Administrative affairs

May 31, 2011

UW Medicine goes smoke- and tobacco-free

UW Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center have gone smoke- and tobacco-free as of Tuesday, May 31 — World No Tobacco Day. All designated smoking areas will be phased out. Nicotine replacement therapy and counseling will be available to patients, along with referrals to tobacco cessation programs when they are discharged.

May 25, 2011

School of Pharmacy’s largest department gets new chair

Bridge Endowed Professor of Pharmacy Peggy Odegard has been named the next chair of the Department of Pharmacy at the UW School of Pharmacy, effective July 1. Odegard, who is also a practicing pharmacist, is the first woman to hold this role.

May 18, 2011

UWs new ‘Pact with Students a response to changing times

A changed environment for higher education in Washington is prompting creation of a formal “Pact with Students” that delineates the Universitys commitment to carrying out its vision. The pact states, simply, “the quality of the student experience will always be our primary goal.”

May 4, 2011

Dentistry Dean Martha Somerman leaving to direct NIH dental branch

Dr. Martha J. Somerman, dean of the UW School of Dentistry, has been named director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research of the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Timothy A. DeRouen, executive associate dean for research and academic affairs at the dental school, will serve as interim dean.

Jim Donald, former president and CEO of Starbucks, will be the commencement speaker at UW Bothell, while outgoing Chancellor Patricia Spakes will speak at UW Tacoma. Ceremonies are on June 12 and June 10 respectively.

May 2, 2011

UW Regents approve contract for Michael Young

At a special meeting May 2, the University of Washington Board of Regents approved a five-year contract for new president-designate Michael K. Young.

April 27, 2011

Michael Young: Coming to lead UW is "an enormous privilege"

UW President-designate Michael Young met with reporters on Wednesday, April 27, saying it was a “sense of commitment and excitement” that attracted him to the institution.

April 20, 2011

Planning is paramount as lean times change role of department chair

Sheri Mizumori became chair of the Psychology Department in July 2008, just months before the world changed. Since then she and her colleagues have found ways to keep the department thriving, despite the environment of austerity.

Interim UW President Phyllis Wise has announced the selection of Debra Friedman as chancellor for the University of Washington Tacoma, effective July 1. The appointment is subject to approval of the UW Board of Regents.

Legislative session likely to go into overtime

Although this week is supposed to mark the official end of the Washington legislative session, all parties have agreed a special session will be necessary.

April 14, 2011

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to speak at Commencement

Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius will speak at UW Commencement June 11.

March 31, 2011

Faculty Fund for Library Excellence is established

The UW Faculty Senate has unanimously approved a resolution establishing the Faculty Fund for Library Excellence. The fund could help compensate for budget losses at the UW Libraries, and return the Libraries to their previous ranking.

March 30, 2011

Enterprise Data Warehouse, financial ‘cube make it easier to work with data at the UW

Two important developments are making it easier for users to access and analyze data at the UW: The growth and maturity of the Enterprise Data Warehouse, a central repository of institutional data; and the development of enterprise reports and the financial “cube,” a tool that permits data analysis in multiple dimensions.

Nearly 150 initiatives in at least 82 units are under way to improve those units effectiveness and, in most cases, reduce costs. Those are the results of a January survey by the Organizational Effectiveness Initiative.

March 9, 2011

House sets March 21 as budget deadline; no date set in Senate

With the state legislative session at about the halfway mark, many policy bills of interest to the UW remain alive, while other bills that have financial implications will remain in play until the legislature concludes its work by adopting the 2011-13 biennial budget.

March 2, 2011

Faculty Senate will consider endorsing Faculty Fund for Library Excellence

The Faculty Fund for Library Excellence would accept donations for current and emeritus faculty members.

February 16, 2011

UW College of Education states bold intentions with ‘Vision for 2015 strategic plan

Innovation, diversity, collaboration, evidence-based research and the flexibility to stay current in a changing world — a bold plan of action to keep the college relevant and competitive in coming years.

A marine microbiologist and faculty member since 1996, Armbrust will lead a school with 50 faculty and 100 staff.

February 2, 2011

Ballmer gift establishes first endowed deanship in social work

The UW has received a gift to establish the nations first endowed deanship in social work at a public university. On Jan. 20, Dean Edwina (Eddie) Uehara became the inaugural holder of the Ballmer Endowed Deanship in Social Work.

January 26, 2011

UW pledges $5 million to help make ‘Intellectual House a reality

The UW has pledged $5 million to match gifts made to support the $10.6 million UW Intellectual House budget, Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity Sheila Edwards Lange announced. The longhouse-style facility is designed as a learning and gathering space for Native Americans on campus.

University presses receive collaborative grant to support Art History Publishing Initiative

The University of Washington Press and three other academic presses have been awarded a collaborative publishing grant of $1.257 million from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to publish first books by scholars in the field of art history.

At his annual address, Paul Ramsey will review the challenges and achievements of the past year at UW Medicine, and talk about future directions locally, regionally, and globally.

January 25, 2011

Its all budget all the time at the state Legislature

“The budget is absorbing all the conversations in both houses and in both parties,” said Margaret Shepherd, UW director of state relations, during a Skype session from her office in Olympia Jan. 24. “Higher education continues to be a focus of those discussions, and there is broad agreement that ‘something needs to be done. At this point, there is not much agreement on what that something is.”

January 18, 2011

UW Medicine, Valley Medical Center to explore strategic alliance

On Tuesday, Jan. 18, the chief executive officers of UW Medicine and Valley Medical Center announced the signing of a non-binding Letter of Intent to explore a strategic alliance in which Valley Medical Center, Public Hospital District #1 of King County County, would join UW Medicine.

January 12, 2011

The Organizational Effectiveness Initiative: Seeking to save money while preserving quality

While legislators meet in Olympia, the Organizational Effectiveness Initiative looks for a “sustainable academic business plan” to carry the UW to a secure future. Its part the Two Years to Two Decades Initiative.

January 5, 2011

Everything you always wanted to know about UW policies: See the new UW Policy Directory

The Rules Coordination Office has finally brought the often-unwieldy world of institutional policies into the 21st century with the creation of the UW Policy Directory. The new site includes many documents that formerly were in the University Handbook, but much more besides.

UW Medicine CEO Dr. Paul Ramsey talks with UW Today about the latest developments in academic medicine at the University. See what’s on the list of institutional –and his personal — resolutions for the year ahead.

December 8, 2010

UW Medicine CEO Dr. Paul Ramsey to give annual address Jan. 31

Dr. Paul G. Ramsey will discuss the challenges ahead as well as major developments in the past year at UW Medicine.

December 1, 2010

New measures introduced to make travel abroad safer for UW community

In 2011, all students who participate in programs abroad offered through International Programs & Exchanges will be required to purchase study abroad insurance as part of a new program designed to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff who travel on University of Washington related study or business.

November 30, 2010