A letter from the Graduate School for Graduate Students –
Subject: prohibiting student catering of required meetings
Dear Deans, Chancellors, Department Chairs, Graduate Program Coordinators, and Graduate Program Advisors,
It is common practice in some of our programs for students to bring food and/or drinks to meetings with faculty (e.g. during annual committee meetings, general exam defenses, thesis/dissertation defenses). It is often an implicit expectation rather than an explicit requirement. However, the differential in power between the student and their faculty mentors means that this “voluntary” practice is actually far from voluntary.
The Graduate School, in consultation with the Graduate and Professional Student Senate and the endorsement of the Faculty Senate, is writing to ask that you work with your faculty colleagues to end the practice. Allowing students to make the decision about catering these required meetings themselves is a false choice for them: many are concerned that they will be punished or judged harshly if they do not bring food/drink. We remind you that:
- We have students dealing with food insecurity; buying food for a required meeting is an undue burden (it is an undue burden even if they are not dealing with food insecurity)
- The practice creates a lot of anxiety for students
- Programs at universities across the country have or are adopting such policies to support students
We are sure that the faculty at the University of Washington is deeply committed to educating the next generation of scholars, innovators, and difference-makers. Allowing students to focus on their studies facilitates that aim. We applaud the programs that have already prohibited student catering at required meetings and encourage the rest of our programs to do so ASAP. Our students will appreciate it.
Sincerely,
JOY WILLIAMSON-LOTT
Dean of The Graduate School
pronouns: she/her
206.543.7468; graddean@uw.edu
