Navigating uncertainty and mitigating financial impacts

As we monitor and respond to the changing national context in which we operate as a university, the challenges we face are becoming increasingly apparent. While many questions remain unanswered, I want to assure you that we are closely tracking developments across all three campuses and UW Medicine. As a university, we are beginning to take action to safeguard our ability to fulfill our mission in both the short and long term.  

Federal actions  

In response to recent executive orders and their legal challenges, our UW Tacoma Executive Leadership team and deans are meeting weekly to:  

• Assess what we know.  
• Determine necessary steps to mitigate impacts.  
• Review updates on federal actions affecting research, equity initiatives, immigration, financial aid, and health and safety.  

Since many of the executive orders face legal challenges, I urge all to resist acting based on rumors or media coverage. We continue to work with the University’s Executive Office to ensure that any guidance, requests, or orders from federal agencies are fully vetted by legal counsel. If changes to our programs or procedures are determined to be necessary, your dean, director, or executive leader will notify you directly.   

State budget considerations  

We are also monitoring the Legislature’s budget process. While proposals have been made by the Governor that suggest cuts to public four-year higher education institutions, these remain proposals — not finalized mandates. Some state agencies will proceed with furloughs. The UW’s state relations team is working vigorously to advocate for our university.  

Cost control measures  

Given the potential major cuts to federal research and other funding, combined with the risk of possible state funding reductions, we must take stronger action to control costs now.   

Please take time to read and review Provost Serio’s blog post that was in this morning’s UW Today— and the supporting Together We Thrive webpage — regarding:  

• Measures being implemented to reduce costs.  
• Specific proactive initiatives that may include pausing some recruitments and hiring requests, canceling nonessential travel, and reducing other expenditures.  
• While some state agencies may proceed with furloughs, the UW does not plan to implement institution-wide rolling furloughs at this time.  

At this stage, we have not yet determined how these measures will be implemented on our campus. Clear guidelines will be essential for our daily operations. We are still developing campus-level procedures and will share them as soon as they are finalized, so we can work together to ensure a healthy and thriving future for the University of Washington Tacoma.   

Thank you for your patience and flexibility. I am grateful for your commitment to our mission and our students. As the path forward becomes clear, we will share as much as we can, as soon as we can.