News
May 21, 2018
Making trouble
“Women are shaking the foundation of this country in every possible way," said Cecile Richards, the president of Planned Parenthood, at a UW Book Store event.
May 8, 2017
Brothers, mentors, friends
Inside the new program advocating for black and brown students on campus.
March 30, 2017
Busting BS
Inside the class that's training students to catch—and call out—fake news and falsehoods.
March 2, 2017
Newsprint: Pike Place expands, Foster School shines, UW Medical Center stands out
Huskies above the fold, March 2017.
February 28, 2017
Spokane startups
UW will expand its innovation lab system to Eastern Washington this spring.
February 27, 2017
A Zillow addition
Zillow, the online real estate database, has pledged $5 million to the UW for a second building to expand the University’s high-demand computer science and engineering program.
February 24, 2017
Luminary Lewis
Rep. John Lewis, a giant of the Civil Rights movement, comes to campus.
December 29, 2016
Healthy people, healthy planet
With a $210 million gift, the UW moves forward to become a global hub for human health.
December 16, 2016
The Not-So-Daily
The student newspaper formerly known as The Daily is still known as The Daily… despite only coming out two days a week.
December 15, 2016
Thouless nabs Nobel
The highest honor in physics goes to Professor Emeritus David Thouless.
September 1, 2016
The med student is in
While classroom instruction is crucial for learning the scientific foundations of medicine, there is no substitute for firsthand clinical experience. That’s why the UW School of Medicine launched a new curriculum last year that puts an earlier and greater emphasis on clinical training.
March 1, 2016
2015 shined a spotlight on race
After a year of intensifying protests, the UW opens a dialogue and takes action to promote equity.
December 1, 2015
The silent stroke
If a stroke should occur, the unparalleled care at UW Medicine's Harborview Medical Center will give you your best shot.
September 1, 2015
Introducing GIX
Last summer, high up in a Bellevue office building’s bright conference room, leaders from the UW, Microsoft Corp., and China’s Tsinghua University announced a novel partnership. They will train a new generation of innovative scientists, technicians and entrepreneurs.
It all starts here
Fluke Hall provides a base for innovators to develop their products and look for investors.
Innovation in action
Innovation at the UW occurs across disciplines, as well as in how the institution is run and how students are educated. Here are a few examples of innovation in action.
The CoMotion Commitment
While the UW is known for its groundbreaking research, it has not been perceived as spry or supportive in leveraging the expertise of its faculty. Vikram Jandhyala has set out to change that.
UW Press at 100
The University of Washington's press dates back to Edmond Meany's 1915 book on the governors of the state and territory.
June 1, 2015
Welcome to wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ
wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – the Intellectual House – is a place the UW Native American community can call home.
March 1, 2015
Gerberding's legacy
Though the longest-serving president in UW history (from 1979 to 1995) is no longer with us—the North Dakota native died Dec. 27 at the age of 85 after suffering a stroke—his imprint on the University is indelible.
Grade upgrade
Sure, it’s a national model of academic support; but the UW’s Instructional Center is way more than that—it’s a family for students who need a boost.
June 1, 2014
Spokane solution
Expanding medical education in Eastern Washington’s largest city will address a key problem: increasing the number of primary care physicians in rural and underserved areas.
March 1, 2013
Top cop
Jim Pugel, ’81, keeps mementos from the sometimes-grueling adventures he completes each year with his former University of Washington crew teammates.
September 1, 2012
Highest honors
Two alumni were among 13 people receiving the highest honor given to an American civilian—the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
March 1, 2012
Slick job
Two UW alums who helped devise a better way to ameliorate oil spills were part of a team that won a $1 million prize for its ingenuity.
Open for business
Over the next three years, the Ideas to Impact initiative aims to double the number of companies started by the UW.
Belief in teaching
A passion for excellence in education led to a career as a UW professor and now an administrator.
Two for the Rhodes
Two UW seniors were selected in November to receive Rhodes Scholarships, making the UW the only American public university with more than one Rhodes Scholar for 2012.
December 1, 2011
Major milestone
The College of Arts and Sciences celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, providing an opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of faculty, staff, and students—past and present.
Tradition timeout
The Nov. 5 Washington-Oregon football game was the final game in Husky Stadium before it closed its doors for more than a year.
Ben's fund
Carin Towne, ’95, ’02, and her husband Jeff, ’95, have turned a personal tragedy into a ray of hope for parents of children with cancer.
Purple power
As anyone worth their purple and gold will tell you, the beloved “W” can be found everywhere. The UW Trademarks and Licensing Office oversees it all.
Futuristic fellow
Shwetak Patel, a UW assistant professor in computer science & engineering and electrical engineering for the past three years, has been honored as one of this year’s MacArthur Fellows.
March 1, 2010
Huskies in Haiti
In the aftermath of a massive earthquake, numerous UW Medicine and Health Sciences faculty, students and health professionals went to Haiti to treat the injured and sick and care for the displaced.
June 1, 2009
Teachers of the year, 2009
The seven recipients of this year’s Distinguished Teaching Awards represent the broadest range of disciplines, from English to maxillofacial surgery. But they all have one thing in common: the ability to hold their students spellbound.
Going to bat
Last year, Seattle Mariners legend Edgar Martinez and his wife, Holli, ‘08, launched the Martinez Foundation to help students of color through scholarships and grants.
Rucker to lead UWAA
Paul Rucker, ’95, ’02, who oversaw the expansion of the University of Washington Alumni Association’s programming efforts over the past five years, has been named executive director of the 120-year-old organization.
Bitter budget
For the first time in its history, the UW will be getting more money from tuition than from the state of Washington.
March 1, 2009
UW feels the crunch
Gov. Chris Gregoire, '69, '71, warned that her 2009-11 state budget would contain "something ... for everybody not to like," and the University of Washington proved to be no exception.
Tribal counsel
Since Mark Emmert’s arrival as president, the UW has renewed its focus on recruiting and retaining more Native American students, faculty and staff.
December 1, 2008
House of knowledge
The UW Seattle campus bears many Native American street names, but no place that really signifies the Native presence. That will change in 2011, when construction is slated to begin on the House of Knowledge.
Students to the rescue
A charitable group set up by two UW students after the May 12 earthquake in China’s Sichuan Province has been as no-nonsense as its name, raising $65,000 for children in the disaster zone and winning a prestigious award
Special gift
For nearly 30 years, Norris Haring led efforts to address learning challenges and develop strategies to help young people. Now, through a major planned gift, he is ensuring that this essential work will continue at the UW for years to come.
September 1, 2008
Environmental focus
With environmental expertise that comprises more than 400 faculty members on three campuses, extending across 18 fields of study-from the geosciences to natural resources, and from climate dynamics to environmental policy — the UW is launching a new college.
March 1, 2008
UW looking north
As the Washington State Legislature works its way toward a March 12 adjournment, the UW is waiting for decisions on two major issues: the fate of public financing for Husky Stadium and the location of a new UW North Sound campus.
Turner steps aside
UW Athletic Director Todd Turner announced his resignation Dec. 11, ending a three-and-a-half-year term that brought stability to a program in turmoil.
Campaign success
The UW Foundation has raised $2.52 billion in student, faculty, program and facility support through Campaign UW: Creating Futures with five months remaining in the eight-year endeavor, the foundation announced Jan. 31.
Progress on stadium
State lawmakers are considering a plan to help finance the renovation of Husky Stadium by tapping funds currently used to pay for professional stadiums in King County. A decision is expected before they adjourn March 12.
September 1, 2007
Genetics prize winner
According to the Gruber Foundation, the human genome would have been “an impossible jigsaw puzzle” without the work of UW Medicine and Genome Sciences Professor Maynard Olson.
Engineering access
Clyde and Ursula Crawford, acting on their strong belief that education should be readily accessible to more students, established the Clyde L. and Ursula A. Crawford Endowed Scholarship Fund in the College of Engineering.
Light rail in future
Light rail could arrive on the UW campus in 2016, now that the UW Board of Regents and Sound Transit have agreed to a station site and steps that will mitigate the project’s impact on the campus.
Honoring a legend
The University will salute UW Genome Sciences and Biology Professor Benjamin Hall Oct. 17 when it dedicates its newest research facility in his honor.
Largest-ever gift
The largest gift in University of Washington history has helped create the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, a new research center that will conduct independent, rigorous evaluations of health programs worldwide.
Record research funding
The University of Washington received over $1 billion in grant and contract research funding for 2006-07, marking the first time it has reached this level.
June 1, 2007
Winning streaks
The UW has the top primary care medical school and the top nursing school in the country, according to annual rankings of graduate and professional programs provided by U.S. News & World Report.
Tied in pride
In our March Columns alumni vote on who has more pride, we found that both Huskies and Cougars have a lot of devotion to their alma maters—and for a few alumni of both schools, perhaps too much.
Application record
A record number of high school seniors applied to become UW freshmen this fall in Seattle, and for 62 percent they got the happy news in the mail that they could be Huskies.
Closing the gap
In what could be a turning point in the recent history of state support for higher education, the Legislature passed an operating budget on April 22 that gives the UW its biggest financial boost in nearly two decades.
Memorial scholarship
Rebecca Griego, a 26-year-old program coordinator in the Department of Urban Design and Planning and a UW alumna, was murdered in her fourth-floor office in Gould Hall early April 2.
$100,000 for memorial
Students, alumni and friends of the UW have raised more than $100,000 for a memorial to former UW students who have received the Medal of Honor, ASUW President Cullen White announced April 9.
Partners for children
The University of Washington School of Social Work is playing a major role in an innovative new public-private partnership aimed at improving Washington’s child-welfare system.
December 1, 2006
Joint effort
A new, joint center to address hard-to-resolve social, economic and environmental issues in Washington was launched Oct. 10 by the University of Washington and Washington State University.
Head of the class
Late-summer rankings from three magazines all listed the University of Washington as one of the best in the country—or the world. In an Aug. 13 report by Newsweek, the University of Washington ranked 22nd among the best “global” universities in the world. Counting only public research universities in the U.S., the UW ranked fifth. The...
Minding the gap
There’s a huge difference between state funding for the UW and what our competition is getting, says President Mark Emmert, but he has a plan to help the Huskies keep up with the pack.
Tall order
Beating out several other real estate interests, the UW announced that it successfully negotiated the purchase of the Safeco property in the University District.
UWAA seeks director
On Aug. 15, UW Alumni Association Executive Director John Buller, ’69, ’71, announced that he is leaving the UWAA to become president and CEO of Tully’s Coffee in Seattle. The UW and the UWAA are currently conducting a search and are expected to announce a replacement in the new year. Buller became alumni director in...
Record enrollment
The UW’s Seattle campus broke several records when it opened its doors Sept. 28, including setting a new enrollment record of 39,524 students, beating last year by 273.
Legacy of giving
Moments after Ellsworth C. “Buster” and Nancy D. Alvord received the Gates Volunteer Service Award at the Fifth Annual Recognition Gala Sept. 8, the couple made a surprise announcement. They will help create a Center of Excellence for Neuro-oncology at the University by establishing with their family six new endowed faculty chairs.
2 guilty in bombing
Two defendants pleaded guilty Oct. 4 to participating in the firebombing of the UW Center for Urban Horticulture in 2001.
UW makes a promise
A revolutionary financial aid program called Husky Promise will allow about 5,000 in-state undergraduates to attend the University of Washington tuition-free next fall, President Mark A. Emmert, ’75, announced.
September 1, 2006
For kids' oral health
Thomas H. Morton, ’75, and Kyoko Awamura, ’87, ’91, ’96, share a passion for children’s oral health. They recently established the Pediatric Dentistry/Oral Biology Leadership on Children’s Oral Health Research Endowed Fellowship.
Top 10 again
For the fourth consecutive year, the UW Medical Center ranks among the top-10 hospitals in the nation. U.S. News & World Report’s 2006 guide to America’s Best Hospitals rated UWMC 10th, the magazine announced July 10.
Freshmen set record
When UW campuses open their doors to freshmen Sept. 27, these students will be making history. In Seattle, officials expect a record number of freshmen—around 5,400—exceeding the old record of 5,382 set in 2001.
Purple tide
The admissions office projects that there will be about 5,400 freshmen starting classes on Sept. 27—a tidal wave that is the largest in the history of the UW.
December 1, 2005
Enrollment record
When the University of Washington opened its doors Sept. 28, it had a record enrollment of 39,251 students on the Seattle campus—beating its previous mark of 39,216 set in 2002.
'Quiet leaders'
Two of the University’s “quiet leaders”—Anne Gittinger, ’55, and Wayne Gittinger, ’55, ’57—took an unaccustomed moment in the spotlight Sept. 9 when they were honored with the 2005 Gates Volunteer Service Award.
Nearly $1B for research
The UW drew a record-breaking $997 million in research grants and contracts for 2004-05, which is $43 million more than last year, the UW Office of Research announced Sept. 15.
September 1, 2005
Scholarships for diversity
Costco Wholesale, Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery and Safeco Insurance have partnered with the UW in support of the Diversity Scholars Program, which was created in 2000 to recruit and support high-achieving underrepresented minority students.
Oversight urged
After a 10-month review of billing problems in physician groups attached to UW Medicine, a panel has recommended appointing a compliance officer who answers only to the vice president for medicine affairs.
Wise choice
Phyllis Wise, former dean of the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of California, Davis, became UW provost Aug. 1. As the University’s chief academic officer and chief budget officer, the provost is the second-highest position on the UW’s leadership team.
Crow encounters
Oregon may be one of the UW’s archrivals, but anyone who has spent time on the Seattle campus in June will tell you that the crow, not the duck, is the Huskies’ true nemesis.
June 1, 2005
Loss and recovery
Harborview Medical Center sees approximately 150 amputation cases a year. More than half of these surgeries come from traumatic injuries, as opposed to the disease- and age-related amputations done at most hospitals. As a result, Harborview is nationally recognized as a leader in amputation technology and techniques.
Back in bronze
The UW likes to think of itself as a 21st-century institution, but in February one of its buildings stepped back in time 110 years.
Support for Education
Two new endowments are expanding the UW College of Education’s capacity to prepare and sustain teachers throughout their careers.
Departments honored
Established in 1998, the Brotman awards go not to individuals but to programs, departments and groups that excel in the promotion of undergraduate learning.
Neuheisel case closed
A settlement was reached March 7 between the University of Washington and the NCAA and former Football Coach Rick Neuheisel regarding his wrongful termination lawsuit against the two organizations.
Awards roll in
This spring, while the UW men’s basketball team was doing its part for national recognition, UW students were winning U.S. and international awards and competitions on an unprecedented scale.
State support grows
For the first time in the new century, the University of Washington is in better shape coming out of a legislative budget session than it was going in.
March 1, 2005
Growing pains
The state needs 33,000 more spaces for college students by 2009. To help solve the problem, the UW must transform its campuses in Tacoma and Bothell.
Gossett up for challenge
Larry Gossett became Region 10’s first — and it now appears last — representative on the King County Council.
Lab debated
The University of Washington is holding community forums to discuss a possible Regional Biocontainment Laboratory that might be built near the Health Sciences Center on Seattle’s south campus.
Neuheisel goes to trial
A civil lawsuit that pits former UW Football Coach Rick Neuheisel against the UW and NCAA began Jan. 31 with opening arguments in King County Superior Court.