Last week, I officially charged a committee of faculty, staff and students to advise me in a national search to identify candidates for the role of provost, which is the UW’s top academic and budget officer.
Category: Faculty and Staff
Mark Richards to step down as provost in summer 2023
As we approach the start of the academic year next month, I’m writing to let you know 2022–23 will be Mark Richards’ last year as Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Mark plans to step down as provost in summer 2023, after he completes his five-year term in the position. He will retain his position as professor of Earth and Space Sciences in the College of the Environment and continue his research and teaching as a geophysicist.
Congratulations and thank you to our 2021 Awards of Excellence winners
This year’s Awards of Excellence recipients have distinguished themselves beyond all expectations, and we are deeply grateful for all the ways they make our community better.
The safety of our community is our highest priority
The health and safety of our students, staff, faculty and academic personnel is our University’s highest priority, and none of us can do our best work when we do not feel secure or are anxious about safety.
Responding to community concerns about policing on campus
As our nation once more grapples with the epidemic of police violence against Black people and systemic racism more broadly, many faculty, students, staff and other community members have expressed concerns about policing on the Seattle campus, including about the UW Police Department’s relationship with the Seattle Police Department.
Remembering Dr. Gabriel Gallardo and his legacy of opportunity
Our community mourns the passing of Dr. Gabriel Gallardo,’89, ’93, ’00, a leader and friend who helped shape a generation of young scholars.
Provost’s Town Hall offered insight and vision
I had the pleasure of attending Provost Mark Richards’ first Town Hall yesterday and his talk was a great demonstration of his thoughtful but action-oriented leadership. His talk showed how quickly he has zeroed in on our incredible strengths as a leading global research university while offering a realistic assessment of the areas in which we can – indeed must – invest more time, energy and, yes, money if we are to have an even greater impact.
Sexual harassment in academia is a problem we can address – together
This week, I had the opportunity to take part in a livestreamed panel hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) about their recent report, Sexual Harassment of Women. The report offers recommendations for the cultural and systemic changes needed to prevent and respond to sexual harassment in the academic STEM fields and its release couldn’t be more timely, coinciding with the #metoo movement.
Yes, we will miss Provost Jerry Baldasty
This Friday, Jerry Baldasty – my friend and colleague – will walk out of Gerberding Hall as the University of Washington’s provost for the last time. It won’t be his last day on campus or even his last act of service to this University to which he’s already contributed so much. But it will mark the end of an era for me, and for many of us who work, teach and learn here. All of us, in some way, have benefitted from Jerry’s leadership, wisdom and kindness, not just since he became provost, but throughout his four decades of serving the UW.
Academic student employees ratify contract
Sunday evening, UAW 4121 announced that the proposed 3-year contract with academic student employees had been ratified by a 62 percent to 38 percent margin (1476 to 918). We are heartened by this result because this contract continues the progress we’ve made in recent years in elevating wages and benefits for ASEs, and also means that undergraduates can finish their courses as planned. Academic student employees are critical to our success as a world-class research university, and this new contract represents our commitment to them and to ensuring fairness for all UW students.
We recognize that our region’s sky-rocketing housing costs are placing real financial stresses on our ASEs, along with other members of our community, and we look forward to working together during the legislative session on behalf of funding for higher education and our top priority, which will continue to be better wages for all our employees.
The negotiations were lengthy, spanning 22 sessions, and we want to thank the negotiators from both sides, as well as all those who made their voices heard constructively throughout this process. We also want to thank all the faculty and staff who made preparations for mitigating the effects on undergraduates of a strike that, fortunately, will now not take place. Students should consult with their instructors to confirm plans for finals and for concluding the quarter and academic year, and we look forward to joining the entire community in the coming days as we celebrate graduation.