At the University of Washington philosophy department, we recognize the need to take positive steps to create a welcoming environment for all students. Below we describe some of our strategies for improving and maintaining a healthy climate.
Education: We have a longstanding feminist philosophy reading group that meets regularly to discuss a variety of books and papers in the area. In recent years, the climate and diversity committee also developed an alumni panel of graduate students from groups under-represented in philosophy to discuss the challenges they have navigated in their career trajectories thus far, helped to organize the first-ever Town Hall in the Department of Philosophy, and won a small grant for two panels on Universal Design for Education against a Background of Injustice. Our teaching seminar includes attention to implicit bias in the classroom and in grading, and we encourage the inclusion of philosophical literature by women and people from under-represented minorities on all of our course syllabi.
Research: One of our faculty members, Carole Lee, specializes in implicit bias in her research. Other faculty members also have research projects that link to concerns about fair representation of women and minorities in philosophy, science, and medicine.
Curriculum: We encourage our faculty and graduate student instructors to diversify their syllabi by including readings by scholars whose identities are underrepresented in philosophy. See our Teaching Resources for more details.
Administration: We have a departmental climate committee that includes faculty and graduate students committed to improving the climate of the department. This group has compiled resources and developed this website, and is exploring new strategies for enhancing the environment at UW Philosophy.
Climate Committee members:
- Faculty: Carina Fourie (committee chair), Sara Goering (department chair)
- Graduate Students: Erica Bigelow, Jesus Raya, and Natalia Vasquez
Social events: We encourage our graduate students to make use of the Office of Graduate Student Equity & Excellence (GSEE) for social and academic events. We also host a quarterly dinner meeting of UW women in philosophy to build community and address any concerns that may arise, and are looking for ways to build a broader coalition of women and minority faculty and students.
Community: Feminist Philosophy Blog