From the Vice Chancellor

Dear Campus Community,

Since the beginning of 2025, we have been navigating an unprecedented level of uncertainty regarding federal government actions. A recent EAB webinar on managing this constantly shifting landscape suggested we should: avoid reacting to every news cycle, educate teams on requirements and remind legislators of the costs. I am doing my best to follow this advice, though it is challenging.

This newsletter includes a consolidated list of resources to help you stay informed about federal changes and access support (see below). Many of these resources are updated regularly. I have also included a federal executive order cheat sheet from EAB. Even with these tools, the amount of information can feel overwhelming, so please use what is most helpful to you during this uncertain time.

I also want to emphasize our unwavering commitment to our mission, vision and core values. In times of uncertainty, I turn to 56�Թ��� Bothell’s core values: Transformational Education, Engaged Scholarship and Inclusive Culture.

Our commitment to these values means prioritizing our faculty, librarians and academic staff. You are in the classrooms, advising sessions, labs, reading rooms and co-curricular events. You are doing the vital work that upholds our values and transforms students’ lives. You ensure that higher education continues to strengthen democracy. What you do matters, and our team is here to support you.

I am grateful to our deans and their leadership teams for their efforts to support faculty, staff and students. I also appreciate our associate vice chancellors and their teams as they respond to our community’s evolving needs. I continue to hear about the many ways faculty and staff support one another—thank you. I also want to acknowledge colleagues across campus who are hosting events, preparing critical materials, providing updates and taking many other thoughtful actions that allow us to continue our important work.

Finally, I recognize that, despite the university’s efforts, some individuals are experiencing personal and professional turmoil. Please feel free to contact me directly if you’d like to meet and discuss your situation. I am also holding drop-in Zoom sessions for faculty on March 13 and 17 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. Please join if you have concerns you’d like to discuss. The more we listen, the more we can do.

With gratitude,

Sharon A. Jones, Ph.D., VCAA

Cross-disciplinary
Connected Learning
Community Engagement

Resources for Uncertain Federal Landscape

• : Current messaging by our 56�Թ��� President.
• : Pen America workshop recording on academic freedom.
• : For federal policy updates.
• 56�Թ��� Bothell Faculty Safety Website: Includes a variety of resources for safety issues in the workplace, classroom, online (doxing), etc.
• : The latest direction is to continue operating as normal. If you plan to travel on your award, you are authorized to purchase the least expensive non-restrictive (refundable) plane ticket that allows some recovery of funds if plans change.
• Bothell Research Support: Faculty with federal grants or those thinking about applying for federal grants should continue to consult with Cindy Shirley at 56�Թ��� Bothell Office of Sponsored Research for guidance and support.
• : 56�Թ���HR developed this consolidated list.
• : Variety of general resources.
• : Employees on official 56�Թ��� travel abroad are strongly encouraged to register their travel which provides them with a variety of services.
• : The director shared this recent message with information on resources for students.
• : Includes an ally directory with resources for DACA students.

The post Quarterly Newsletter: Winter 2025 appeared first on Academic Affairs.

From the Vice Chancellor

Dear Campus Community,

During the last month, I’ve been thinking about this quote more than usual. Yes, life throws you the unexpected, and of course resilience is something to be applauded, and resilience phrasing can be inspirational, and so on. But, for those who need to be resilient to deal with today and move towards tomorrow, it is exhausting — and that reality isn’t often discussed.

I offer this reflection recognizing that at any point in time, there will be members of our community who are uncertain about what lies ahead, what it means for them, how resilient they may need to be and how much more they can handle. Let’s acknowledge how exhausting that is even as we are grateful for the efforts of so many to support our community through the unexpected.

This newsletter includes key updates from this fall quarter regarding the Division of Academic Affairs. While our five schools are the core of our division, this newsletter focuses on central services that support our academic core. Main updates are organized by faculty and students along with other key highlights. As always, to share feedback with Academic Affairs on how we may better meet your needs, please fill out our .

I hope the upcoming winter break brings you restorative time in community with those who genuinely care about you and your reality as we approach 2025. Thank you for all you do for 56�Թ��� Bothell.

With gratitude,

Sharon A. Jones, Ph.D., VCAA

Cross-disciplinary
Connected Learning
Community Engagement

In Case You Missed It

Leadership Searches

• The search committee for the next Dean of  brought in three finalists to meet with the campus community in late October. An announcement on the appointment will be made shortly.
• We are close to finalizing our search for a senior research scientist to serve as the director for the Collaborative for Socio-Ecological Engagement (CoSEE) for a five-year term. An email announcement will be sent out soon.

Late last spring, the  Faculty Senate approved legislation that expanded candidates’ rights in the promotion process and resulted in changes to   of the 56�Թ��� Faculty Code. Updated resources, including a timeline, can be found on the  .

The FY26 Annual Resource Planning  process has started. Starting this year, all 56�Թ��� campuses will align planning for academic year 2025-26 faculty hiring within the FY26 budget development process. There are some key upcoming dates to be mindful of, so please see the important dates section below for more details.

Vice Chancellor’s Leadership Council autumn quarter updates. The VLC, which is comprised of the campus deans and leadership of the central academic units, received updates and deliberated on the following matters:

• VLC purpose and team strengthening
• Summer session net revenue calculations and distributions
• Carnegie Community Engagement reclassification process
• 56�Թ��� Bothell International student recruitment pilot
• FY25 budgets, shortfalls, and prioritization process for the central academic units
• Fundraising goals for the central academic units
• 56�Թ��� changes regarding additional compensation for faculty (EO 59)
• Process changes for P&T based on the new Senate legislation
• Feedback to the provost on the tri-campus structure
• Feedback to the division on enrollment management on a merit aid proposal for graduate students
• Proposal from EAB to aid graduate program recruitment

On Wednesday, Nov. 13, almost 400 supporters of 56�Թ��� Bothell — including alumni, community members, champions and partners — came together at the Bellevue Westin for a special fundraising event: the  I 56�Թ��� Bothell Luncheon. The event was a celebration of our unique campus and the impact of our inspiring students. The central academic affairs units were proud to host two tables at the event, in addition to the many tables hosted by our schools.

The post Quarterly Newsletter: Autumn 2024 appeared first on Academic Affairs.