UW Tacoma’s $375,000 Settlement With Former Assistant Professor Jarek Sierschynski, What the Lawsuit Alleged
The University of Washington Tacoma has agreed to pay $375,000 to settle a lawsuit by former assistant professor Jarek Sierschynski. He sued in Pierce County Superior Court, accusing the university of failing to accommodate his mental health disability, mishandling his tenure process and wrongfully terminating him because he advocated for Black co-workers and other protected-class members. The News Tribune reported the settlement in October 2026, citing court records.
This is an individual employment settlement, not a class action. The money goes to Sierschynski. There is no claim form, no administrator and no deadline for UW Tacoma students, faculty or the public.
Last Updated: October 5, 2026
UW Tacoma and Jarek Sierschynski Settlement: Quick Facts
| Detail | What is verified |
| Settlement amount | $375,000, of which $150,000 is back pay (per a UW Tacoma spokesperson) |
| Plaintiff | Jarek Sierschynski, former assistant professor in UW Tacoma’s School of Education |
| Defendant | University of Washington Tacoma |
| Court | Pierce County Superior Court, Washington |
| Lawsuit filed | June 13, 2024 |
| Claims alleged | Failure to accommodate a mental health disability; mishandling of tenure under faculty code; wrongful termination for advocacy; family and medical leave violations |
| Timing of settlement | Reached before a scheduled trial, according to court records |
| Class action? | No |
| Claim form or deadline | None |
| Cause number | Not verified here. Search the Pierce County Superior Court records by party name |
Why Jarek Sierschynski Sued the University of Washington Tacoma
According to the complaint as reported by the News Tribune in June 2024, Sierschynski unsuccessfully sought tenure, which effectively guarantees indefinite job security. The suit alleges:
- He was told his assistant professor position would be terminated on June 15, 2022.
- The university required him to keep working on his tenure application even while he was out on leave.
- He had spoken out against what he believed were racist hiring practices, including in an email whose recipients included seven faculty members who later voted on one or more of his tenure applications.
- Roughly two years after that email, he supported a Black woman who had been dismissed from the Education program, believing she had been subjected to racism.
Beyond retaliation, he alleged the university broke faculty code in handling his tenure process, failed to accommodate his mental health disability and violated his leave rights.
These are allegations from the complaint. They are not court findings. When he sued, the university said it didn’t comment on pending litigation.
What UW Tacoma Said About the Sierschynski Lawsuit
In a December 2025 filing seeking dismissal of all his claims, UW Tacoma said Sierschynski applied for tenure twice and didn’t meet the university’s high standards for promotion.
After the settlement, spokesperson Elizabeth Metcalf said the university maintains it acted appropriately and decided a settlement was the most reasonable way to resolve the dispute.
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Does the UW Tacoma Settlement Mean the University Was Found Liable?
No. A settlement is not a trial judgment. The university’s statement says it believes it acted appropriately, and a court did not rule after trial that it discriminated or retaliated. The $375,000 shouldn’t be described as a finding of wrongdoing.
Can UW Tacoma Students or Employees Claim Money From the $375,000 Settlement?
No. The payment resolves one person’s lawsuit and doesn’t create a fund for other professors, employees or students. If a website or message says you can file a claim for part of it, don’t provide personal information.
Anyone with their own disability-accommodation, leave or retaliation concern at a public university should talk to an employment attorney soon. Deadlines under Washington and federal law can be short.
UW Tacoma and Jarek Sierschynski Settlement Timeline
| Date | Event |
| March 2017 | Email raising concerns about hiring practices, according to the complaint |
| About 2019 | Sierschynski supports a Black woman dismissed from the Education program, according to the complaint |
| June 15, 2022 | Date his assistant professor position was set to end |
| June 13, 2024 | Lawsuit filed in Pierce County Superior Court |
| December 2025 | UW Tacoma seeks dismissal of all claims |
| October 2026 | News Tribune reports the $375,000 settlement |
UW Tacoma $375,000 Settlement: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the settlement?
$375,000, including $150,000 designated as back pay.
Who receives it?
Jarek Sierschynski.
What did Sierschynski accuse UW Tacoma of?
Failing to accommodate his mental health disability, mishandling his tenure process, wrongful termination for advocating for Black co-workers and other protected-class members, and leave violations.
Did UW Tacoma admit wrongdoing?
No. The university says it acted appropriately and settled as the most reasonable option.
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Sources Used in This UW Tacoma Settlement Article
- The News Tribune (Tacoma), “UW Tacoma OK’s $375K payout after former assistant professor sues,” October 2026 (settlement amount, back pay, university statement, December 2025 dismissal filing)
- The News Tribune / Spokesman-Review, “Did anti-racism advocacy lead to Tacoma professor losing his job? His lawsuit says so,” June 2024 (complaint allegations): https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2024/jun/19/did-anti-racism-advocacy-lead-to-tacoma-professor-/
- Pierce County Superior Court public records (search by party name)
Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. All facts verified against The News Tribune’s October 2026 report on the settlement and its June 2024 report on the lawsuit, as of October 5, 2026. Last Updated: October 5, 2026.
Disclaimer: This is legal information, not legal advice. AllAboutLawyer.com is not a law firm. The allegations are from a complaint and weren’t decided by a court, and the settlement isn’t a finding of liability. Check the court docket for the authoritative record.
About the Author
Israr Ahmad is a legal content researcher with 4+ years of experience covering class action settlements and consumer rights cases. He has researched and published coverage of 2,500+ settlements using verified court records, settlement administrator filings, and government sources. Learn more about Israr.