The Department of Biostatistics Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee is a department governing body of students, faculty, and staff working to foster the following goals: 

• Creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment and community for all department members and visitors;
• Promoting equity and diversity in the profession of biostatistics and more broadly;
• Further supporting students, faculty, and staff academically and professionally. 

The committee collaborates with other department committees including:

• Reviewing admissions criteria and courses with an equity lens;
• Engaging the department in readings around race and equity;
• Interfacing with students and administration about any programmatic issues around equity diversity and inclusion.

Membership

We are always seeking students, post-docs, staff, and faculty who would like to serve as EDI committee members. Your input is invaluable, and it is extremely important that our committee represents the voices in our department.

What is the time commitment?

The committee meets on a weekly basis, with some additional work outside of the meetings. We always have an action item list that keeps our mission moving forward, with some months busier than others. 

To join, send an email to the EDI co-chairs at biostgp@uw.edu letting us know you would like to join and we can provide you with information on the date and time of our next meeting as well as any other upcoming events that may be of interest.

Resources for Students, Staff, Faculty

• Mental Health and Wellness Resources 
• UW Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity (OMAD) Mentoring and financial aid, new student orientation services, academic advising, instructional support. 
• OMAD’s DACA FAQ page Provides information on the rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. 
• UW’s Diversity Main page Primary webpage at the UW promoting diversity. Include links to many other diversity-related programs at the UW. 
• UW School of Public Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion resources
• UW School of Public Health affinity groups
• UW Race and Equity Initiative Provides resources and information related to race and equity on campus from across the UW community. 
• Calendar of Holidays and Religious Observances 
• Transgender Resources for individuals and departments 
• Diversity at the University of Washington
• Diversity Statistics and Policies
• Disability Services Office

EDI Committee Newsletter

The Biostatistics EDI newsletter is a quarterly email newsletter which provides tools, resources and updates for building an inclusive community within the UW Department of Biostatistics. Issue archives will be added to this page as more are published. 

Autumn 2024 Issue

This issue will be available soon!

Issues Archive

Spring 2024

Spring 2024 Issue

Featured in this issue:

• Cultural Sensitive Approach to Building Trust and Belonging

  •  Announcement of an upcoming workshop to be held Thursday May 30 with facilitator Kelli Houston, Chief Equity Officer, Community Health Plans of Washington. The workshop objectives include:
    • Reflect on one's cultural lens
    • Developing and practicing cultural responsiveness with humility
    • Develop a culture of respectful communication in the workplace

• Cultural competence versus cultural humility

  • Featured article written by Biostatistics EDI Committee TA Dhruv Mehta

• Community spotlight 

  • Andrea Rotnitzky, Professor of Biostatistics and Prentice Endowed Professor for 2022-23
  • Deb Nelson, Communications and Event Manager
  • Yueqi Xu, PhD student

• Winter Newsletter Follow-up

  • 'Where are you sitting' survey report in response to climate survey

    • In January 2024, the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee within the UW Biostatistics department sent a survey to current students to investigate workplace selection on the department floor. Interest in seating followed a comment from the 2023 Climate Survey describing an observed racial divide on the floor within the Hans Rosling Center (HRC). Domestic, white students were described as the main occupants of the north end, with open-space seating and desks; and international students of color as more prevalent in the south end, designated for quiet, independent work. 

  • Mental Health and Wellness Resources

    • The EDI Mental Health and Wellness Resources list is intended to help department members navigate a complex network of support services and understand how to best take advantage of the abundant resources around Seattle (both locally on campus and beyond the campus boundaries) to help address mental health issues of all shapes and sizes. The resource list is scheduled to be released by the end of spring quarter and updated before the start of autumn quarter.

• Upcoming Events

  • May 30, 2024 - Cultural Competency Workshop: Culturally Sensitive Approach to Building Trust and Belonging
  • July 23-24, 2024 - Antiracist Leadership Institute, Power, Privilege, and (Becoming) an Antiracist Leader

 

Read the full issue: Spring 2024 issue (pdf) 

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Winter 2024

Featured in this issue:

Climate Survey Results - Summary of the department's 2023 climate survey aimed to measure current social climate and perspectives regarding equity, diversity, and inclusion within the department and identify priorities for the upcoming year. Read the report (pdf) 

Featured members and stories

• Marco Carone, associate professor of biostatistics
• Thomas Nelson, IT specialist
• Connie Zhang, PhD student

Other news and resources

• Meet new Biostatistics EDI committee teaching assistants
• EDI subcommittee on the value of bolstering efforts in mental health and wellness
• Article: Why Give an Indigenous Land Acknowledgement (and How to Make it Matter), American Indian College Fund website
• February is Black History Month:  Art by Black Creators that Inspire Health Equity Work
• The Whole U: Contributions and Events of African American Artists
• Why Give An Indigenous Land Acknowledgment (and How to Make It Matter)  Creating land acknowledgements demonstrates an institution’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. But when issued alone, land acknowledgements are problematic. A land acknowledgement should be coupled with action. 
• These links require department intranet access:
  • Living Language Guide (pdf), courtesy of Inatai Foundation (formerly the Group Health Foundation)
  • Invitation to Think About Language in the Classroom (pdf) 
  • Course Development Plan/ EDI and Anti-Racism Principles (pdf)
  • Teaching Guidance/  EDI and Anti-Racism Principles (pdf)

 

Read the Spring 2024 Issue (PDF)

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