Quarterly Newsletter: Winter 2025

See below for highlights from the Winter 2025 Academic Affairs Quarterly Newsletter. Click the link to read the full newsletter. Reach out to Sawyer Dedmon with any questions.

From the Vice Chancellor

“Faculty members have the right to academic freedom and the right to examine and communicate ideas by any lawful means even should such activities generate hostility or pressure against the faculty member or the University…”

(UW Faculty Code section 24.33)

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 UW 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

executive orders: able to do: direct law and implementation allocation of agencies, create committees, agencies and task forces, change administrative structures, activate emergency power, address military operations and foreign affairs. not able to do: alter the constitution, direct federal spending outside of congress, overturn scotus rulings, nullify existing legislation, alter the balance of power between congress and the judiciary, bypass the legislative process.
read the full newsletter here