineering and technology can perpetuate social and environmental injustices, and highlighting methods that can contribute to a more equitable future.

The SET Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council advocates for and enhances education for all SET communities by supporting the academic and professional success of historically marginalized groups, empowering the community, and making an inclusive school by confronting and dismantling systemic racism and all other forms of oppression as we work toward equity.

According to data gathered by the American Society for Engineering Education in 2018, many minority groups are severely underrepresented in engineering and technology undergraduate programs in the U.S.. While more than 50% of the U.S. population is female, women are severely underrepresented in engineering undergraduate programs. For the 2020-21 academic year, 17.3% of undergraduate students were female, while 38.7% of graduate students were female.

Summary

During the 2021-2022 Academic Year, the SET JEDI group and faculty are working on many things:

1. Developing a long-term Diversity Action Plan for SET.
2. Faculty from most units are participating in a reading group for “Black, Brown, and Bruised” by Ebony McGee.
3. Faculty and staff are working to address the action items identified by the UWT Climate Survey.
4. SET is developing a seminar series to support invited research talks from underrepresented experts.

During the 2020-2021 Academic Year, the DEI Council focused on several areas:

1. Structuring the DEI Council for long term support in the School of Engineering and Technology, and adopting the informal name of JEDI (Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion) Council.
2. Reviewing the UWT Climate Survey and creating actionable recommendations for SET based on research and discussion of five key questions.
3. Proposing language and updates to the promotion and tenure documents in the School of Engineering and Technology for consideration by the faculty council.