Patricia Spakes
Chancellor

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT). UWT was established in 1990 as a branch campus of the University of Washington in Seattle.  Classes were initially held in the old Perkins Building, located in downtown Tacoma.  Faculty, staff and students moved in 1997 to our permanent campus on Pacific Avenue in the heart of the Museum district.  Located in 16 beautifully renovated, historic buildings and modern structures designed to fit into our urban environment, strongly committed to sustainable redevelopment, surrounded by fine restaurants, retail and other businesses, the campus takes great pride in its mission as a metropolitan, urban university.  After sixteen years as an upper division and graduate commuting campus, our first freshman class was admitted in Fall, 2006, completing the transition to a fully operational, four year institution. 

Over the years, UWT has worked very closely with community colleges to make it easier for students to transfer.  We have also been expanding our enrollment and our academic degree programs.  We now enroll over 3,000 students who take classes from a dedicated group of primarily full-time faculty.  Both faculty and staff focus on serving students as their first priority, and with our smaller class sizes, students benefit from the close attention faculty can provide and by the accessibility to resources. From the beginning, UWT has valued interdisciplinary studies, so there are many opportunities for students to explore their own unique interests.  At the same time, UWT offers professional programs designed to prepare graduates for entry level, professional positions. And, of course, all of our graduates are provided with opportunities to be involved in their communities, to develop leadership skills, and to learn through internships and real world experiences. 

Our faculty also engage in scholarship and creative activity. Many conduct research and do other work that directly benefits the community in which we live. Solving problems in urban design, making the state’s foster care system safer and more effective, improving health care in the community, working to eliminate toxic environments – these are just a few of the many ways our faculty’s research and community service are making a difference in the lives of people who live in the South Puget Sound. And, of course, we encourage student participation in undergraduate research, especially as we prepare students for graduate education here or at other institutions.

At UWT, we offer a University of Washington quality educational experience.  We do this in an environment that stresses student success and that provides the skills you will need to become leaders in your own communities.

As UWT continues to grow, we will be adding more academic buildings and residence halls, expanding our student services, adding more student organizations, more majors and graduate degree programs.  We will continue to value student involvement in planning and building the campus, providing a unique opportunity within higher education for students to participate in the creation of an institution that will serve others for generations to come. 

Whatever your educational goals, we look forward to helping you attain them.  Here, opportunities to expand the boundaries of the traditional educational experience abound. We invite you to be part of the exciting, challenging education that we offer.

Welcome to the UWT Community!

Sincerely,

Pat Spakes, Chancellor