The University of Washington promotes diversity, equity and inclusion as integral to its identity and values and for accomplishing its vision. UW equity initiatives include promoting opportunities for women and people of color to work on its capital construction projects.
To expand these efforts, UW Facilities engaged Keen Independent Research (Keen Independent) to assess, plan and design a workforce equity program that would apply to contractors working on a portion of its capital construction projects. The study consists of three phases.
1. Assessment. Keen Independent will evaluate elements of a workforce equity program to encourage and advance the participation of underrepresented workers on UW capital construction projects. Keen Independent will ask for input from workers, businesses and others through public meetings, in-depth interviews and virtual workshops. The study team will also review legal constraints.
2. Pilot program. Keen Independent will work with UW staff to design and develop a pilot program based on information from Phase 1. Specifics of the pilot program will be announced in fall 2024.
3. Program design. Decisions on a long-term UW program will be made after Keen Independent and UW examine results from the pilot.
Keen Independent Research is a national equity research and consulting firm that has performed similar work for public organizations across the country. Principals Annette Humm Keen and David Keen are directing this assignment.
The study team includes Rosales Law Partners, GCAP Services and Donaldson Consulting.
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