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Archive

February 12, 2004

Notices

ACADEMIC OPPORTUNITIES

Ethnic studies grants
The Institute for Ethnic Studies in the United States (IESUS) invites applications from UW faculty members who are engaged in or are beginning projects on ethnic issues in the United States. The deadline for applications is April 15. For more information on application guidelines, please see the IESUS Web site at http://depts.washington.edu/iesus/ or direct questions to Carol Wong via e-mail at iesus@u.washington.edu  or call 206-616-7518 (leave voicemail at ext #3).


ADAI Grants
The Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute invites applications from University faculty for its Small Grants Research Awards. Proposed research must be in alcohol or drug abuse-related fields. The maximum amount considered for funding is $20,000. The next application deadline is 5 p.m. March 15. Questions concerning the application process or suitability of a potential project should be directed to the Institute at 206-543-0937. Application guidelines are available on the ADAI Web site at http://depts.washington.edu/adai  or by calling ADAI at 206-543-0937.


OTHER NEWS

Faculty Lecturer nominations sought
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2004–2005 Annual Faculty Lectureship Award. This award is intended to honor current or emeriti faculty whose research, scholarship, or art is widely recognized by their peers and whose achievements have had a substantial impact on their profession, on the research or performance of others, and perhaps on society as a whole. A statement summarizing the nominee’s accomplishments and impacts should be included with the nomination and sent to Professor Ross Heath, Vice Chair, Faculty Senate, Box 351271, phone 206-685-2703. Deadline for nominations is March 12.

Notice of Possible Rule Making Preproposal Statement of Inquiry (per RCW 34.05.310)

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 478–168 WAC, “Regulations for the University of Washington Libraries.”

Statutes Authorizing the University to Adopt Rules on This Subject: RCW 28B.20.130.

Reasons Why Rules on This Subject May Be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The loan code for the University Libraries needs updating to accommodate technological change and allow greater flexibility.

Other Federal and State Agencies That Regulate This Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule With These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Agency study.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by sending written comments or inquiries to Rebecca Goodwin Deardorff, Director, Rules Coordination Office, by one of the following routes:

U.S. mail: University of Washington, 4014 University Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105-6203; Campus mail, Box 355509; e-mail, rules@u.washington.edu; Fax, 206-616-6294.

Year 2003 W-2, 1099R and Stipend Letter Form Disbursement
Year 2003 W-2 forms (Wage and Tax Statement) for employees active as of Dec. 26, 2003 were distributed to their home departments with the Jan. 26 payroll. W-2 forms for separated or inactive employees were mailed by the Payroll Office prior to Jan. 26. The address used was the local address on file in the OPUS Summary screen as of Dec, 26, 2003. This is the address that was printed on the last paycheck or direct deposit advice unless it was subsequently updated by the home department Payroll Coordinator.

If you have not received your W-2, please complete the W-2 Replacement Request Form. This is the quickest way to get your replacement W-2. Give your social security number and name. If you would like your replacement W-2 mailed, also give your mailing address. If you would like to pick up your replacement W-2 at the Payroll Office, please say so on your message. Bring your picture ID for proper identification. Because we want to ensure individuals’ privacy, W-2s will not be faxed.



Nonresident Alien Employees and Social Security and Medicare Taxes
If you are or will be a “resident for tax purposes” for calendar 2004 under the Internal Revenue Service’s substantial presence test, you may be subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. These taxes are applicable to all wage payments made by a U.S. employer to its employees unless an exception applies.

Nonresident aliens are exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 3121(b)(19) if the following three tests are met: The individual


  • is a nonresident alien for income tax purposes,
  • is present in the U.S. under a F, J, M or Q visa and,
  •  is performing services in accordance with the primary purpose of the visa’s issuance.

If you do not meet all three of the above tests for calendar year 2004, the University will withhold Social Security taxes (6.2% of taxable wages) and Medicare taxes (1.45% of taxable wages).

If you have any questions, please contact the Internal Revenue Service, a tax advisor or pr-tax@u.washington.edu.

Social Security Maximum Ceiling for Year 2004
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that the year 2004 Social Security maximum ceiling will be increased to $87,900 (year 2003, the maximum limit was $87,000). As in prior years, there is no limit to the wages subject to the Medicare tax; therefore, all covered wages are still subject to the 1.45% tax.

The FICA tax rate, which is the combined social security tax rate of 6.2% and the Medicare tax rate of 1.45%, remains at 7.65% for 2004, just as it was in 2003.

DEGREE EXAMS

Members of the graduate faculty are invited to attend the following examinations. Chairpersons are denoted in parentheses.

General Examinations


  • Alison Marie Anders, Earth and Space Sciences, Ph.D. 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. 154 Johnson. (Profs. Bernard Hallet and David Montgomery).
  • Sanchali Bhattacharjee, Chemistry, Ph.D. 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25. 102 Chemistry. (Prof. Larry Dalton).
  • Frances Bonier, Zoology, Ph.D. 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. A023D Kincaid. (Prof. John Wingfield).
  • Claire E. Cramer, Physics, Ph.D. 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13. C520 Physics/Astronomy. (Prof. Norval Fortson).
  • Charlotte Elizabeth Hirsh, Sociology, Ph.D. 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. 110C Savery. (Prof. Barbara Reskin).
  • Jennifer Lynn Hook, Sociology, Ph.D. 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. 110C Savery. (Prof. Becky Pettit).
  • David Eric Jessup, History, Ph.D. 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. 203E Smith. (Prof. William Rorabaugh).
  • Lizabeth J. Johnson, History, Ph.D. 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. 203E Smith. (Prof. Robin Stacey).
  • Joshua Paul Jones, Earth and Space Sciences, Ph.D. 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. 311 Condon. (Prof. Steve Malone).
  • Brandon Troy Leader, Public Health and Community Medicine – Pathobiology, Ph.D. noon p.m. Friday, Feb. 13. T478 Health Sciences. (Prof. Sheila Lukehart).
  • Mary Agnes McCarthy, Nursing – School of, Ph.D. 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25. T605 Health Sciences. (Prof. JoAnne Whitney).
  • Eleni Michail Oikonomidoy, Education, Ph.D. 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. 122 Miller. (Prof. Geneva Gay).
  • Carol S. Paty, Earth and Space Sciences, Ph.D. 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. 125 Condon. (Prof. Robert Winglee).
  • Spencer Wood Schaffner, English, Ph.D. 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. A101C Padelford. (Prof. Gail Stygall).
  • Dustin Michael Smith, Pharmacy – Medicinal Chemistry, Ph.D. 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. H074 Health Sciences. (Prof. Kent Kunze).

Final Examinations


  • Shenfu Dong, Oceanography, Ph.D. 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25. 425 Ocean Sciences. “Interannual variations in upper ocean heat content and heat transport convergence in the western North Atlantic.” (Profs. Kathryn Kelly and Susan Hautala).
  • Jaerang Lee, Economics, Ph.D. 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. 302C Savery. “Essays on economic crisis and international trade policies.” (Prof. Kar-yiu Wong).
  • Scott B. Miles, Geography, Ph.D. 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25. 404 Smith. “Participatory assessment of a comprehensive geographic model of earthquate-induced landslides.” (Prof. Timothy Nyerges).
  • Satoshi Mitarai, Mechanical Engineering, Ph.D. 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18. 259 Mechanical Engineering. “A Lagrangian study of non-premixed combustion in isotropic turbulence.” (Profs. George Kosaly and James Riley).
  • John Laurence Orrell, Physics, Ph.D. 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 23. Conference room, Nuclear Physics Laboratory. “A search for an electron antineutrino signal in the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory.” (Prof. John Wilkerson).
  • Pavle Radovanovic, Chemistry, Ph.D. 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. 102 Chemistry. “Synthesis, spectroscopy and magnetism of diluted magnetic semiconductor nanocrystals.” (Prof. Daniel Gamelin).
  • Shireen Leila Rizvi, Psychology, Ph.D. 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. Conference Room, Guthrie Annex 4. “Treatment of shame in borderline personality disorder.” (Prof. Marsha Linehan).
  • Eric Joseph Schaad, Comparative Literature, Ph.D. 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19. B526 Padelford. “The romantic outlaw narrative.” (Prof. Diana Behler).
  • Audrey Rhoda Seamons, Genome Sciences, Ph.D. 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. D209 Health Sciences. “Implications of myelin basic protein processing and presentation on T cell activation and tolerance.” (Prof. Joan Goverman).