The UW System Institute on Race and Ethnicity (IRE) serves as a UW Systemwide catalyst for scholarly research and curricular innovation in racial and ethnic studies. Our primary purpose is to support faculty, staff, and students through a variety of grant programs, conferences and events, publications, and other related scholarly activities designed to enhance inquiry into the phenomena of race and ethnicity.

• Foster scholarly research and inquiry, promote theoretical and comparative studies, and act as a catalyst to stimulate faculty and student interest in the field of racial/ethnic studies
• Encourage curricular development and innovation in racial/ethnic studies, as well as new pedagogical approaches to teaching in the field
• Organize and sponsor scholarly conferences, symposia, and other opportunities to exchange information and perspectives on pertinent racial/ethnic topics
• Develop an interdisciplinary, collaborative network of faculty and staff that shares expertise and programmatic initiatives across the UW System to promote the study and appreciation of race, ethnicity, cultural diversity, pluralism, and/or multiculturalism.
• Support research on the public policy dimensions of race, ethnicity, cultural diversity, pluralism, and/or multiculturalism and share these findings with relevant individuals, agencies, and scholarly centers