Welcome to a new academic year at UW Tacoma

Welcome back for another exciting academic year at the University of Washington Tacoma! If I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you yet, I’m Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, and I have the honor of serving as the chancellor of this incredible campus.

For those who are new, including students, staff, and faculty, we are delighted to welcome you as a Tacoma Husky! As a proud “Double Dawg” myself, I fondly remember the mix of nerves and excitement that comes with arriving on campus for the first time. You’ve chosen a wonderful learning community that will challenge, support, and inspire you.

For those returning to our campus, welcome home! We are thrilled that you’re here to continue your studies and look forward to creating even more fond memories with you.

Celebrating 35 Years at UW Tacoma

You are part of the UW Tacoma community at a truly exciting moment — the 35th anniversary of our campus’s founding.

What began as a bold vision with just 13 faculty members, 11 staff, and fewer than 200 students has grown into a lively campus featuring 22 buildings, over 1 million square feet of active space, and 5,000 students. Since our beginning, we have remained committed to our campus’s mission of expanding access to higher education and driving collective impact across the South Sound with our community partners.

We've accomplished a great deal in our journey so far, and I look forward to seeing what we will achieve together in the future. Throughout the year, we will continue to celebrate our 35th anniversary by sharing stories that highlight the history and impact of our campus. I encourage you to follow UW Tacoma's communications channels to stay connected.

Join us for Convocation — Tomorrow (Sept. 25) at noon

Tomorrow at noon, we will gather at the Prairie Line Trail for our annual Convocation celebration, marking the start of the academic year. This lively ceremony kicks off the autumn quarter with a drum line, information booths featuring campus programs and departments, tasty food trucks, and special swag to show your UW Tacoma Husky pride. I hope you will join us for this joyous tradition.

We are here to support you

UW Tacoma is proud to celebrate the backgrounds and life experiences that enrich our vibrant campus community. Each of you offers something truly unique to our institution, and we are committed to ensuring your continued success.

With the start of a new year comes many exciting opportunities and possibilities. Students, I encourage you to get involved and explore the many programs, student organizations, and campus resources available. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask for help; we are here to support you and one another. Faculty and staff, I appreciate your continued commitment to our shared mission, and I am grateful to work alongside you. Together, we will continue creating a supportive community where everyone can thrive.

I look forward to seeing you around campus and wish you all the very best as we begin this exciting new chapter at UW Tacoma.