Commitment to Diversity

At its best, the University of Wisconsin–Madison brand succeeds in representing the vibrant, energetic, diverse, and inclusive atmosphere on campus. Our brand is embodied every day by our students, faculty, staff, alumni, friends, and visitors. It is imperative that the content and materials we produce across all platforms accurately reflect our diverse campus community as well as our personal and institutional commitments to creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable place to learn, work, and visit.

Institutional Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW–Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinions enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. The University of Wisconsin–Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background—people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.

Land Acknowledgment

For extended guidance on how to develop a land acknowledgment statement recognizing that the UW–Madison campus occupies ancestral Ho-Chunk land, visit the Tribal Relations website.

EO/AA (Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action) Compliance Statement

State and federal regulations, as well as university policy, require that certain information appear on University of Wisconsin–Madison publications, demonstrating the university’s commitment to equal opportunity and accessibility. The EO/AA compliance statement must appear on all University of Wisconsin–Madison publications. There are three official versions:

  • a condensed version for posters and postcards
  • an abbreviated version publications with space limitations
  • a long version for use in catalogs and employee information, recruiting materials, and other official publications

Condensed Version

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is an equal opportunity and affirmative action educator and employer.

Abbreviated Version

The University of Wisconsin–Madison does not discriminate in its employment practices and programs and activities on a variety of bases including but not limited to: age, color, disability, national origin, race, or sex. For information on all covered bases, the names of the Title IX and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinators, and the processes for how to file a complaint alleging discrimination, please contact the Office of Compliance, 361 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison WI 53706, Voice 608-265-6018, (relay calls accepted); Email: uwcomplianceoffice@wisc.edu.

Long version

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is committed to providing equal opportunity and equal access and to complying with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations and University of Wisconsin System and university nondiscrimination policies and procedures. For information on all covered bases, the names of the Title IX and Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinators, and the processes for how to file a complaint alleging discrimination, please contact the Office of Compliance. The Office of Compliance is located at 361 Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison WI 53706 and can be reached at Voice: 608-265-6018 (relay calls accepted); Fax: 608-263-4725; Email: uwcomplianceoffice@wisc.edu.

The following are the nondiscrimination bases for covering students and applicants for admission to the university; university employees and applicants for employment at the university; and those wishing to take part in university programs and activities, including visitors to campus.

Students/Educational Programs:

  • age
  • ancestry
  • color
  • creed
  • disability
  • ethnicity (specifically involving harassment by UW employees)
  • gender identity or expression
  • marital or parental status
  • national origin
  • pregnancy
  • race
  • religion
  • retaliation for opposing discrimination, making a complaint of discrimination or taking part in an investigation relating to discrimination
  • sex
  • sexual orientation
  • or any other category protected by law, including physical condition or developmental disability as defined in Wisconsin Statutes § 51.01(5).

Employees/Applicants:

  • age
  • ancestry
  • arrest record
  • color
  • conviction record
  • creed
  • disability
  • ethnicity (specifically involving harassment by university employees)
  • gender identity or expression
  • genetic information including genetic testing
  • honesty testing
  • marital or parental status
  • military service
  • national origin
  • pregnancy
  • race
  • religion
  • retaliation for opposing discrimination, making a complaint of discrimination or taking part in an investigation relating to discrimination
  • sex
  • sexual orientation
  • use or nonuse of lawful products off the employer’s premises during nonworking hours
  • veteran status
  • declining to attend a meeting or participate in any communication about religious matters or political matters, or any other category protected by law

Visitors and Program Participants/University Activities:

  • age
  • ancestry
  • color
  • creed
  • disability
  • national origin
  • race
  • retaliation for making a complaint of discrimination, or taking part in an investigation relating to discrimination, or opposing discrimination
  • sex
  • sexual orientation

Also covered is any other nondiscrimination category that may be subsequently added, even if not included in the above list, as a result of federal or State of Wisconsin court, legislative, or regulatory action, or action taken by UWS or the university.

Additional campus resources: Address questions concerning sex discrimination to the Title Ⅸ Coordinator: Assistant Vice Provost, Director of the Office for Equity and Diversity, 179-A Bascom Hall, 500 Lincoln Drive, Madison, WI 53706; Voice 608-263-2378; WTRS: 7-1-1; Fax 608-263-5562. Questions concerning disability can be addressed to the Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator: Director, Office of Administrative Legal Services, 500 Lincoln Drive, Room 361 Bascom Hall, Madison, WI 53706, Voice 608-263-7400; Fax 608-263-4725.

McBurney Disability Resource Center: Students seeking disability related accommodations in order to participate in the university’s programs or activities should contact the McBurney Center at: 702 W. Johnson St., Suite 2104, Madison, WI 53715; Voice 608-263-2741; Text 608-225-7956; Fax 608-265-2998. Other resources for disability issues on campus can be found on the Americans With Disabilites Act Coordinator website.