Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility (DEIA)

The William E. Boeing Department of Aeronautics & Astronautics is committed to creating and maintaining an educational and professional environment that uplifts people from marginalized backgrounds and supports all members of our community.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are fundamental to our department and to our mission as a public educational institution. Diversity brings new ideas and perspectives to engineering which are critical for more creative, inclusive and successful solutions and innovations. We strive to create a supportive learning and working community, grounded in these principles, to foster understanding, communication, respect, and collaboration among all people, including those with diverse backgrounds, ethnicity, nationality and experiences that are critical to tackling significant challenges as students, teachers, professionals, and members of society.

We believe

A strong education can improve the lives of individuals and foster healthy, thriving communities that can close gaps due to disparities in opportunity and access.
Factors such as income, ethnicity, race, gender identity, sexuality, physical or learning differences, national origin, and faith have unjustly shaped many disparities in our society.
Systemic biases exist in our society and our institutions, including academic institutions.

We commit to

Recruit, welcome, and support faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds, specifically including individuals from historically underrepresented groups in aerospace engineering.
Acknowledge, understand and directly confront the historical inequities in our field and the structures and barriers that have led to those inequities.

A&A's DEIA initiatives

A&A's DEIA Committee completed the new UW DEI Rubric, a tool used to review and assess the effectiveness of DEIA efforts, initiatives, strategies as well as existing policies, practices, and written materials across the University. See how A&A scores now and next steps.

DEIA Committee: A&A's DEIA Committee meets bi-monthly to discuss communications for the A&A community to deepen their understanding of key issues to advance the department's collective understanding of and commitment to DEIA. Contact: aa-dei@uw.edu
Community Committee: A&A's Community Committee meets bi-monthly to plan initiatives and community events to strengthen social and support systems.

Training opportunities

College of Engineering: As part of the College of Engineering, staff and faculty have access to a suite of training provided by the Office of Inclusive Excellence. Trainings include: Anti-Racism and creating a welcoming environment for all; Taking action: Tactics for interrupting microaggressions.
Hazing Prevention Training: All employees at the University of Washington, including student employees, are required to report hazing if, as a result of observations or information received in the course of employment or volunteer service, any employee has reasonable cause to believe that hazing has occurred. “Reasonable cause” means a person who witnesses hazing or receives a credible written or oral report alleging hazing or a potential or planned hazing activity.
Title IX Training: Husky Prevention & Response is a foundational, required online prevention and response course about sex- and gender-based violence and harassment for staff, faculty, other academic personnel, and student employees.

Why must we diversify?

Diversity creates positive outcomes for innovation. We are looking at trends across national engineering programs, aerospace programs, and how A&A stacks up in comparison.

See our stats

UW Resources

The Civil Rights Compliance Office (CRC) is responsible for compliance with civil rights laws and University policy. Federal and state laws collectively prohibit discrimination based on protected characteristics, including age, citizenship, disability, national origin or shared ancestry, race, sex, gender, veteran status, and more. ORC serves the University by making it welcoming to all through education, compassionate response, and fair and timely resolution.
The Civil Rights & Title IX Reporting Form is the UW’s central reporting form for concerns that may violate federal and state nondiscrimination laws. These laws prohibit sexual misconduct, and discrimination and harassment based on protected characteristics.
The Office of the Ombud serves the UW community by providing high quality, client-focused services for preventing, managing, navigating and resolving conflict at the UW. We act as thought-partners with clients to assist them in navigating any issue to do with their lives at the UW. Through active participation in the problem-solving process, clients develop the ability to prevent, manage, and resolve future conflicts.
The Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) creates pathways for diverse populations to access postsecondary opportunities, nurture and support their academic success, and cultivate a campus climate that enriches the educational experience for all.
For more than 50 years, Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE) has worked with graduate students, staff, faculty, and campus leadership to develop initiatives that strengthen graduate diversity, enhance academic opportunities, and encourage and support research exploring cultural diversity. GSEE is committed to enhancing equity and social progression to promote the success of all graduate students.
UW DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) Center is dedicated to empowering people with disabilities through technology and education. It promotes awareness and accessibility—in both the classroom and the workplace—to maximize the potential of individuals with disabilities and make our communities more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive.
Disability Resources for Students (DRS), a unit within the Division of Student Life, is dedicated to ensuring access and inclusion for all students with disabilities on the Seattle campus enrolled in our undergraduate, graduate, professional, Evening Degree and Access programs for over 45 years. DRS serves 5,000+ students with either temporary or permanent physical, health, learning, sensory or psychological disabilities. Students partner with our office to establish services for their access and inclusion on campus.
The Q Center has proudly served LGBTQ+ students, staff, and faculty, fostering a brave, affirming, and inclusive community where everyone’s gender and sexual identities are celebrated. It is a space where all individuals can find connection, healing, and the freedom to be their authentic selves.
The Disability and Deaf Cultural Center (D Center) is a physical and virtual community gathering space for UW students, staff, and faculty who identify as Disabled, D/deaf, or allies. We are committed to fostering a safe space for folks of all abilities to learn, socialize, and celebrate pride in community with each other.
Since 2022, the Office of Inclusive Excellence (OIE) has been leading strategic, policy-focused changes to transform the College of Engineering’s culture. We are embedding inclusive excellence best practices throughout our communities and strengthening support systems to make our initiatives more sustainable.

Additional UW resources

You can also visit Diversity at UW for campus-wide programs and information and UW Equity Focus, the UW’s hub for stories highlighting diversity and equity.

Partner organizations

A&A also partners with the following Registered Student Organizations: