Strategic considerations for web communications

Theme

• Theme: Research Makes America ^C
• Hashtag: #ResearchMakesAmerica
• Messaging goal: Show how UW research makes America healthier, safer and more prosperous – and is worth supporting

History and heritage month(s)

• National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) ^E

Important dates

• September 1: Labor Day ^{1, D}
• September 1: First-year student application opens ^B
• September 5: Milad un Nabi (Islamic) ^{2, 9, D}
• September 22-24: Rosh Hashanah (Jewish) ^{3,9, 9, D}
• September 24: Instruction Begins – Autumn 2025 ^{10, A}

UW milestones

• UW moves to Seattle campus (September 4, 1895) ^F
• Academic year beings ^F
• Back to School ^F
• Move in ^F
• Dawg Daze ^F
• Football season ^F
• Apple Cup ^F
• Recognition Gala ^F
• Report to Contributors ^F

Theme

• Theme: Husky Student Experience ^C
• Hashtag: #HuskyExperience
• Messaging goal: Highlight how access to an excellent UW education prepares students for successful careers and lives

History and heritage month(s)

• National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15) ^E
• National Disability Employment Awareness Month ^E

Important dates

• October 1-2: Yom Kippur (Jewish) ^{3, 9, D}
• October 1: Transfer student FAFSA + WASFA opens ^B
• October 1: Postbaccalaureate student FAFSA + WASFA opens ^B
• October 2: Navratri/Dussehra (Hindu) ^D
• October 6-13: Sukkot (Jewish) ^{3, 4, 9, D}
• October 13: Indigenous Peoples Day ^D
• October 14: Shemini Atzeret (Jewish) ^{3, 9, D}
• October 15: Simchat Torah (Jewish) ^{3, 9, D}
• October 20: Diwali (Hindu) ^D
• October 22: Birth of the Báb (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}
• October 23: Birth of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}

UW milestones

• National Coming Out Day (October 11) ^G
• Indigenous Peoples Day (October 13) ^G
• Halloween (October 31) ^F
• Founding of UW Bothell (October 1, 1990) ^F
• Founding of UW Tacoma (October 1, 1990) ^F
• Transfer student celebration week ^F
• Nobel Prize season ^F
• Annual President’s Address ^F
• Homecoming ^F
• UW Family Weekend ^F
• W Day ^F
• Football season ^F
• Gratitude report ^F

Theme

• Theme: Collaborative Innovation ^C
• Hashtag: #UWInnovates
• Messaging goal: Demonstrate value of bringing people together across disciplines and differences to solve complex problems

History and heritage month(s)

• National American Indian Heritage Month ^E

Important dates

• November 11: Veterans Day ^{1, D}
• November 15: First-year student application deadline for summer and autumn quarters ^B
• November 25: Day of the Covenant (Bahá’í) ^{9, D}
• November 27: Ascension of ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá (Bahá’í) ^{9, D}
• November 27: Thanksgiving Day ^{1, D}
• November 28: Native American Heritage Day ^{1, D}

UW milestones

• Native American Heritage Day ^F
• Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20) ^G
• Founding of the University of Washington (November 4, 1861) ^F
• Admissions application closes ^F
• Football season ^F
• Giving Tuesday ^F

Theme

• Theme: This is UW ^C
• Hashtag: #ThisIsUW
• Messaging goal: Celebrate 2025 student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments to elicit pride in their communities

Important dates

• December 5: Last Day of Instruction – Autumn 2025 ^A
• December 6-12: Final Examination Week – Autumn 2025 ^A
• December 13 – January 4: Winter Break ^A
• December 14-22: Hanukkah (Jewish) ^{9, D}
• December 15: Transfer student application opens for summer and autumn quarters ^B
• December 15: Postbaccalaureate student application opens for summer and autumn quarters ^B
• December 25: Christmas Day (Christian) ^{1, D}
• December 31: First-year student yest score deadline for summer and autumn quarters ^B

UW milestones

• World AIDS Day (December 1) ^G
• Federal Agenda ^F
• Post season football ^F
• Holiday greetings ^F
• Year-end celebrations ^F
• Year-end giving ^F

Theme

• Theme: Our Public Promise ^C
• Hashtag: #UWserves
• Messaging goal: Emphasize the UW’s commitment to the people of the state as WA’s leading public research university

History and heritage month(s)

• Muslim American Heritage Month ^E

Important dates

• January 1: New Years Day ^{1, D}
• January 5: Instruction Begins – Winter 2026 ^{10, A}
• January 7: Orthodox Christmas (Christian Orthodox) ^D
• January 15: First-year student UW FAFSA + WASFA priority date ^B
• January 19: Martin Luther King Jr. Day ^{1, D}

UW milestones

• International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) ^G
• Legislative season ^F
• New Year’s celebrations ^F
• Post season football ^F
• Football national championships ^F

Theme

• Theme: Proven Impact ^C
• Hashtag: #UWdiscovers
• Messaging goal: Demonstrate real-world benefits of UW research for people, families and communities

History and heritage month(s)

• Black History Month ^E

Important dates

• February 15: Maha Shivaratri (Hindu) ^{2, D}
• February 15: Transfer student application deadline for summer and autumn quarters ^B
• February 15: Postbaccalaureate student application deadline for summer and autumn quarters ^B
• February 16: Presidents’ Day ^{1, D}
• February 17: Lunar New Year ^D
• February 18: Ash Wednesday (Christian) ^D
• February 18: Beginning of Ramadan (Islamic) ^{2, 9, D}
• February 18: Beginning of Lent (Christian Orthodox) ^D
• February 25 – March 1: Ayyám-i-Há (Bahá’í) ^{9, D}
• February 28: Transfer student UW FAFSA + WASFA priority date ^B
• February 28: Postbaccalaureate student UW FAFSA + WASFA priority date ^B

UW milestones

• Valentine’s Day (February 14) ^F
• Undergraduate Medalists ^F
• Provost Town Hall ^F

Theme

• Theme: Research Makes America ^C
• Hashtag: #ResearchMakesAmerica
• Messaging goal: Show how UW research makes America healthier, safer and more prosperous – and is worth supporting

History and heritage month(s)

• Irish American Heritage Month ^E
• Women’s History Month ^E

Important dates

• March 1-15: First-year student admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter ^B
• March 2-20: Bahá’í Fasting Period (Bahá’í) ^{9, D}
• March 4: Purim (Jewish) ^{9, D}
• March 4: Holi (Hindu) ^{5, D}
• March 13: Last Day of Instruction – Winter 2026 ^A
• March 14-20: Final Examination Week – Winter 2026 ^A
• March 16: Lailat al-Qadr (Islamic) ^{2, 9, D}
• March 20: Eid al-Fitr (Islamic) ^{2, 9, D}
• March 21: Naw‑Rúz (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}
• March 21-29: Spring Break ^A
• March 26: Rama Navami (Hindu) ^D
• March 30: Instruction Begins – Spring 2026 ^{10, A}

UW milestones

• International Women’s Day (March 8) ^G
• Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31) ^G
• Presidential Scholars ^F
• Admissions decisions / new huskies ^F
• University Faculty Lecture ^F
• Cherry Blossoms ^F
• Spring break ^F

Theme

• Theme: Husky Student Experience ^C
• Hashtag: #HuskyExperience
• Messaging goal: Highlight how access to an excellent UW education prepares students for successful careers and lives

History and heritage month(s)

• National Arab American Heritage Month ^E

Important dates

• April 1-9: Passover (Jewish) ^{3, 6, 9, D}
• April 3: Good Friday (Christian) ^D
• April 5: Easter (Christian) ^D
• April 10: Orthodox Good Friday (Christian Orthodox) ^D
• April 12: Orthodox Easter (Christian Orthodox) ^D
• April 21: 1st Day of Riḍván (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}
• April 29: 9th Day of Riḍván (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}

UW milestones

• Earth Day (April 22) ^F
• Admitted Student Day ^F
• Husky 100 ^F
• Cherry Blossoms ^F
• Husky Giving Day ^F

Theme

• Theme: Collaborative Innovation ^C
• Hashtag: #UWInnovates
• Messaging goal: Demonstrate value of bringing people together across disciplines and differences to solve complex problems

History and heritage month(s)

• Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month ^E
• Jewish American Heritage Month ^E
• Mental Health Awareness Month ^G

Important dates

• May 1: National College Decision Day ^{11, B}
• May 1 – June 30: Transfer student admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter ^B
• May 1 – June 30: Postbaccalaureate student admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter ^B
• May 2: 12th Day of Riḍván (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}
• May 21-23: Shavuot (Jewish) ^{3, 9, D}
• May 24: Declaration of the Báb (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}
• May 25: Memorial Day ^{1, D}
• May 27: Eid al-Adha (Islamic) ^{2, 9, D}
• May 29: Ascension of Bahá’u’lláh (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}

UW milestones

• National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (May 5) ^G
• Mother’s Day ^F
• National Decision day (5/1) ^F
• Undergraduate Research Symposium ^F
• Awards of Excellence ^F
• Windermere Cup (first weekend of May) ^F

Theme

• Theme: This is UW ^C
• Hashtag: #ThisIsUW
• Messaging goal: Celebrate 2025-26 student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments to elicit pride in their communities

History and heritage month(s)

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month ^E

Important dates

• May 1 – June 30: Transfer student admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter ^B
• May 1 – June 30: Postbaccalaureate student admission decision notification period for summer and autumn quarter ^B
• June 5: Last Day of Instruction – Spring 2026 ^A
• June 6-12: Final Examination Week – Spring 2026 ^A
• June 12: Commencement – Tacoma ^A
• June 13: Commencement – Seattle ^A
• June 13-21: Summer Break ^A
• June 14: Commencement – Bothell ^A
• June 16-14: Muharram (Islamic) ^{9, D}
• June 19: Juneteenth ^{1, D}
• June 22: Instruction Begins – Summer 2026 – Full-term ^{10, A}
• June 22: Instruction Begins – Summer 2026 – A-term ^{10, A}

UW milestones

• Loving Day (June 12) ^G
• Juneteenth (June 19) ^F
• Father’s Day ^F
• Faculty Field Tour ^F
• Awards of Excellence ^F
• Graduation season ^F
• Real Dawgs Read ^F
• Fiscal year-end giving ^F

Theme

• Theme: Proven Impact ^C
• Hashtag: #UWdiscovers
• Messaging goal: Demonstrate real-world benefits of UW research for people, families and communities

Important dates

• July 3: Independence Day (Observed) ^{1, A}
• July 4: Independence Day ^{1, D}
• July 10: Martyrdom of the Báb (Bahá’í) ^{3, 9, D}
• July 22: Last Day of Instruction – Summer 2026 – A-term ^A
• July 23: Instruction Begins – Summer 2026 – B-term ^{10, A}

UW milestones

• Passage of the Americans wiith Disabilities Act (July 26, 1990) ^G

Theme

• Theme: Our Public Promise ^C
• Hashtag: #UWserves
• Messaging goal: Emphasize the UW’s commitment to the people of the state as WA’s leading public research university

Important dates

• August 21: Last Day of Instruction – Summer 2026 – Full-term ^A
• August 21: Last Day of Instruction – Summer 2026 – B-term ^A
• August 22September 29: Autumn Break ^A
• August 26: Milad un Nabi (Islamic) ^{2, 9, D}

UW milestones

• Admission application opens ^F
• Academic year ends ^F
• Back to School ^F
• Football season ^F