Category: Uncategorized

The University begins a new academic year on September 28 and welcomes more than 7,200 new students to campus this year, one of the biggest incoming classes in UW history.

In addition to and related to the start of the academic year:

• Nearly 500 different Dawg Daze events will welcome students back over the next couple of weeks, including the Student Activities Fair on September 28 and a $4 Food Walk on October 1 in the U District.
• Football season is underway and home games will impact traffic. Plan in advance by checking the football schedule or general Husky Athletics calendar. Take note especially of the Friday, November 4, 7:30 p.m. game.
• Lectures, concerts, and performances are returning to campus and the U District. Check listings through the ArtsUW Events calendar or general campus calendar.

Happy autumn and Go Dawgs!

The UW announced it will offer instructors the flexibility to choose to how to hold their classes—virtually or in person—through January 28 to help manage disruptions caused by the spread of the Omicron variant. View the announcement by President Cauce and Provost Richards to learn more.

The need for greater access to mental health is a recurring theme in our community. With the recent groundbreaking of the Behavioral Health Teaching Facility located at University of Washington Medical Center-Northwest, our region is one step closer to having more resources to meet this need.

Anticipated to open in late 2023, the building will care for patients in a noninstitutional setting and train the next generation of behavioral health providers. To learn how this facility will serve both the patient and provider communities and the efforts leading up to the groundbreaking, see the coverage by UW Medicine and the Seattle Times.

The upcoming closure of the Montlake Bridge in Seattle from August 9 to September 3 will cause traffic delays in the surrounding area. The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) will be making repairs to the bridge. Please plan ahead by allowing additional travel time for traffic and detours. A second phase involves closing the bridge during specific weekends in the fall.

When the bridge is closed, traffic will be rerouted to SR 520 and I-5.  UW Medical Center locations will remain open as usual. For detailed directions to UW Medical Center locations, parking info and more about the bridge closure, view this helpful resource from UW Medical Center. 

August closure

The bridge will be closed to all vehicles and public transit, though first responder vehicles will have access to cross the bridge. The bridge’s sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians and cyclists. 

Fall closures

The bridge will be closed on select weekends to all vehicular traffic as well as pedestrians and cyclists. During this second phase, the bridge will remain in the raised position. Closure dates in the fall are still being determined but will avoid Husky Football weekends.

To learn more about the Montlake Bridge repair and closures, see WSDOT’s project home page or view this post from UW Transportation Services.

The UW’s 146^th commencement ceremonies happen the weekend of June 12 and 13. This year’s graduates will participate in virtual commencement ceremonies, as was the case last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Seattle event begins at noon on June 12. UW Tacoma’s starts at 10 a.m. on June 12 and UW Bothell’s takes place on Sunday, June 13, at 1:00 p.m.

The interactive online commencement will be broadcast live, bringing together Huskies from around the world, and feature many elements of a traditional graduation. Translation will be provided in nine languages.

To help students celebrate, UW has added art installations throughout its Seattle campus to create special backdrops for photos with family and friends (think plentiful large block Ws, special banners, and Drumheller Fountain lit purple). These features will remain on campus through June 13. See a map of art installations and learn more here.

Despite the virtual ceremonies, some traffic congestion may still occur in Seattle’s U District during commencement weekend as 2021 graduates visit campus to take photos.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

Additional 2021 Commencement resources:

Commencement questions: https://www.washington.edu/graduation/contact-us/

UW Bothell

• Important dates and livestream link: https://www.uwb.edu/commencement
• Commencement FAQs: https://www.uwb.edu/commencement/2021-faq

UW Tacoma

• Details on a Drive-Thru Celebration on Friday, June 11, photo flyer and link to the Virtual Commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 12: https://www.tacoma.uw.edu/uwt/commencement