Why does the University of Washington collect affirmative action information?

The University of Washington is required by federal and state laws to collect and report certain information for the administration of civil rights laws and regulations. In order to comply with these laws, we ask applicants and employees to provide this information about their race, ethnicity, disability status and veteran status. All responses will be kept confidential in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, as well as maintained separately from your employment materials. Affirmative action data is collected in Workday.

Questions about affirmative action can be directed to contact the EOAA Office.

Assistance with Workday can be requested from the Integrated Service Center (ISC).

Definitions

The definitions below are derived from applicable federal regulations and statutes.

Hispanic or Latino

  • A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race.

Race Categories

  • White – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
  • Black or African-American – A person having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
  • Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
  • Asian – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
  • American Indian or Alaska Native – A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America), and who maintain tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Disability Status

Employees are considered to have a disability if they have a physical or mental impairment or medical condition that substantially limits a major life activity, or if they have a history or record of such an impairment or medical condition. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Autism
  • Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, or HIV/AIDS
  • Blind or low vision
  • Cancer
  • Cardiovascular or heart disease
  • Celiac disease
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deaf or hard of hearing
  • Depression or anxiety
  • Diabetes
  • Epilepsy
  • Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn’s Disease, or irritable bowel syndrome
  • Intellectual disability
  • Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
  • Nervous system condition for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, or Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Psychiatric condition, for example, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD, or major depression

Veteran Categories

  • Disabled Veteran – Is one of the following:
    1. A veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or
    2. A person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
  • Recently Separated Veteran – A veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran’s discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.
  • Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veteran – A veteran who served on active duty (A) in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service in any campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense or (B) during one or more of the periods of war described below:
    1. Korean Conflict: June 27, 1950 – January 31, 1955;
    2. Vietnam Era: February 28, 1961 – May 7, 1975 for veterans serving in the Republic of Vietnam or August 5, 1964 – May 7, 1975 for all other cases;
    3. Persian Gulf War: August 2, 1990 – current.
  • Armed Forces Service Medal Veteran – A veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.