What is the Faculty Field Tour?
The UW Faculty Field Tour is a five-day immersive tour of the state of Washington, designed for faculty members who are new to the state and to the University.
Covering roughly 1,000 miles, the tour takes you from Washington’s west side over its towering mountains and through its agricultural heartland. The Faculty Field Tour is a unique opportunity to meet other new faculty from various disciplines and campuses, learn about the communities that UW students come from and talk one-on-one with University leaders.
Destinations include
Olympia
Visit the state Capitol to converse with Washington’s elected officials, some of whom are UW alumni.
Mount St. Helens
Explore gorgeous scenery as you learn about the active volcano’s explosive influence throughout history.
Tri-Cities
Learn about the UW’s impact on Washington’s agricultural heartland at a series of stops including the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic and Heritage University.
Spokane
Take in greater Spokane as you learn about the UW School of Medicine – Gonzaga University Health Partnership, which expands and enhances medical education in the region to improve the health of the people who live there.
The Colville Reservation
Have lunch with members of the Twelve Bands who compose the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation.
North Cascades
Enjoy a walk at one of Washington state’s three national parks as you discover how the UW helps promote conservation in the area.
Past participants say …
“I completed my Ph.D. at the University of Washington and have considered myself a local for some time. Outside the campus, I saw the hopes and needs of the state’s residents, gorgeous lakes and imminent environmental catastrophes, and an urgent need for dialogue among groups, communities and sectors. As a result of this five-day trip, Washington became a ‘real’ place for me that I can call home, moving beyond the image of a picturesque state with a beautiful campus.” — Canan Bolel, assistant professor, UW Department of Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures
“The Faculty Field Tour was an amazing experience. I learned about the breadth of cultures and ethnicities in Washington state, experienced the various industries that support the Washington economy and met other faculty from across the University in a plethora of disciplines. The Faculty Field Tour made Washington state and the UW feel like home.” — Sebastian Tong, assistant professor, UW Department of Family Medicine
“Aside from learning from community members, I loved getting to know all of my colleagues across the campuses. It was so refreshing to see how diverse our disciplines were, but also the interconnectedness across our work and our lives. I am forever grateful for the opportunity because even though I have lived in Washington for a while, I never got to appreciate its geological features, history and peoples until now.” — Nathanie Lee, assistant teaching professor, School of Educational Studies at UW Bothell
“The Faculty Field Tour imparted knowledge about the UW and the state of Washington and created a sense of belonging to both. The opportunity to meet and create memories with other new faculty was invaluable. I hope future new faculty jump at the chance to be part of this amazing experience. Thank you to all the great people at the UW who make this unique program possible.” — Stefania Fatone, prosthetist, orthotist and professor, UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine