Administrative Snapshot: October 2006
Names of key participants appear in brackets at the end of most items.

>> NEW THIS MONTH

Chancellor's Leadership Council

A new Chancellor's Leadership Council has been established. This group is comprised of all the senior management officers, academic deans and directors, the directors of Information Technology and the Key Bank Professional Development Center, and representatives from the Faculty Assembly, Staff Association and ASUWT. This group will meet with the chancellor monthly to share information and updates in this rapidly changing environment. This will also be the team that will eventually have oversight on the implementation of the strategic plan, and will work closely with the soon-to-be-established Strategic Planning Steering Committee. [Patricia Spakes]

Chancellor's Club

The fourth annual Chancellor's Club dinner will be held Wednesday, Nov. 8, at Fircrest Golf Club. The dinner honors UW Tacoma's most generous donors, who have contributed $1,000 or more during the previous fiscal year or $25,000 cumulatively. UW President Mark Emmert and UW Tacoma Chancellor Patricia Spakes are the featured speakers. UW Tacoma's first major donor, Bill Philip, and its most recent major donor, Arthur Paulsen, also will receive special recognition. [Carol Van Natta]

Assistant chancellor for equity and diversity

A committee has selected finalists for the position of assistant chancellor for equity and diversity. This person will be responsible for equity and diversity at the university and assessing the campus climate through an annual survey. The finalists will make presentations to the Diversity Task Force during their campus visits. Check uwtline for announcements. [Jan Rutledge]

Longshoremen’s Hall

The official opening of the Longshoremen’s Hall has been delayed due to necessary repairs. The facility is still being developed to provide collaborative study and recreational opportunities for UWT students. Improvements include a new heating system and sports courts, including a full-sized outdoor basketball court. [Milt Tremblay]

Fitness Center

The UWT fitness center, located next to the art gallery on the Pacific Avenue level of the West Coast Grocery Building, is almost ready to open for business. Equipment in the center will include two elliptical trainers, two treadmills, a weight unit, a recumbent bike, dumbbells and an exercise area. Information on membership and operating hours will be available soon. [Milt Tremblay]

UWT working to improve pedestrian safety

UWT Facilities and Community Relations continues to work collaboratively with the Hillside Development Council, the New Tacoma Council and the City of Tacoma to help create a more pedestrian-friendly environment in downtown Tacoma. The New Tacoma Council has approved a grant request for funding improvements such as the painting of a number of crosswalks in the UWT area. The most notable of these are at C and 21st streets and several intersections along 19th and 17th streets from Jefferson to Tacoma avenues. The grant will also fund a crosswalk with flashing lights on Market Street across from the Longshoremen’s Hall. UWT staff is working with the City of Tacoma to expedite this work. [Milt Tremblay]

Assembly Hall

Design professionals at Thomas Hacker Architects, working collaboratively with students, staff, and faculty, have come up with a creative and exciting design for the new Assembly Hall. Everyone is encouraged to stop by Mattress Factory 354 to review the 80% Design Development plans and provide additional input. The hall's 500-seat capacity and flexible format will provide a forum for a wide variety of academic functions, job fairs, lectures and banquets as well as collaborative meeting areas and informal gathering spaces. The project continues to be on schedule for a fall/winter 2008 occupancy. [Milt Tremblay]

Court 17

Looking for parking? Don’t forget that the Court 17 parking garage is open for business. Students, staff and faculty can purchase quarterly passes from the UW Tacoma Cashier for $150. Hourly and daily parking is also available to the public; rates are $3 for 0 to 3 hours and $6 for 3 to 10 hours. The parking fee machine accepts credit/debit cards and cash. Progress continues on the 128-unit apartment complex that is being constructed by a private developer over the University’s parking garage. The apartments should be available for occupancy in December. Brochures on these market-rate apartments are available in Enrollment Services. A priority waiting list has been established by the developer for UWT students, faculty, and staff wishing to apply for these units. Interested parties can contact Lorig Development at (253) 274-9000 for additional information. [Milt Tremblay]

Student health care

Over-the-counter medications are now available from a vending machine in the Mattress Factory building. Faculty, staff and students collaborated over the past several years to make this happen. Special thanks go to Dr. Sharon Fought, the ASUWT health care committee and 2005 graduates Karen Fuyura and Stan Betts, who worked long past their own graduation to see this project to its conclusion. The vending units, located outside MAT 107, were funded with Services and Activities fees. [Derek Levy, S. Jo Enscoe]

Campus growth

Mirai Transportation Planning and Engineering has completed traffic counts and is beginning data analysis as part of its review of the impact of closing Market Street and possible mitigation scenarios. The group will also analyze the economic development impact on the downtown core on either side of the campus. Community leaders and representatives from the City of Tacoma are serving on a small steering committee. The larger advisory group, comprised of community, city, UW Seattle and UW Tacoma representatives, continues to meet. [Steve Smith, Milt Tremblay]