Today marks six months since the executive order to end the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program was issued, which, at the time, was the deadline for the program to end. Despite popular support for protecting the Dreamers, there has been no legislative action yet from Congress to create a fix. However, the program continues to be in effect, based on the rulings of two U.S. district courts and last week, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to fast-track cases related to DACA. This means the DACA-related cases will continue to work their way through the courts and for now, the program will remain in limbo.
Presidential Blog
Goodbye to a great alumnus and friend
Today, we mourn the passing of our alumnus and dedicated friend, Orin Smith `65. Orin was a visionary leader and passionate advocate in our community whose love for the University of Washington transformed so many lives. He will be remembered for his tremendous impact on this University as regent, campaign general chair, and member and chair of the UW Foundation Board, the UW Medicine Board and the Foster School Advisory Board.
With his wife, Janet, Orin seeded prosperity and opportunities for UW students across the University he loved. Together they established student fellowships and created a deanship in the Foster School and provided forward-looking support for stem cell research and facilities at UW Medicine and scholarships at the Evans School. Orin’s passion for education and our students will be felt for generations to come.
Orin’s commitment to serving others extended well beyond the University of Washington. He never forgot his roots in Chehalis, Washington, where he remained active in the community supporting projects like the Chehalis Foundation’s Student Achievement Initiative together with his brother Kevin. As Starbucks CEO, Orin advanced the notion that a company could – indeed should – champion and support values of equity, diversity and environmental stewardship. Through his extraordinary leadership Orin exemplified what it meant to be a graduate of this University.
Orin combined kindness and humility with a drive for changing the world. He inspired all those around him with his unyielding desire to do the most good. Our deepest sympathies are with Janet and the entire Smith family. Orin leaves the world a better, more educated, more sustainable and kinder place. He will be deeply missed, but his legacy at the UW and our community will be forever.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Kane Hall, Room 130 and you can read more about Orin’s extraordinary life and legacy here.
Encouraging our lawmakers to reauthorize the HEA
Right now, Congress is considering a number of different bills that would reauthorize the Higher Education Act (HEA). The HEA was first enacted in 1965, and periodically reauthorized, to strengthen our nation’s colleges and universities and expand access to higher education for more Americans. The University of Washington strongly supports the reauthorization of the HEA, which is more vital than ever as more and more of our economy’s best jobs are requiring a four-year credential.
In support of reauthorization, including specific provisions that we believe will best serve the people of Washington and the nation, I have written to the Senate HELP Committee leadership as well as to all of the members of Washington’s Congressional delegation. In my letter, which you can read here, I encouraged our Senators and Representatives to help protect our students, our economy and our future in partnership with higher education.
Marking two years of improving health and well-being together
Two years ago this month, we gathered in Spokane to announce a new partnership between Gonzaga University and the University of Washington. Its mission: improve the health and well-being of people throughout Eastern Washington and beyond.
A difficult Saturday
Saturday was a very difficult day for our campus. Many in our University community, including me, were saddened and frustrated by the precautionary cancellation of events due to safety concerns related to the Patriot Prayer rally, including events related to Black History Month. I understand why it would appear to some that these events were sacrificed to host a group that many associate with racist views that stand counter to our university values. I am writing today to explain the logic of my decision making.
Through civil debate, we can tackle difficult issues (Updated)
This week, UWPD obtained credible information that groups from outside the UW community are planning to join the event with the intent to instigate violence. For the safety of campus visitors and others not associated with the events, several organizations have cancelled or postponed their campus events that day and access to Red Square will be limited. Your safety is important to us and we are taking precautions to ensure the Patriot Prayer event unfolds as peacefully as possible. However, I encourage you to avoid Red Square, and the surrounding area from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday to ensure your own personal safety.
A healthy future depends on healthy global partnerships
Today, I had the pleasure and privilege of addressing the Times Higher Education Asia Universities Summit, held this year in Shenzhen, China and hosted by Southern University of Science and Technology, or SUSTech. The theme of this year’s gathering was “Connecting cities, changing the world,” which underscores how important global connections are and will be to the better future we all have a stake in. This was my second year addressing the summit and it was a powerful reminder that making connections and forming partnerships across cities, continents and cultures is what the world urgently needs. Addressing challenges — like climate change, disease, and terrorism — that transcend borders, disciplines and sectors can only be accomplished collaboratively. In my talk, I focused on the power of partnerships and the special role that universities can and must play in tackling these issues. Full text of my remarks here.
A President’s Circle for the future
Today, The President’s Club becomes The President’s Circle, a name change that reflects an inclusive and broad community of people who act as a catalyst for progress and who amplify the UW’s impact by acting together. With this change, we open a new chapter in the UW’s philanthropic history as we engage the next generation of donors who will help lead our institution in the decades to come.
Through service, we honor Martin Luther King’s legacy
This week, join your colleagues on our campuses in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma as we come together to remember how King served our nation and our world and honor his sacrifice by answering his call to service. This Monday, I hope you will seek a way, whether donating your time and talent or simply in a moment of quiet reflection, to keep working toward the just and loving world that King dreamed of.
Remembering the humanity at the heart of DACA
Since the decision last fall to end protections for the recipients of the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – the Dreamers – the lives of the more than 800,000 young people affected by the program have been thrown into uncertainty and fear. The Dreamers are young people who were brought to this country as children. The United States is their home; they have grown up here, and it is short-sighted to exclude these hard-working contributors from our society.