A special event to bid farewell to President Mark Emmert is set for Monday, Sept. 27, 1:30–3 p.m. at Sylvan Theater. The event will feature remarks by UW Board of Regents Chairman Herb Simon, President Emmert and Interim President Phyllis Wise, followed by a reception. No RSVP is necessary.
Category: President Emmert archive
More budget cuts ahead
Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:
The news today about the worsening condition of the state’s budget is sobering. It reminds us that the worst is not over and that the immediate future — the current fiscal year and the 2011-13 biennium — will bring further reductions in our state funding. State tax revenue collections continue to decline. This means the state budget for this year will not balance, necessitating the Governor’s action to order further across-the-board reductions in state budgets, including ours. And the decreased revenue projection for the 2011-13 biennium means that the state will face an even larger budget deficit of approximately $4.0 billion, resulting in more reductions next biennium.
Continue reading “More budget cuts ahead”
President honored by CityClub
UW President Mark Emmert was recognized today by CityClub for his contributions to building civic knowledge, connection, trust and action in the greater community. Emmert was praised for championing the University of Washington’s position as a world leader in environmental research, education and practices. Gov. Christine Gregoire declared June, 14, 2010, to be “Mark Emmert Day” in the state of Washington. Read the proclamation
TVW airs interview with President Emmert
TVW’s Inside Olympia aired an hourlong interview with UW President Mark Emmert on June 10, 2010. Issues ranged from his reasons for taking the NCAA job to advice for his replacement. He also addressed budget cuts, the UW’s relationship with the Legislature, serving on corporate boards and much more.
President Emmert on TVW’s Inside Olympia
Our economic impact on Washington state
The UW is a vitally important economic engine for the state of Washington and plays a crucial role in keeping our region competitive in the global economy. Yet many Washingtonians don’t realize the full extent of the impact our University has on their own financial well-being and quality of life. To help us analyze the depth and breadth of economic benefits the UW brings to our state and our citizens, we recently enlisted the services of the nationally recognized independent consulting firm Tripp-Umbach. The results of their study surprised even us. Consider these findings:
- UW operations have an overall economic impact of $9 billion annually. Almost half of this impact comes from UW Medicine.
- UW operations have an overall employment impact of 70,000 full-time jobs in Washington, driving about 2 percent of total state employment.
- In the last 10 years, the UW has created more than 7,500 new jobs primarily paid from non-state sources—an increase of 26 percent.
- The UW directly and indirectly generates almost $600 million per year in tax revenues for state and local governments. That’s about twice what the UW receives each year in state appropriations.
- For every $1 of state funds invested in the UW, $22 is returned to the state.
UW president to head NCAA
UW President Mark Emmert has been selected to head the NCAA. The announcement was made today in Indianapolis. He is expected to assume his duties no later than Nov. 1.
“It is with very mixed emotions that I am writing to let you know that today I have accepted the presidency of the National Collegiate Athletic Association,” he said in an e-mail to UW students, faculty and staff. “I am proud of the work we have done together and absent this truly extraordinary opportunity would have been happy continuing as president for many years to come.”
Announcement from President Emmert
Dear UW students, faculty, and staff:
It is with very mixed emotions that I am writing to let you know that today I have accepted the presidency of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. When I came home to the University of Washington in 2004, I knew there was no other university that I would want to be president of, and that remains true today after the six wonderful years DeLaine and I have enjoyed serving our alma mater. I am proud of the work we have done together and absent this truly extraordinary opportunity would have been happy continuing as president for many years to come.
The NCAA is one of the nation’s most influential collegiate organizations. Leading it offers a chance to shape the educational and athletic experiences of over 400,000 young people and to work with more than 1,200 universities, colleges and conferences to make intercollegiate sports a competitive, healthy, integral part of the growth and maturation of student-athletes. It also presents a new set of challenges for me. I am very excited about taking on these challenges and the opportunity to work with so many university and college presidents.
To my friends, colleagues, and students of the University of Washington, I offer a special word of thanks and appreciation. It has been my honor to serve you. I am very proud of what we have accomplished together these past six years. Our university is a special place–by any measure one of the world’s leading research universities–because of all of you and the work you perform every day. I cannot thank you enough for your dedication, energy and enthusiasm. It is never a good time to leave one great job for another. I relish the challenges at the NCAA but will always love my time here. DeLaine and I always have been, and always will be, Huskies for life.
Sincerely,
Mark Emmert
President
Outcomes of the 2010 State Legislative Session
Dear Members of the University Community:
With the 2010 session of the State Legislature now concluded, we have a clearer picture of what our budget for 2011 will be. The results are about what we expected—we ended up doing better in some areas and worse in others, and there were no surprises in the concluding hours of the session. While there were many disappointments in the session, I was extremely pleased that need-based financial aid was kept intact. Our student and faculty leaders joined us in making a strong case for the critical nature of these funds, and our arguments carried the day. It is also fair to say that without the revenue package the Legislature ultimately agreed on, things could conceivably have ended up much worse than they did, particularly for student financial aid. A summary of the budget legislation may be found on the University’s Office of Planning and Budgeting web site.
In 2011, we will be dealing with a continuation of the budget cuts we have endured now for three years running. In 2009, the University’s state general fund budget was reduced by $16.8 million. This year, our budget was reduced by an unprecedented $94.7 million. And next year, we will have another reduction of $20.6 million. Thus, over this three-year period, we will have lost $132 million in state general fund support—a 33% reduction in state support.
We have been able to withstand the worst effects of the budget reductions in part because the University has been authorized to increase tuition. We have had to look to our students to pay more for their education because state support has shrunk so much. We do not relish having to raise tuition, but without that additional revenue, we simply would not be able to offer students the educational experience they deserve.
As we did this year, in implementing the additional reductions, we will try to minimize the impacts on academic programs and students. Provost Wise is meeting with deans, vice provosts, vice presidents, and faculty and student leadership as she develops the new budget proposal for 2011. Earlier this year, schools and colleges were asked to model cuts of 3.5 and 5%, and these have been posted to the Office of Planning and Budgeting web site. Many of the effects described there will be moderated by the additional tuition revenue we anticipate next year. Continue reading “Outcomes of the 2010 State Legislative Session”
Announcing the 2010 UW Awards of Excellence recipients
Dear Members of the University Community:
I am proud to announce the 2010 Awards of Excellence recipients. For 40 years, the University has honored outstanding members of our UW community for their performance in teaching, mentoring, librarianship, public service and staff support. Congratulations to the following individuals who will be honored at a special ceremony on June 10, 2010, in Meany Hall.
Distinguished Teaching Award
Presented to faculty who show a mastery of their subject matter, intellectual rigor and a passion for teaching
- Scott Freeman, Biology
- Diane Gillespie, Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences (Bothell)
- Scott Hauck, Electrical Engineering
- J. Mark Pendras, Urban Studies (Tacoma)
- Anu Taranath, English and Comparative History of Ideas
- Cuong Vu, Music
- Joy Williamson-Lott, Education
Excellence in Teaching Award
Given to graduate teaching assistants who demonstrate outstanding skills in the classroom
- Monique Lacoste, Communication
- Elizabeth Wheat, Biology
Marsha L. Landolt Distinguished Graduate Mentor Award
Recognizes faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to the education and guidance of graduate students
- Victoria Lawson, Geography
Distinguished Staff Award
Given to staff who contribute to the mission of their unit or the University, respond creatively to challenges, maintain the highest standards in their work, establish productive working relationships and promote a respectful and supportive workplace
- Georgia Barroso, Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Ui-Hak Chong, Custodial Services
- Dagmar Schmidt, Nursing
- John Taylor, Art
- The team of Thomas Campbell, Fred Ellis, George Iliff, Richard McCarthy, Thomas Pieples and Jeffrey Seitz, Friday Harbor Laboratories
Outstanding Public Service Award
Presented to a faculty or staff member to honor extensive local and/or national and international service
- Terrie Klinger, Marine Affairs
S. Sterling Munro Public Service Teaching Award
Recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated exemplary leadership in community-based instruction, including service learning, public service internships and community partnership projects
- Sharon Dobie, Family Medicine
Distinguished Contributions to Lifelong Learning Award
Presented to faculty who have taught for at least two years in non-degree programs sponsored by the UW and aimed at adults for professional development, personal interest or career redirection
- JoAnne Whitney, Nursing
Distinguished Librarian Award
Recognizes excellence in librarianship, especially as it benefits the academic community through teaching, research, learning and innovative approaches to practice
- Judith Henchy, Southeast Asia Library
Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus
As one of the highest honors that the University can bestow on a graduate, this award is given to an alumnus or alumna for a lifetime record of achievement.
- Bruce Nordstrom, retired President and Chairman of the Board, Nordstrom, Inc.
Alumni Association Distinguished Service Award
Given to individuals who make outstanding efforts on behalf of the UW Alumni Association
- Lex and Diane Gamble, Volunteers for the UW Alumni Association
Award Notes: The University Faculty Lecturer and President’s Medalists will be announced later this spring. The James D. Clowes Award for the Advancement of Learning Communities and the David B. Thorud Leadership Awards will not be given this year. You can learn more about these outstanding individuals in the June 3rd edition of University Week.
The Awards of Excellence ceremony, formerly known as the Recognition Ceremony, is free and open to the public. It will be held 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 10, in Meany Hall. A reception will follow the event.
I hope you will join me in congratulating these exceptional members of our community.
Mark A. Emmert
President
President Emmert’s budget letter to lawmakers
In a letter to Gov. Chris Gregoire and members of the state Legislature, UW President Mark Emmert offered his thoughts on the 2010 supplemental operating and capital budget proposals. He also thanked the governor and lawmakers for making student financial aid a priority in both budgets.
“Regarding the two chambers’ approaches to our budget reductions,” he wrote, “we strongly prefer the Senate approach.” Read more in his March 1 letter >