The Ģ����Ƶ is exploring a significant redevelopment and expansion of Ģ����Ƶ Medical Center–Montlake, the Magnuson Health Sciences Center and west campus.

To kick off this potential 10-year effort, the Ģ����Ƶ Real Estate office is issuing a Phase-1 request for proposals for a one-year exercise to find a development advisor that will, in collaboration with the Ģ����Ƶ, deliver an executable strategy for the project. This Phase-1 work would include a year-long process to identify potential capital funding sources, assess the existing south campus buildings and infrastructure, and determine a realistic program and plan for expansion and redevelopment.

The Ģ����Ƶ’s current facilities cannot meet the demand for health care as more patients turn to Ģ����Ƶ Medicine for cancer, heart and transplant treatments, among other care needs. Ģ����ƵMC–Montlake currently operates with a shortage of beds, and that shortage is expected to grow to nearly 300 by 2040.

Additionally, modern biomedical research and health research, such as the Institute for Protein Design led by Nobel Prize winner David Baker and the Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine require expanded facilities to continue delivering new treatments and cures.

Teaching, research and clinical facilities in the Magnuson Health Sciences Center are split across many floors and wings, and many of those spaces need replacement or will soon. The review will also include close consultation with the schools of Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmacy to determine the need for improved teaching, clinical training, research and dental care facilities.

A four-month initial feasibility study conducted by Seattle architectural and design firm NBBJ, along with the Ģ����Ƶ Medicine Strategy Team, determined the clear need for a new hospital tower at Ģ����ƵMC–Montlake with capacity for up to 400 additional beds. In a separate assessment, it was determined a new electrical substation is needed, as the existing substation is at capacity.

The RFP states a clear preference for limiting situations where a unit has to move more than once and for minimizing disruptions to teaching, research and patient care. If the project proceeds, the preferred project timeline includes the construction of new, permanent space for any units that may need to move, to be completed in approximately five years, at which point the existing hospital tower and portions of the Magnuson Health Sciences Center would be demolished and replaced. If the project proceeds, any units that are impacted will be supported through the project, including if there is a need to move to temporary space during construction.

An important component of the RFP is the development of a structured, multi-source funding plan for the entirety of the project. Potential funding sources include, but are not limited to, philanthropy, government funding, public-private partnerships and ground leases. If the year-long review determines that some aspects of the program are not feasible, the team will provide an alternative plan.

For more information, contact Victor Balta at balta@uw.edu.

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The Ģ����Ƶ has been notified by the U.S. Department of Justice that it is conducting a compliance review. The University will cooperate with the review and provide information and responses.

The off-campus event referenced publicly appears to have been organized by a group falsely claiming affiliation with the Ģ����Ƶ. That group’s registration was suspended in June 2024 and permanently revoked in May 2025. The Ģ����Ƶ strongly and unequivocally opposes antisemitism in all forms.

We also notified Meta last year of this group’s unauthorized use of the ���Ծ�����������ٲ�’s name on social media, and appealed Meta’s refusal to address this issue on March 10. That appeal is pending.

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The Ģ����Ƶ has earned a Gold rating from the ​​Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System, or STARS.

The STARS ratings, administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education, are good for three years and are based on self-reported assessments. The Ģ����Ƶ has held a Gold rating from STARS since first participating in 2012.

“The STARS Gold rating is recognition of all the hard work being done across our campus by staff, students and faculty for sustainability,” Ģ����Ƶ Sustainability director Lisa Dulude said. “As we celebrate Earth Day in April, this achievement is a reminder of the Ģ����Ƶ’s commitment to embed sustainability in everything we do, and the benefits of this work for our environment and our community.”

The STARS report covers the Ģ����Ƶ in Seattle and includes questions on sustainability performance in academics, planning and administration, engagement and operations. Ģ����Ƶ 380 schools worldwide have active STARS ratings. Gold is the second-highest tier. There are 17 schools that have achieved the highest Platinum rating. Ģ����Ƶ Bothell also holds a STARS Gold rating.

All STARS reports are public, and the .

STARS is the most wide-reaching sustainability report, and the information collected gives the Ģ����Ƶ a comprehensive view of its sustainability performance and allows for comparison to peer universities. It can also provide insight on areas where additional efforts might be needed.

The information is used to inform the Ģ����Ƶ’s Sustainability Action Plan, which sets out the ���Ծ�����������ٲ�’s sustainability goals. The first Sustainability Action Plan was adopted in 2020, and the Ģ����Ƶ is currently in the process of creating an updated Plan, which will be finalized by summer 2026.

“The Ģ����Ƶ has long been a sustainability leader in higher education, as evidenced by our long track record of STARS Gold ratings,” Dulude said. “With the Sustainability Action Plan update, working groups have identified several areas to set measurable targets, which ensure we will continue that leadership.”

The Ģ����Ƶ’s sustainability efforts are also on show in recognition of Earth Day on April 22. Events organized by a variety of groups across the Ģ����Ƶ happen throughout the month, including volunteer opportunities, workshops and more. You can see the on the Ģ����Ƶ Sustainability site.

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Lance brings more than 18 years of university leadership and legal experience to the role, serving for the past five years as chief of staff to the provost at Seattle University. Prior to that role, Lance served as SU’s associate university counsel from 2017 to 2021 and assistant to the executive vice president and assistant university counsel from 2010 to 2017.

“David stood out not only for the depth and breadth of his experience as a university chief of staff, but for the incredible esteem in which he is held by all who have worked with him. In addition, his deep knowledge and understanding of the local higher education landscape makes him the ideal person to fill this important role,” said President Jones.

Before joining Seattle University, Lance was an associate attorney for Miller Nash, LLP where his practice focused on higher education. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Marquette University, a juris doctorate from Seattle University School of Law and was an adjunct law professor from 2012 to 2016.

“Having been born and raised in Washington, I am honored to join the Husky family,” Lance said. “The Ģ����Ƶ stands as a leading public research university and prominent member of the AAU and Big Ten Conference. I look forward to serving alongside President Jones, Provost Serio and the Ģ����Ƶ community as we navigate the headwinds facing higher education, lead in this moment of change, and continue our work to educate students, care for patients, innovate and produce knowledge, and serve our communities, all for the common good.”

As chief of staff, Lance will serve as a senior advisor to the president, helping to drive strategic priorities and oversee the operations of the Executive Office of the President and Provost. He will work closely with campus and external partners to ensure alignment across the University, advance the institution’s strategic plan and strengthen collaboration among divisions. Lance will also support the administration’s engagement with the Ģ����Ƶ Board of Regents and help ensure the ���Ծ�����������ٲ�’s mission and values are reflected in its leadership and decision making.

Lance is the youngest son of two Huskies — Stan Lance, who graduated with a master’s degree in 1972 and an MBA in 1975, and Nora Lance, who earned a bachelor’s degree in 1973.

Outside of work, Lance enjoys running and longs for more October baseball in Seattle. He also explores the Pacific Northwest’s trails, beaches and mountains with his wife, Christi, and three young kids.

Lance succeeds Hasoni Pratts, who served as chief of staff following the departure of Margaret Shepherd, who left the Ģ����Ƶ in September after serving at the University for��16��years.

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We are pleased to see criminal charges filed with the court related to the occupation of the Interdisciplinary Engineering Building. This is an important step in ensuring accountability for those who perpetrated this occupation, in addition to the suspensions that the students arrested in the building received through the student conduct process. We value free speech and expression but also must continue to be a campus community where dangerous, unlawful actions are not tolerated.

We appreciate the hard work by the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Ģ����Ƶ Police and law enforcement partners who investigated a complex case involving a large number of individuals.

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Pratts brings a distinguished record of leadership in higher education governance and national policy advocacy.��She currently serves on the New York State Board of Regents, with responsibility for the general supervision of all educational activities within the��state, the University of the State of New York, and the New York State Education Department.��She serves on several committees,��including the Higher Education and the Professional Practice Committees overseeing the licensing and discipline of��54��professions.��

In addition to her service on the��New York State��Board of Regents, Pratts serves as Senior Advisor to the CEO of the National Urban League, where she has��demonstrated��exceptional skills in public policy, education equity, workforce development, stakeholder engagement, and economic empowerment initiatives that��impact��communities across the nation.  ��

“Hasoni��Pratts brings an exceptional combination of governance expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to educational excellence,”��Jones��said. “Her experience navigating complex policy landscapes and her dedication to expanding access and opportunity in higher education make her ideally suited to help us achieve our strategic objectives and serve our diverse community.”��

Pratts holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s degree in public administration from Harvard University. This blend of financial acumen and public sector leadership expertise positions her to provide valuable counsel on the operational, strategic and policy dimensions of university administration.��

As chief of staff, Pratts will serve as key advisor to the President, manage strategic priorities, oversee operations of the Executive Office of the President and Provost, facilitate communication between leadership and key stakeholders, manage special projects, and ensure alignment of institutional efforts with the university’s mission and values. She will play a central role in advancing the university’s strategic plan, fostering collaboration across divisions, and strengthening connections between the administration and the Ģ����Ƶ Board of Regents.��

“I am honored to join the Ģ����Ƶ at this transformative moment in higher education,” Pratts��said. “I am hopeful that my experience in advancing an institution’s strategic priorities in the ever-dynamic landscape of higher education will position me well as a partner with the Ģ����Ƶ leadership, faculty, students and staff,” Pratts says.  “I’m excited about building new relationships and working alongside President Jones, the talented��leadership team, and the entire campus community to enhance the Ģ����Ƶ’s impact regionally, nationally and internationally.”  ��

“Hasoni’s��appointment reflects��my��ongoing commitment to recruiting visionary leaders who can help navigate the evolving landscape of higher education��and��staying��true to the��institution’s��core mission of teaching,��research��and public service,” Jones said.��

Pratts succeeds Margaret Shepherd, who left the Ģ����Ƶ in September after serving at the University for��16��years.��

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Contact Victor Balta: balta@uw.edu.

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“Our student conduct policies and practices must ensure there is transparency about the expectations we all have for our students, as well as what happens if their actions run counter to those expectations by violating the Student Conduct Code.��We must also ensure a fair process and��appropriate accountability, reflecting the unique circumstances of each situation and the responsibility we each have as members of the Ģ����Ƶ community,” said Jones, who became Ģ����Ƶ President Aug. 1.����

The firm����will conduct the review.��It��will evaluate the Student Conduct Code () for its effectiveness in the modern University environment,��which includes��a number��of issues not foreseen when��the code��was last updated in 2021.��Student conduct policies and practices are��also��an important part of the ���Ծ�����������ٲ�’s commitment to��upholding��Title VI, Title��IX��and other civil rights laws.��

The review��will evaluate how those policies are implemented,��including��how different��forms��of misconduct��— including sexual and other non-academic misconduct — should be handled, with a goal of��continuing to��ensure��a fair��process and��promoting transparency and��appropriate��accountability.��It is not a review of individual cases, but rather of��student��policies and practices overall,��though��the review��may��be��informed by��the handling of specific cases to demonstrate trends or themes.����

The goal is for the review to be completed��in��winter��quarter��2026,��with recommendations implemented��after��its completion.��

Husch Blackwell’s higher education team has worked for hundreds of colleges and universities across the country.��They have��reviewed��student conduct codes��and��other matters of institutional policy and procedure��at dozens of public universities, including other institutions within the Big Ten, and bring decades of experience with and sensitivity to the unique aspects of life on campus.��

Contact Victor Balta: balta@uw.edu��

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Yocom has served as interim dean since October 2024 and is a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture, where he previously served as department chair. A longtime member of the Ģ����Ƶ faculty, Yocom brings deep institutional knowledge, a collaborative leadership style and a long-standing commitment to the college’s mission of advancing justice, sustainability and resilience through the built environment.

“Ken has been a thoughtful and steady leader during a critical period of transition,” Serio said. “He brings not only deep institutional knowledge but a clear vision for how the college can meet the challenges and opportunities of the future. His collaborative approach and student-centered focus will continue to strengthen the college’s impact in our region and beyond.”

Yocom’s research and teaching examine the relationships between ecological systems and the built environment, with a particular focus on how infrastructure, water and landscape shape communities. His work reflects the college’s commitment to place-based, interdisciplinary solutions that respond to today’s most pressing societal challenges — from climate change to housing access to public health.

“It’s an honor to continue leading this remarkable college — a community defined by purpose, creativity and care,” Yocom said. “At the College of Built Environments, we don’t just prepare students to design buildings or plan cities — we help them imagine and shape a better world. I’m inspired by the ways our faculty, staff and students come together to confront urgent challenges, and I’m excited for what we will build — together.”

Yocom holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture and a doctorate in built environments from the Ģ����Ƶ. As dean, he will lead a college that brings together architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate and urban planning in pursuit of transformative solutions for communities and the planet.

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The Ģ����Ƶ condemns antisemitism, harassment and discrimination. Throughout the May 5th incident, the Ģ����Ƶ was in contact with campus and Seattle Jewish community leaders. We value these partnerships and understand their deep concern. The Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and clear denunciation of antisemitism.��

The Ģ����Ƶ fully complies with Title VI and other federal civil rights laws. We also recognize the need to continually improve and have for many months been taking concrete actions to improve the campus climate for Jewish students, faculty, staff and visitors. This includes the creation of a full-time Title VI coordinator position, training on preventing shared ancestry discrimination, a review of University policies and procedures, strengthening relationships with the Jewish community, improvement of bias incident reporting and response processes, and consolidation of anti-discrimination compliance in a new Civil Rights Compliance Office. And this March, the ���Ծ�����������ٲ�’s Board of Regents overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to divest from companies with ties to Israel.��

The University values its long-standing partnership with the federal government. We will cooperate with the Task Force’s review and are confident that an evaluation will find we are in compliance with federal civil rights laws.��

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The Ģ����Ƶ is committed to maintaining a secure learning and research environment, and strongly condemns this illegal building occupation and the antisemitic statement that was issued by a suspended student group Monday. The University will not be intimidated by this sort of offensive and destructive behavior and will continue to oppose antisemitism in all its forms.

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