Skip to content

Presidential Blog

Provost Wise named chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Dear Members of the University Community:

I am writing to let you know that Phyllis Wise, our UW provost and executive vice president, has been selected as the next chancellor of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, beginning in October. This is a great tribute to Dr. Wise’s leadership capabilities and to her remarkable success at the UW. She has been a wonderful provost and executive vice president and leaves behind a trail of accomplishment, especially in shepherding the University through very difficult financial times and in establishing the College of the Environment. She did an exceptional job this past year as interim president, enabling me to inherit a university that is lean, energetic, and ready to engage the challenges of the next decade. We are all deeply indebted to her, and though we hate to lose her, we wish her the very best success as she assumes her leadership role at Illinois.

Little did I anticipate that my first appointment would be a new provost and executive vice president. Before Provost Wise leaves, of course, I will be appointing an interim provost and will then commence a national search for her successor. As soon as I have progress to report on both counts, I will do so. In the meantime, please join me in thanking Dr. Wise for her work here and in wishing her all the very best at Illinois.

Sincerely yours,
Michael K. Young

Update on Metro service cuts and the UW

President Young has sent a letter to members of the King County Council and the King County executive that paints a very clear picture of what proposed cuts to Metro service would mean to UW commuters. UW officials said the impacts would be significant, whether those commuters rely on Metro service today or they drive or bike on the roadways around the UW that will become increasingly congested with these cuts.

Statement from UW Interim President Phyllis Wise regarding state budget

It is hard to express satisfaction with a budget that removes another third of the University’s state appropriation, bringing it to just half of what it was three years ago. But these are unusual times, and to its credit, the Legislature did much to try to soften the blow and enable us to manage our resources in more efficient, targeted ways. We understand the heavy responsibility that comes with tuition-setting authority, and our Board of Regents intends to exercise that responsibility with great care. We appreciate the Legislature’s strong commitment to student financial aid, a critical component of the complex equation of state appropriations and tuition. As the burden of paying for college has shifted from the state to students and their families, making sure that Washington’s citizens continue to have access to quality education is our core responsibility as a public institution. It will take a strong commitment from all of us to meet this mission.

Join us for the 2011 UW Awards of Excellence

Please join me in celebrating the outstanding achievements of
our faculty, staff, students and alumni
at the 41st Annual Awards of Excellence.

Thursday, June 9, 2011
Meany Hall Auditorium
3:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
4:30 p.m. Reception
Reservations are not required.

The Awards of Excellence honor members of the UW community who exemplify the University’s values with special distinction. While the first ceremony was held in 1970, the origins of these awards date back to 1938, when the Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus Award was first presented. Since that time, other awards have been added to pay tribute to individuals from across our UW community who have demonstrated exceptional talents, dedication and service.

To read more about these awards and their history, visit the Honors & Awards site. Continue reading “Join us for the 2011 UW Awards of Excellence”

Join me for a community conversation, May 18

Dear Members of the UW Community:

Please join me this Wednesday, May 18, for a community conversation about our budget and other issues affecting our University. I will provide an update on the latest developments, including legislation granting tuition-setting authority to Washington’s four-year public institutions, followed by Q&A. The details for the conversation are below.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Microsoft Atrium, Allen Center for Computer Science & Engineering
12 p.m. – 1 p.m.

I hope to see you there.

Sincerely,

Image of Phyllis Wise's signature

Phyllis M. Wise
Interim President