When Robert J. Jones was named the 34th president of the University of Washington last August, one of the most important messages he delivered was this: There should be no barrier between the University and the local community. If you look at the fall enrollment figures for this year’s class, you will see that the University was devoted to educating Washington state residents.
While the number of students enrolled in all three UW campuses hit an eye-opening 63,767, perhaps the key figure was this: 74.1% of the incoming class at all three campuses are Washington residents (that is similar to recent years’ totals). It proves that when President Jones talks about community, he isn’t referring only to Seattle or Western Washington. He means the entire Evergreen State.
“Washington is absolutely of and for the state of Washington,” says Danny Barrow, the UW’s new vice provost for Enrollment Management. In a state as large as Washington, a healthy number of prospective students live outside the Seattle-Tacoma metropolitan area. That means reinforcing access statewide by welcoming students from all corners of Washington.
Barrow points out that more students than not tend to choose schools within driving distance of their homes. As a first-generation college student himself, Barrow has a deeply personal understanding of the importance of higher education and the need for access to the UW’s three campuses. “Access and opportunity are not just espoused here,” he says. “The campuses are built intentionally to serve students and communities across the state. Students from all over the state should be engaged earlier and the pathways available to them.”
With the UW in the early stages of creating a new strategic plan, Barrow goes on to explain, “What we do isn’t just about numbers. It’s about connecting the dots across the University so students can access opportunity and the faculty, staff, alumni and students who are here to serve them.”
Jon Marmor is the editor of University of Washington Magazine.