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The University of Washington Women's Council was established by the provost's office in 1972 to ensure that UW's affirmative action goals were met. These goals included promoting, developing, and advancing the rights and equal opportunities for all women at UW. The council also acted as an advisory group to the director of the Office for Affirmative Action for Women. Katharine B. Thom held the director's position and was an ex-officio member of the council until 1975. The council's advisory role included establishing direction and guidelines concerning the development of opportunities for UW women in employment, education, and extracurricular activities in accordance with federal and state affirmative action guidelines. Members of the women's council considered their work to be part of the larger human rights movement.

Membership in the UW Women's Council was limited to 15-25 women representing a balance of faculty, staff, and students. The council sought to include members with diverse points of view. Appointments were made to the council for a period of one academic year with the possibility of reappointment for two additional terms. The offices of chair, vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer were also rotated in the same cycle. The council met on a monthly basis to review activities and agendas based on the group's purpose and mission, and to discuss specific problems. It often weighed in on specific cases of employment discrimination, particularly as it related to job classification, tenure, and pay inequity; it also researched issues of concern to women in the university community. The provost's office had a continuing role in the administrative functions of the council. Philip Cartwright and George Beckman held the office of provost during the council's life span.

The council helped to set up the Women's Information Center and served as the center's advisory committee. In the fall of 1983, the Women's Council changed its name to Council on the Status of Women.