Business Diversity & Equity Program

The University of Washington Tacoma’s Business Diversity & Equity program exists to ensure administrative units, divisions, and schools are intentional about purchasing goods and services that increase diverse spend dollars by supporting local, small, minority-and-women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses as outlined in the Board of Regents Governance Policy No. 60.

In July 2019, the UW Business Diversity & Equity team in conjunction with executive sponsors, executive leadership, and tri-campus partners, published the UW Business Diversity & Equity Charter. Campus partners met monthly to discuss and brainstorm ideas on the university’s commitment to increase diverse spend dollars as required by the Washington State Office of Minority & Women’s Business Enterprises (OMWBE).

Where We Are Now

The UW Tacoma Procurement & Payment Services team partnered with the Office of the Chancellor and the Office of Equity & Inclusion during Winter quarter 2020. Together, we met with the Chancellor’s Advisory Board to discuss the university diverse spend initiative, and UW Tacoma’s commitment of increasing purchasing and contracting opportunities with local, small, minority-and-women-owned, and veteran-owned businesses. Additionally, a meeting was held in conjunction with the Seattle Business Diversity & Equity Team, where Regent Joanne Harrell, the Chair of the Board of Regents Diversity, Equity & Inclusion subcommittee, was in attendance.

In March 2021, the Office of the Chancellor sent the official charge letter to employees representing both academic and administrative campus units, officially recognizing them as an integral part of the newly formed UW Tacoma Business Diversity & Equity Committee. Since inception, the UW Tacoma BD&E committee has convened, and held an official meet and greet with representatives from the Seattle campus Business Diversity & Equity team, and Seattle Procurement Purchasing and Contracting team.