Before we all go into intense end-of-quarter mode, I wanted to share some updates with you.

Harlan Patterson and I just returned from a meeting of the UW Architectural Commission with the good news that they have approved design development for the Prairie Line Trail-UWT Station.  This means that we will be able to break ground in the spring and, by the following spring, will have a spectacular urban park running the length of campus along the railroad tracks.

The Provost’s visit to UW Tacoma last week was well appreciated by all.  She felt the wonderful “vibe” of UW Tacoma, and many of you had your first chance to see this warm, wise, witty woman in action.  We are fortunate to have such a provost.

I wanted to give you a bit of an update on JW’s and my conversations with Katie Baird and Jill Purdy about shared governance and collaborative processes around both budget and salary discussions.

With respect to budget, the calendar is as follows:

• Briefings for the Strategic Budget Committee and Faculty Assembly Executive Committee (EC) have occurred during fall quarter.
• Enrollment projections will be established in winter quarter.
• Budget requests from dean/directors and vice chancellors are on-going discussions.
• Given enrollment projections and budget requests, EC will provide comment on proposed faculty allocations and other proposed budget issues at the February 21, 2013 EC meeting.
• Permission to search for faculty will be granted in March.

With respect to salary increases (cross your fingers!), the timeline will be determined in large part by directions from the Provost’s office.  However, we are proceeding as if we will get instructions in winter, and the tentative timeline is as follows:

• The Strategic Budget Committee (SBC) has been focused on establishing values/principles guiding salary increase allocations.  These will be distributed widely in the near future.
• In January, the EC will comment on the SBC principles and will add advice, especially about allocation among units. Also, Katie Baird notes that the Committee on Faculty Affairs intends to circulate a document to units with recommendations on processes surrounding salary increases.
• In the spring, the Chancellor will receive salary recommendations from units for implementation July 1.

As I have shared with many of you, I am quite worried about significant disappointment around salary increases.There haven’t been raises in four years, and it is unlikely that the raises will compensate for those years.At the same time, it is important to appreciate that these raises will be funded through campus resources, involving the reallocation of significant dollars each and every year. We want to make sure that we make wise, collective decisions, and that the allocation of funds toward salary increases meets the test of our shared values and goals.

There is much to think about I trust that faculty have, or soon will weigh in on their unit’s salary and budget processes and requests.

We did not meet our enrollment target in fall quarter, but have a significant number of students joining us in winter quarter. We are inching toward 4000 students. It is significant that 58 percent of our freshmen this year are first-generation. The work that you do as faculty and staff has ever-greater transformational potential.

All best wishes to you as you complete the quarter and enjoy a bit of the holiday season.

Debra Friedman
Chancellor

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:

Each new academic year brings the possibility of transformation. This morning I met a young man in the parking lot, new to UW Tacoma, who is here to remake his biography. When I asked him what he had been doing, his answer: “A whole lot of nothing.” He comes to us – like so many others – to better himself in order to make a contribution to the world. We are here to help him and his fellow students to imagine – and act upon – a future different than the past.

It takes all of us, supporting one another, to realize the possibility of transformation.

To teach is challenging, and to learn, even more so. To engage in research and discovery, to examine and understand something which truly adds to knowledge is a remarkable feat. To work with community to advance our region’s collective capacity for social and economic development takes spirit and determination.

At the beginning of each new academic year we renew our pledge to teach and learn, research and discover, partner for the collective good.

One can hardly imagine a more inspiring mission.

Welcome to the new academic year!

Debra Friedman
Chancellor

Last week, I began my second half-year at UWT.  I’ve been very much in a learning mode, making suggestions and decisions where warranted.  I’ve seen and heard dedication, questions, concern, and a great deal of activity – if anyone here feels exhausted, I understand why!!

In the midst of these conversations, reading, and observations, I’ve been reflecting on what I value most about UWT and what I most want for us.  I’ve approached this empirically, but it is consonant with our formal mission, values, and vision. 

UWT is a learning-centered place, where everyone tries to learn to do things better.  After every task, class, meeting, test, or decision, we can gather information and feedback to make the next one better.  As teachers, students, and colleagues, we respect each other’s actions as long as they are based on honest attempts to improve.

UWT’s influence on learning extends beyond the physical campus.  Our region sees the very idea of UWT to stand for interaction, learning, and innovation.  We can be proud of the frequency with which we convene people and ideas and encourage change.

Learning includes being a part of communities of scholarship and practice – locally and beyond.   Reading and creating externally published scholarship is a basic part of being a faculty member.  Beyond that, each of us can we learn from practices, policies, and their outcomes in other institutions.  Each of us can share with colleagues elsewhere, what we’ve learned through our own professional practices here.

Every single interaction on our campus must be based on respect among the participants.  No one can learn without feeling respected by their instructor and their peers.  No colleague is going to be convinced by my brilliant argument if she feels I have no respect for her or for her position.  Explicit signs of mutual respect – in all circumstances – are requisites for a learning-centered place.

Let’s approach each interaction as an opportunity to learn at least as much as to inform. 

In preparation for possible inclement weather, please talk with your students about the procedures UW Tacoma follows to notify the community about a campus closure, as well as how you will communicate with them if you cancel class on a day the campus is open. Everyone should have received a message similar to the one below. Please remind students that they can check the UWT webpage, their official UW email account, UWT social media sites, call the emergency line at 253-383-4636, and can even sign up on the UWT UW Alert page to receive a text if the campus is closed.

NOTE: In the event the campus is still open and you cannot get to campus for class, please be sure students know where to check (email, Blackboard, Catalyst, etc.) for information and that you have informed your program or school regarding course cancellations. This is very important. It’s awful to make a dangerous trip to campus only to find that one’s instructor did not make the trek and cancelled class. The email below, which was sent on UWTline, contains all the information you should need about HR policies and procedures for notifying the campus about a closure due to inclement weather. It was compiled by Mike Wark, UWT’s Director of External Relations, 253-692-5771.

James W. Harrington, Jr.
Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs
UNIVERSITY of WASHINGTON | TACOMA

It’s the season for turkey and pumpkin pie, tire chains, flooded roads, downed trees and power outages. Here’s a reminder about UW Tacoma stormy weather policies and a guide to information about closures and delays. 

Please keep this for your reference through the winter. You can also access it on the UW Tacoma UW Alert site. These guidelines apply whether classes are in session or not.

Closing campus
In the event of snow, ice or other dangerous conditions, campus leadership will assess the road conditions early in the morning and make a decision no later than 6 a.m., or earlier if possible, about whether to suspend operations for the entire day or operate on a delayed schedule. 

When operations are suspended, classes are not held, administrative offices are closed and events and activities are cancelled. 

If no alert messages are posted on the website or the snowline, assume campus is open.

Delayed start
When a delayed schedule is called, classes and offices will resume operations, usually at 10:30 a.m. or noon, depending on conditions. 

Closing early
If a storm hits during a weekday, campus leaders may decide to suspend operations early. An announcement is usually made by 2 p.m. that day.

Where to get info
• UW emergency telephone hotline: Call 253-383-4636 or 866-897-4636
• UW Tacoma web homepage: www.tacoma.uw.edu
• Alert system emails and text messages. Sign up or update your contact information: www.tacoma.washington.edu/security/alert
• Twitter:  www.twitter.com/UWTnews
• Facebook:  www.facebook.com/uwtacoma
• Check   www.SchoolReport.org for closure and delayed operation notices.
• TV and radio stations will broadcast information from SchoolReport.org.

Messages will be available through these communication methods as soon as decisions to suspend or delay operations are made. UW Tacoma’s web homepage will be updated as soon as possible with an Alert message if there is any change in campus operations.

Missed classes
Faculty should make arrangements to contact students if class is cancelled when the university is not closed. Students should talk with their teachers about making up class time lost during a suspension of operations or a delayed opening, or if they are unable to get to campus.

Missed work time
UWHR's suspended operations web pages provide information about pay and leave practices during inclement weather and suspended operations.  If you have additional questions about HR practices during suspended operations and inclement weather, please contact UWT HR at 253-692-5669.

Inclement weather site:
www.washington.edu/admin/hr/polproc/susp-ops/inclement-weather.html

Suspended operations link:
www.washington.edu/admin/hr/polproc/susp-ops/leavecomp.html

When the university is in operation, but severe weather conditions exist, use your own best judgment about driving to work. Refer to the policy on taking leave due to inclement weather on the UW HR website:
www.washington.edu/admin/hr/polproc/susp-ops/inclement-weather.html.

Additional safety information
Take Winter by STORM:
Tips, information and resources for Western Washington
www.govlink.org/storm (desktop)
www.­govlink.­org/­storm/­mobile/­default.­asp (mobile)

Washington State Emergency Management:
Preparedness for home, work, school; disaster assistance
www.emd.wa.gov

Washington Dept. of Transportation
Road conditions, winter driving, mountain passes information
www.wsdot.wa.gov

Dear Colleagues:

Please join me in welcoming Harlan Patterson as UW Tacoma’s new Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, beginning January 17, 2012. At present Harlan is the executive director of the Washington Vaccine Alliance. He has deep experience at the UW, starting as associate treasurer in 1990, moving to the position of director of finance for the School of Medicine three years later, and, from 1997-2006, serving as Vice Provost for Planning and Budgeting where many of us had the opportunity to work with him.

Harlan has an MBA from the UW, and a BS in Business/Accounting from Montana State. He began his career at a CPA firm and then rose quickly through the ranks at Bank of America prior to moving to the UW.

Harlan is deeply committed to public higher education and the transformative power of education, particularly for first-generation students. He is appreciated as a strategic and innovative thinker as well as a highly efficacious actor. Harlan is known for his success in forging partnerships and collaborations within the academy and beyond. His extensive experience in finance, capital facilities, construction, space management, state budget policies, organizational performance and assessment, and more, will benefit UW Tacoma immensely. His knowledge of the UW in general – its people, policies, practices, and peculiarities -- is also a terrific asset.

I am grateful to the search committee for its outstanding work in creating a strong pool and identifying excellent finalists. Special thanks to Marilyn Cox who chaired the search.

I am delighted to welcome Harlan to the leadership team. We have critical work to do to ensure the firm financial footing of UW Tacoma into the future, and I can’t imagine a better partner for that challenge.