The Exploratory Task Force on Academic Calendar Alignment will examine the possible shift from quarters to semesters, weighing the impacts, benefits and challenges for the UW community.
Task force members
- Jason Johnson, Chief of Staff to the Provost – co-chair
- Phil Reid, Vice Provost for Academic Strategy & Affairs – co-chair
- Menaka Abraham, Teaching Professor, School of Engineering & Technology (Tacoma)
- Danny Barrow, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management
- David Beck, Research Associate Professor, College of Engineering (Seattle)
- Bonnie Becker, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success (Tacoma)
- Grant Blume, Associate Teaching Professor, Evans School (Seattle)
- Rovy Branon, Vice Provost, Continuum College
- Colleen Craig, Teaching Professor, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Andrea Coker-Anderson, Registrar (Tacoma)
- Kim Durand, Deputy Athletic Director, Intercollegiate Athletics
- Dan Eisenberg, Teaching Professor, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Ahmad Ezzeddine, Vice Provost for Global Affairs
- Josh Gana, Assistant Vice President for Student Life (Seattle)
- Helen Garrett, University Registrar, Division of Enrollment Management
- Kimberly Gillis-Bridges, Teaching Professor, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Scott James, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs (Bothell)
- Joe Janes, Associate Professor, Information School (Seattle)
- Michaelann Jundt, Senior Associate Dean, Undergraduate Academic Affairs (Seattle)
- David Lance, Chief of Staff to the President
- Andy Loveless, Teaching Professor, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Pamela Lundquist, Registrar (Bothell)
- Tyson Marsh, Associate Professor, School of Educational Studies (Bothell)
- Julie Masura, Teaching Professor, School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences (Tacoma)
- Heather McPhillips, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, School of Medicine (Seattle)
- Tina Miller, Senior Associate Registrar, Division of Enrollment Management
- Dana Raigrodski, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Law (Seattle)
- Candice Rai, Associate Dean, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Dan Ratner, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Engineering (Seattle)
- Casey Self, Teaching Professor, Biology, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- David Smith, Associate Teaching Professor, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Maya Sonenberg, Professor, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Chanira Reang Sperry, Assistant Dean for Student Success, School of Dentistry (Seattle)
- Jennifer Turns, Professor, College of Engineering (Seattle)
- Richard Watts, Associate Professor, College of Arts & Sciences (Seattle)
- Mark Whipple, School of Medicine (Seattle)
- Xiahua Wei, Associate Professor, School of Business (Bothell)
- Kristian Wiles, Associate Vice President, Minority Affairs & Diversity (Seattle)
- Mayumi Willgerodt, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Graduate School
- ASUW-Bothell Representative, TBD
- ASUW-Seattle Representative, TBD
- ASUW-Tacoma Representative, TBD
- GPSS Representative, TBD
Charge letter
Dear Colleagues,
Thank you for agreeing to serve on the University of Washington Exploratory Task Force on Academic Calendar Alignment. This task force is charged with examining the implications, opportunities, and challenges associated with a possible transition from the University’s academic calendar to semesters. The University of Washington has operated on the quarter system for many decades, and this cadence shapes the academic experience of our students, faculty, staff, and institutional partners in both obvious and subtle ways. At the same time, the majority of peer institutions operate on semester calendars with different impacts. Given these different models and the continuous shift of institutions from the quarter to semester model, it is timely to consider how a semester-based academic calendar could support the University’s mission and long-term aspirations including impacts to the student experience and their access to academic programs, academic planning, transfer and articulation, interdisciplinary collaboration, operational effectiveness, alignment with peers, and the well-being of all members of our University community.
To be clear, no decision has been made regarding a calendar transition, nor should the creation of this task force be interpreted as a predetermined commitment to pursue one. Rather, the role of the task force is to support a careful, evidence-informed assessment of the potential benefits, risks, costs, operational implications, and academic considerations associated with such a change.
I am asking this task force to undertake a broad exploratory review that includes, but need not be limited to, consideration of:
- undergraduate, graduate, and professional student experience;
- impacts to faculty including teaching, research, and curriculum design;
- advising, registration, and academic progress;
- transfer articulation and partnerships with community colleges and other public baccalaureates in WA state;
- accreditation and compliance;
- financial aid, enrollment management, and tuition structures;
- athletics, co-curricular programs, internships, and study abroad;
- impacts on staff, administrative operations, and institutional systems;
- experiences and lessons learned at peer institutions that have undertaken similar transitions;
- implementation complexity, timelines, institutional readiness, and transitional costs.
I anticipate this work unfolding in three phases:
- First, in mid-June the co-chairs will connect with members of the task force individually or in small groups to further establish and refine the scope of inquiry, identify key questions for further exploration, and discuss priorities for research and analysis to take place in the coming months.
- Second, during Summer 2026, a smaller working group composed of task force representatives and administrative support partners will conduct background work that will inform the task force’s discussions. This work will include peer benchmarking, identification of issues and best practices, and development of support materials for the task force’s consideration. This work is intended to support — not replace — the broader consultative and deliberative work of the full task force.
- Third, the full task force will reconvene at the beginning of Autumn Quarter 2026 to review and discuss the summer findings, engage in additional inquiry and consultation as appropriate, and prepare a report summarizing its observations, findings, and recommendations. I ask that the task force provide its report to my office by the conclusion of Winter Quarter 2027.
This work will require thoughtful engagement, openness to multiple perspectives, and careful consideration of the ways in which the academic calendar shapes nearly every aspect of university life.
I’m grateful to Jason Johnson, Chief of Staff to the Provost, and Phil Reid, Vice Provost for Academic Strategy and Affairs, who have agreed to co-chair this task force. They will be in touch soon regarding next steps.
Thank you for your willingness to contribute your expertise and time to this important effort on behalf of the University community.
Sincerely,
Tricia R. Serio
Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Professor, Biochemistry