University of Washington Year Seven Evaluation Report to the Northwest Commission on College and Universities Report of the Evaluation Committee Gene Block, Chair Milton Castillo Richard Clement Joseph Fedock Robin Holmes Rebecca Johnson David Kessler Jessie Ann Owens Janet Weiss Frank Williams November 23, 2013 Contents Introduction..........................................................................................................................1 The 2013 Accreditation Visit...............................................................................................2 Standard 1 – Mission, Core Themes, and Expectations.......................................................3 Standard 2 – Resources and Capacity..................................................................................4 2A. Governance .......................................................................................................4 2B. Human Resources..............................................................................................5 2C. Education Resources .........................................................................................7 2D. Student Support Resources .............................................................................11 2E. Library and Information Resources.................................................................14 2F. Financial Resources.........................................................................................16 2G. Physical and Technological Infrastructure......................................................18 Standard 3 – Planning and Implementation.......................................................................19 3A. Institutional Planning ......................................................................................19 3B. Core Theme Planning......................................................................................20 Standard 4 – Effective and Improvement ..........................................................................26 4A. Assessment......................................................................................................26 4B. Improvement ...................................................................................................28 Standard 5 – Mission Fulfillment, Adaptation, and Sustainability....................................30 5A. Mission Fulfillment.........................................................................................30 5B. Adaptation and Sustainability .........................................................................31 Eligibility Requirements ....................................................................................................31 Commendations and Recommendations............................................................................32 Commendations .....................................................................................................32 Recommendations..................................................................................................33 Appendix 1: Evaluation Committee...................................................................................34 Appendix 2: Partial list of administrators, staff and faculty with whom the evaluation team met .............................................................................36 Year Seven Evaluation Report: University of Washington November 23, 2013 Introduction University of Washington is the largest university in the Northwest Commission region, enrolling more than 50,000 students on three campuses: Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma, and with a workforce of over 4,700 faculty members (tenure track and non-tenure track), and approximately 25,000 non-academic employees. In addition, over 47,000 individuals each year participate in UW Educational Outreach programs, which include online and classroom-based degree and certificate programs as well as continuing professional development opportunities. UW is one of 63 members of the Association of American Universities and is a perennial research powerhouse, with funded research of $1.47 billion in fiscal year 2012. Over 200 faculty members are members of the Institute of Medicine and National Academies. The University manages a portfolio of approximately 2,200 awarded/pending patents. The University operates four hospitals, which provide one quarter of the total charitable medical care in Washington State. The Bothell campus enrolled 4,160 students in fall 2012. It offers over 20 undergraduate majors and 11 masters programs. The Tacoma campus enrolled 3,907 students in fall 2012. It offers 31 bachelor-level programs and 13 graduate programs. The Seattle campus enrolled 43,485 students in fall 2012. It offers 165 undergraduate majors and more than 300 graduate or professional programs (source: http://admit.washington.edu/AcaLife/Majors; and https://www.grad.washington.edu/admissions/programs-degrees.shtml). All three campuses, as well as other sites, also offer continuing and professional education. Across all three campuses, UW awards close to 15,000 degrees per year, approximately two thirds of which are bachelor degrees, 24% masters, 5% doctoral, and 4% professional. About one third of UW undergraduates receive Pell Grants; almost as many are the first in their families to attend college. Over 13% of undergraduates and 10% of graduate/professional students are from under-represented ethnic groups (African American, American Indian, and Hispanic). The participation of URM students is increasing; for example, more than 17% of incoming freshmen in fall 2012 were from under-represented ethnic groups. Approximately 20% of undergraduates are from out of state, a percentage that will increase slightly in the future. The institution is highly selective, admitting fewer than 60% of freshman applicants. Incoming freshmen have an average high school GPA of 3.75. Approximately four out of every five incoming freshmen graduate within six years. The graduate programs at UW attract close to 30,000 applications each year, and have grown by 50% over the last decade. Given the broad and deep applicant pool, the UW can admit students who are highly qualified for undergraduate and graduate study. 1 UW has a major economic impact on the State. Nearly 300 companies have been started by UW faculty and students or with UW-developed technology. The University is the third largest employer in Washington. Charitable care by the hospitals has an estimated value of $140 million, students provide over 346,000 hours of service, and UW supports roughly 70,000 jobs statewide. Overall economic impact is calculated to be $9.1 billion. Over the past five years, the University experienced a precipitous drop in state support, as a result of the financial downturn. Funding from the State dropped from $401.7 million to $209.5 million between FY 2009 and FY 2013. The University responded to this crisis with significant tuition increases (and an increase in return-to-aid, to protect access for low income students); modest enrollment growth, including a slight increase in the representation of non-resident students; and cost-cutting (including salary and hiring freezes), especially in administration. This year, UW received a modest increase in State support, although not to prior levels. The University is governed by a 10-member Board of Regents appointed by the Governor. Orin Smith currently serves as chair. With the exception of the one student Regent, members serve 6- year terms. The Board meets 9 to 12 times per year, with additional special meetings as needed. In addition to its fiduciary responsibilities, the Board grants final approval of new degree programs. UW has experienced a number of recent changes in administrative leadership. Michael K. Young began service as President of the University on July 1, 2011, and Ana Mari Cauce became Provost six months later. UW operates under a shared governance model. The faculty Senate maintains purview over scholastic and educational policy, curriculum and the rules and procedures of appointment, review, promotion, and tenure. The Senate also appoints faculty members to 12 University Faculty Councils, which address issues ranging from Academic Standards to Benefits and Retirement. The 2013 Accreditation Visit A team of 10 reviewers (see Appendix A), chaired by UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block visited UW from October 7-8, with feedback meetings on October 9. During the two-day visit, the team met with approximately 165 administrators, staff, faculty and students across all three campuses, as well as several Regents (see Appendix B). This does not include the attendees at open meetings held on each campus with faculty, staff and students. Approximately 7 faculty, 7 students, and 6 staff attended the meetings on the Seattle campus; approximately 10 faculty, 12 students, and 20 staff attended the meetings at UW Bothell; and approximately 15 faculty, 6 students, and 25 staff attended the meetings at UW Tacoma. In addition, the team reviewed numerous documents, reports, websites, brochures, and other materials ranging from data dictionaries to student assignments. The UW Year Seven Self-Evaluation Report provided critically important information about how the University has addressed the Northwest Commission Accreditation Standards and its own core themes. 2 Standard 1 -- Mission, Core Themes, and Expectations UW has a mission statement first drafted in February 1981, revised in February, 1998 and again (with minor changes) on July 11,