Unlocking opportunity Unlocking opportunity Unlocking opportunity

As I reflect on my first full year as the University of Washington’s 34th president, I am struck by the extraordinary reach of our public university and the responsibility that comes with it. The UW makes a difference in lives across Washington and around the world through teaching, research, patient care and public service. It happens not only in our classrooms, labs, hospitals and clinics, but through the impact that alumni, friends and supporters create in their communities. That collective impact—your impact—is possible because generations of Huskies recognized that a great public university exists to expand opportunity and improve lives. We are all the heirs to that legacy, and we have a responsibility to extend it for generations to come.

That context helped shape the UW’s strategic framework, and this fall, we will expand the framework into a full strategic plan that will guide our institutional strategy for the next five years. The framework and eventual plan are the result of the University’s first strategic planning process in 15 years. Throughout that process, we challenged ourselves to be fiercely ambitious but disciplined in focusing on the priorities that matter most. Thanks to the many faculty, staff, students, alumni and external partners who shared insights and asked good questions, the framework rests on four pillars that clearly define our core priorities.

As outlined in the framework, we are committed to delivering high-quality, debt-free education that unlocks opportunity; engaging in radical collaborations that drive breakthroughs for the public good; strengthening healthier communities where everyone can thrive; and stewarding and developing the people and resources that fuel this work.

These pillars are ambitious because the moment demands ambition. They bet big on what the UW does best and what the world needs most: accessible, excellent higher education, partnerships that solve real problems through discovery and collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to healthier, thriving communities. But even the best strategic framework is only words on a page without a dedicated community committed to bringing it to life.

That is why alumni, friends and supporters are essential to this work. You are connected to the UW’s history and essential to its future. You mentor students, fund scholarships, open doors to internships and careers, champion research and innovation, invest in faculty and programs, and help extend the UW’s impact from Olympia to Spokane. Your engagement strengthens every part of our mission, and it would not be possible without the remarkable Husky community you help build.

Robert J. Jones began his second year as president of the University of Washington in August.