July 1, 2003 • The monthly newsletter for UWT faculty and
staff
Welcome
to Inside Track, the monthly e-newsletter produced by
the University of Washington, Tacoma, Office of Public Relations
and Communications. The purpose of Inside Track is to
publish updates, news and information of interest to the campus
community. If you have comments or suggestions regarding this
newsletter, e-mail us at uwtnews@u.washington.edu.
Milgard
gift sparks excitement in South Sound region
UW
Tacoma was the focus of attention in June as the community learned
of the Milgard family's generous gift of $15 million to the Business
Administration program.
Community
leaders and the media reacted positively to the announcement,
which was made on the day of UWT's thirteenth, and largest ever,
commencement ceremony.
The
Tacoma News Tribune called the gift "an eye-popping act of
civic generosity" and noted that the Milgard family has steadily
upheld the ideals of corporate citizenship and civic responsibility.
"As
the impact of this gift grows over time it will help others see
the importance of public-private partnerships in supporting higher
education. It will increase the visibility of UWT both locally
and nationally," said Chancellor Vicky Carwein.
For
more detail about the gift and the Milgard family, follow the
links below.
Links:
June
14 Tacoma News Tribune editorial
June
13 UW Tacoma news release
UWT
Business Administration Web site
Lucky
day for graduates: UW Tacoma holds 13th commencement ceremony
on Friday the 13th
UW
Tacoma's largest-ever graduating class received diplomas at the
Tacoma Dome Friday, June 13 amid the cheers and smiles of family
and friends.
More
than 650 graduates participated in the University's 13th annual
commencement. More than 800 students received diplomas this year,
bringing the total number of bachelor's and master's degrees granted
by UWT to over 4,500.
Among
the graduates were two UWT staff members: IAS Adviser Linda Kachinsky
received a Master of Education and Student Life Manager Shellie
Jo White received a Bachelor of Arts in IAS.
LINK:
Read
graduates' stories
Web
site fields questions about state budget
Got
a question about how the new biennial operating budget will affect
UWT? The 2003-05 Budget Forum Web site may have the answer.
The
Budget Forum site contains detailed messages about the state budget
and the legislative budget process, links to actual budget bills
and other information. It's also a place for UWT staff and faculty
to post questions and comments about the budget and read replies
from the Budget Development Committee.
Sandy
Boyle, vice chancellor for Finance and Administration and a co-chair
of the Budget Development Committee, says the committee is using
the Forum Web site to gather feedback about the budget development
process. Comments have been positive so far, she says.
"We
are talking about evaluating the entire budget development process
and how we communicate about budget issues with the campus,"
Boyle said. "In fact, we discussed this with the All Directors
Group yesterday. Faculty and staff across campus will be asked
for their feedback and the Budget Forum site may be used in that
process."
Link:
Budget
Forum
Japanese
Language School building likely to be leveled
The
Japanese Language School, a long-abandoned historic structure
on the western edge of our campus, is too deteriorated to save,
an architectural consulting firm concluded in June.
UWT plans to commemorate the building with a Japanese garden and
is encouraging the development of heritage projects to preserve
and convey the memory of the school and the bustling Japanese
community that extended within and beyond our campus footprint
before World War II. BOLA Architects of Seattle, a firm known
for its expertise and commitment to historic preservation, determined
that rehabilitating the building would have questionable historic
preservation benefit.
As
a result, plans are being made to tear down the building toward
the end of fall quarter. To ensure nobody is taken by surprise
when demolition begins, the Public Relations & Communications
office is sending news releases to media in the region, as well
as to regional and national publications for historic preservation
and Japanese American communities. Administrators hope the news
prompts community members to come forward with ideas for preserving
the history of the site.
A
reunion of Japanese Language School students is set for early
August. UWT officials are making plans to collect oral histories
at the reunion and host the group on campus for a reception and
tour.
Over
the next few months, efforts will be made to preserve the few
remaining parts of the building that recall its use as a school.
Some pieces of the building may be reused, either in other historic
projects or in heritage or commemorative displays.
Meetings
with local and regional historians, preservationists and faculty
to consider other heritage projects are being planned. Several
members of the local Japanese community have been consulted about
the building's future, and many agreed that it would be reasonable
for the building to come down as long as it was commemorated with
a garden.
Already
on display on the south wall of BHS is a calligraphy chart removed
from the language school in the early 1990s. Some additional printed
artifacts were removed to libraries in Seattle at that time.
Link:
News
release about Japanese Language School
Fact
sheet about the Japanese Language School
Faculty
and Staff Notes
Plant
Communications Coordinator Joe Chynoweth (Facilities)
is the first recipient of the quarterly Finance & Administration
Superior Staff Award. Human Resouces Manager Trish Fiacci said
Chynoweth is dedicated and dependable and establishes a high standard
for his peers by serving on numerous campus committees in addition
to meeting daily challenges. The Superior Staff Award is given
to one Finance & Administration staff member each quarter.
The recipient is selected by Finance & Administration employees
based on job performance, original and innovative resolution of
a critical issue and significant contributions toward maintaining
positive relationships within and outside of the department.
Associate
Professor Carolyn West (IAS) conducted a workshop
on Rape Trauma Syndrome for the Forensic Nurse Examiner Services
at Tacoma General Hospital in June.
