Skip to content
News and Updates

Category: Community News & Events

Current news and events happening on campus and in the community designed to improve quality of life and foster economic vitality.

UW virtual commencement ceremonies on June 12 and 13

Posted on
UW art installations, like these decorated stairs, are in celebration of 2021 graduates. Photo: Photo: Dana Brooks/University of Washington

The UW’s 146th commencement ceremonies happen the weekend of June 12 and 13. This year’s graduates will participate in virtual commencement ceremonies, as was the case last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Seattle event begins at noon on June 12. UW Tacoma’s starts at 10 a.m. on June 12 and UW Bothell’s takes place on Sunday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m.

The interactive online commencement will be broadcast live, bringing together Huskies from around the world, and feature many elements of a traditional graduation. Translation will be provided in nine languages.

To help students celebrate, UW has added art installations throughout its Seattle campus to create special backdrops for photos with family and friends (think plentiful large block Ws, special banners, and Drumheller Fountain lit purple). These features will remain on campus through June 13. See a map of art installations and learn more here.

Despite the virtual ceremonies, some traffic congestion may still occur in Seattle’s U District during commencement weekend as 2021 graduates visit campus to take photos.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

 

Additional 2021 Commencement resources:

Commencement questions: https://www.washington.edu/graduation/contact-us/

UW Bothell

UW Tacoma

Saying farewell to another successful Tent City 3 stay

Posted on

Forty people living in Tent City 3 (TC3) wrapped up their three-month stay at the University of Washington at the end of winter quarter. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever, hosting TC3 fit the UW’s public-service mission.

While many interactions with TC3 took place virtually this year, careful planning and precautions made it possible for residents to partner with the UW on in-person clinical, academic and service-learning programs, while protecting the health of everyone involved:

  • School of Nursing students and faculty, as well as UW MEDEX Northwest staff, collaborated with University District Street Medicine (UDSM) to hold multiple foot care clinics during the quarter. At these clinics, UW students and residents got to know each other, and students learned how to evaluate and care for feet. The UDSM medical van joined later clinics, in case TC3 members had additional health concerns.
  • The One Health Clinic visited several times, providing health check-ups for beloved pets and access to preventative health care for their owners.
  • TC3 and UW also built community during a student-led focus group, potlucks, donation deliveries and on move-in/move-out days. Students also helped residents applying for important services like health care, insurance and food stamps.

As was the case during TC3’s stay in 2017, students from the School of Public Health’s Community-Oriented Public Health Practice Program conducted a program evaluation of the residency.

Behind the scenes, a community advisory committee met weekly throughout the stay to share updates, discuss upcoming activities and address any issues that needed attention. Committee members included TC3 residents, SHARE/WHEEL staff, and UW staff, faculty and students. UW’s Office of Regional & Community Relations coordinated the meetings, which were also open to nearby local businesses.

Residents and student, staff, and faculty volunteers made quick work of the March move-out and transition to TC3’s next site in the parking lot of University Congregational United Church of Christ on 15th Ave NE.

Huge thanks to TC3 residents, SHARE/WHEEL staff, Tent City Collective, UW Facilities, College of the Environment, School of Nursing, Center for One Health Research, UW MEDEX Northwest, Doorway Project, Office of the President, UMAC, and the Community Engagement & Leadership Education Center for all their efforts to prepare for and successfully host Tent City 3 in 2021.

New outdoor dining area on revamped NE 43rd St.

Posted on
Picnic tables on a city street
Outdoor dining on NE 43rd Street in the U District Photo: U District Partnership

With the pandemic spurring more outdoor dining and recent completion of a new NE 43rd Street, the University District Partnership has sparked a new look between the light rail station and campus, one that emphasizes people over vehicles. The Partnership has deployed picnic tables along 43rd for everyone to enjoy – preferably with a meal from a nearby restaurant. For a refresher on local restaurants, check the Partnership’s handy guide to the neighborhood with information on shops, services, classes, entertainment, places to live, and more.

Improvements to 43rd and the re-opening of Brooklyn Ave. NE set the stage for the October 2 opening of the U District light rail station, one of three new Seattle stations that make up Sound Transit’s Northgate Link Extension.

A special thanks to UW’s Facilities Services who helped paint these picnic tables. This is part of the University’s ongoing partnership with the community to improve the surrounding neighborhood.

UW announces COVID-19 vaccine requirement for students starting fall 2021

Posted on

University of Washington announced on May 3 that all students will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 this coming fall. View UW News coverage for details or President Cauce’s campus communication. Information on vaccine access, as well as information about support resources and campus operations, can be found on the University’s updated Novel coronavirus webpages. Autumn quarter instruction starts September 29.

Health One, a new kind of 9-1-1 response team, expands in the U District

Posted on

Earlier this week, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan and Fire Chief Harold Scoggins announced the launch of a second Health One unit to expand the program to the U District. Health One is a 9‑1‑1 response team comprised of firefighters/EMTs and case managers who are specifically trained to help people experiencing mental illness, substance use disorder and non-emergency medical issues.

With the second Health One unit becoming operational on April 15, the program will now cover the U District and Ballard in addition to the downtown core and Capitol Hill.

Each Health One unit includes two firefighters/EMTs and one case manager from the Human Services Department Aging and Disability Services Division. Unlike other emergency responders, the Health One units can spend more time with the individual in distress and connect them with the services that will help them remain stable after the team leaves the scene. This could include providing the individual a referral to a shelter, helping them schedule a next-day appointment or supplying them food and clothing.

Health One dovetails with the U District Partnership’s existing outreach program operated by REACH. The REACH Care Coordinator, David Delgado, works with individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness to help them achieve stability. Through daily outreach and ongoing relationship building, David helps homeless neighbors access essential resources including housing, health care and treatment.