Tomorrow morning, we will hold a Town Hall to discuss your questions and concerns related to federal policies, the state budget, and the many impacts on our community. Please join us at 9:30 a.m. if you can attend. We will record the Town Hall so that those who are unable to join tomorrow will be able to watch when convenient for them. Check your email for the Zoom link.
Here are this week’s updates:
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: During the past week, we learned that a UW Medicine employee was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at SeaTac Airport upon returning from a planned trip outside of the country. We realize how concerning it is to have this happen to a member of our UW Medicine community. We are committed to the well-being of all of our employees and encourage employees who are considering travel outside of the country to evaluate potential challenges that may be encountered when returning to the U.S. and to be prepared for inspection at ports of entry. For questions about responding to ICE activities on our campuses, please refer to UW Medicine’s ICE Updated Guidance and FAQ. In addition, if you become aware of any employee of UW who is detained by ICE, please alert the executive leadership of your entity.
- State Budget: Washington state lawmakers in the House and Senate released preliminary budget proposals this week for the next biennium. While work will continue throughout the legislative session to finalize a budget, we can expect impacts on state support for the UW in the form of tax increases, potential caps on reimbursement for providing clinical care to PEBB and SEBB employees and spending cuts. In the preliminary proposals, employees of institutions of higher learning are exempt from state-directed mandatory furloughs. Furloughs may be a temporary but necessary financial measure implemented by the University in situations where funding is lost. We are not planning systemic furloughs at this time.
- U.S. Department of Education: On March 20, an executive order was signed to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. While this action requires congressional approval, significant layoffs have already occurred at the Department of Education. The executive order does not indicate what will happen to the services currently offered by the department if it is eliminated, including whether other agencies will extend and service student loans. We are working closely with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office to understand the implications of this development.
- Research Funding: We are working closely with researchers who have been or may be affected by changes in federal funding for their projects. We are currently seeing several grant terminations from the National Institutes of Health, as well as continuing delays with noncompeting renewals and new awards. A checklist to guide researchers impacted by terminations is being prepared and will be posted on the UW Medicine Federal Policy Updates site. Please reach out to the Office of Research if you receive notice of termination.
- School of Medicine Travel Request Form: Thank you for your efforts to support the University of Washington’s direction to cancel travel that is not essential to operations. Although there are limited exceptions for essential travel, these requests must be submitted for approval to the Dean’s office using the new Travel Request Form. Please note that the form must be signed by your Vice Chair for Finance and Administration or Director and your Department Chair or Vice Dean.
- Inclusive Activities and Programs: Please refer to the updated checklist for evaluating whether your programs and activities comply with University policy and the law. Additional assistance is available by completing the consultation request form.
Again, please join us for tomorrow’s 9:30 a.m. Town Hall to discuss your most pressing questions and concerns.
Please remember to check the UW Medicine Federal Policy Updates site for updates in real time. Questions and comments can be submitted using our Federal Policy Updates Feedback Form.
Thank you for your perseverance every day on behalf of our patients, our people and the public we serve. Your work makes a difference.
Sincerely,
Timothy H. Dellit, MD (He, Him, His)
CEO, UW Medicine
Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs and
Paul G. Ramsey Endowed Dean of the School of Medicine,
University of Washington
