Administrative Snapshot: August 2005
Names of key participants appear in brackets at the end of most items.

>> NEW THIS MONTH

Applied bachelor’s degrees

Sharon Fought participated in a July 29 interactive teleconference on the initiation of applied bachelor’s degrees by community and technical colleges, hosted by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges. Other participants included representatives from the State Board, HEC Board, workforce training organizations and 18 community and technical colleges. Several models can be considered as the basis for offering a pilot program. While a timeline and some financing information, such as charging tuition, requesting state support at the upper-division level and plans for requesting additional enrollments are available, specific criteria for evaluation of proposals won’t be available for several weeks. Contact Sharon Fought if you’d like additional information. [Sharon Fought]

Bachelor of arts in CSS and minor in applied computing

The proposed BA in CSS and minor in applied computing has been approved by UW Administration. Steve Hanks provided leadership in crafting the proposals and Bob Jackson facilitated progress through aspects of the still-new tri-campus consultation process. [Sharon Fought]

Student health resources

We are collaborating with students and Student Life staff to have additional health resources available for students in Autumn quarter. These will include Web-based resources and first-aid supplies. Work is also underway to provide additional or improved insurance options for students in the future. [Sharon Fought]

Self-defense classes

Campus Safety staff Laura Delval and Ron Welk recently taught rape aggression defense on campus, with staff volunteers as participants. An additional session may be planned; contact Campus Safety for more information. [Sharon Fought]

Library to host leadership group

On Aug. 2, the UW Tacoma Library hosted Betsy Wilson, Dean of University Libraries, and a group of librarians from all over United States who are participating in the Association of Research Libraries' Leadership Fellows Program. The group met with UWT Library staff and Chancellor Pat Spakes to discuss libraries, higher education and leadership. [Anna Salyer]

Commerce Street

The Tacoma City Council has approved the legal vacation of the south end of Commerce (adjacent to the Mattress Factory) and the north end of Commerce (outside Dougan). The University now has control of the street. Revisions to the parking on the two sections of street are planned. The south portion of Commerce will be renamed Dolly Roberson Lane. [Fred King]

Space Inventory

Sharon Fought and Noreen Slease are continuing to meet with unit directors to verify specific office assignments for incoming faculty and emerging office space needs. The inventory of office and instructional space on campus has been completed. [Sharon Fought]

UWT data reports on SIS

Reports in the electronic fact book on the Student Information System (SIS), available for internal use, have recently been updated. A standard report on headcount by major is forthcoming. FERPA training is required to use the database, and use is currently restricted to UWT staff and faculty advisers. Some of the information is confidential. More information is available on the DataPlus Web site. If you have questions about the SIS application, contact the Director of Information Technology at ppow@u.washington.edu. [Sharon Fought]

Support for grants and contracts

Electronic approval of grant and contract applications is being used on campus, and the transition to this part of the system has been relatively seamless. Carol Hert is offering training opportunities on locating funding sources and submitting applications this summer. These will be announced on uwtline and on the Research Web site, which includes information about the need to complete online training designed to improve the Faculty Effort Certification (FEC) process for anyone whose work is being supported by grant or contract funds. The training session comes with a bonus: some content will assist faculty in completing the budget section of applications for funds. [Sharon Fought]

• Visit the Grants and Contracts Web site

Accreditation

A small work group, led by Christine Ingebritsen, Associate Dean and Associate Vice Provost, Office of Undergraduate Education at UWS, provides leadership for ongoing plans and activities related to regional accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. The group drafted an interim report, which was submitted to the Commission. The Commission accepted the interim report in July. [Sharon Fought]

• Read the Commision's letter of acceptance (PDF file)

>> STILL CURRENT FROM LAST ISSUE

Traffic Impact Study

UWT, collaborating with the City of Tacoma, will retain a traffic consultant to study the impact on traffic circulation of campus growth and UWT's proposal to close certain streets in our 46-acre campus. A selection committee consisting of Fred King and Steve Smith of UWT, Kurtis Kingsolver of the City Traffic Department, Marty Campbell, owner of Buzzard Records, and Lee Copeland and Peter Dewey of UW Seattle will interview firms during the week of Aug. 15. The study, which should be complete by early December, is expected to determine what mitigation will be required to close the streets within campus as proposed by the master plan. An oversight committee of local citizens, UWT students, faculty and staff and City of Tacoma staff will contribute advice and guidance to the selected consultant during the analysis.
[Fred King]

Assembly Hall

The Legislature appropriated $7.5 million to replace the Dawg Shed with a new campus assembly hall. An estimated $2.5 million in private funds will be raised to complete the project. The multipurpose hall is expected to seat 500 and provide flexible space for a wide range of events and academic functions, including job fairs, lectures and banquets. The additional use of the assembly hall as a campus commons will be studied this summer. Final design architects will be selected in September and design will begin this fall. [Fred King]

Housing/Parking

Construction has started on the Court 17 garage. When complete, the project will provide a 309-stall parking garage to be owned and operated by UWT with a 129-unit, privately managed apartment building on top. The garage will be complete and partially operational late this year. The residential units will be complete fall of 2006. Court C is closed during construction. [Fred King]

• View a PDF of the 2003 campus master plan (CAUTION: Very large file)

Tuition and Fee Policy Committee

The Tuition and Fee Policy Advisory Committee completed its work on draft principles to provide the basis for tuition policy at UW; the report of the committee has been forwarded to the provost. It's anticipated that a broad audience will review the principles across the three campuses in Autumn 2005. [Sharon Fought]

Storage on campus: Tacoma Paper and Stationery Building and Snoqualmie Room

The Snoqualmie Room, in the basement of the library, is being made ready for improvements to provide additional space for Library functions. For a few weeks, no new requests will be processed for storage in the Tacoma Paper and Stationery Building (Spaghetti Factory) or Jet Tool Building as a review of the space is undertaken. [Sharon Fought]

15th-year: Convention Center selected for 15th anniversary event

UW Tacoma is marking its 15th year serving the South Sound, and an array of events are being planned to celebrate this milestone. On Oct. 8, Chancellor Patricia Spakes and UW President Emmert will share their vision for the future of the campus at a festive dinner at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. The dinner will celebrate the 15th anniversary and honor members of the Chancellor's Club (donors who have given $1,000 during the fiscal year or $25,000 over a lifetime). Russell Investment Group and Milgard Manufacturing have contributed underwriting for the event. Co-chairs of the event are Joanne and Cal Bamford and Melissa and Ryan Petty. Joanne and Melissa have been meeting with Advancement staff. Faculty, staff and alumni will be invited. Tickets are $75. [Carol Van Natta]

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