Welcome to the University of Washington

Congratulations on joining the University of Washington (UW)! As one of the world’s leading public research institutions, UW is committed to fostering excellence in teaching, research, and service. This page provides essential information and resources to help you transition smoothly into your new role and make the most of your faculty experience.

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Getting Started at UW

As a new University of Washington employee or appointee, you will receive an official job offer from your academic unit, which serves as your appointment confirmation and is an important record to retain. In some cases, incoming faculty will also receive a confirmation email from the Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty (APF) that includes the appointment title, start date, and key policy statements; this email is also shared with your appointing unit’s dean or chancellor’s office. To support a smooth onboarding experience, you are encouraged to complete your onboarding tasks in Workday, review UW policies and compliance requirements, and connect with your academic unit for any additional steps or key contacts relevant to your transition.

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Events for New Faculty

Join UW’s new faculty events to unlock a wealth of resources and connect with your colleagues! Attend the Teaching@UW and NewProfs@UW onboarding sessions for a comprehensive introduction to teaching resources, research, and career development opportunities that set you up for success at UW and beyond. These and other UW events are key to building connections and advancing your academic success—don’t miss out!

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Research, Scholarship and Career Development

Navigating Research Resources and Opportunities

Office of Research, as convener of the annual NewProfs@UW event, provides new faculty with vital resources and connections to support their academic research careers. This event introduces faculty to UW’s extensive research infrastructure, funding opportunities, and interdisciplinary collaboration networks. In addition, the Office of Research offers guidance on securing grants, navigating compliance, and accessing research development support. Key resources include proposal development assistance, funding databases, and mentorship programs designed to foster research success. Office of Research promotes cross-disciplinary partnerships and offers tools to facilitate innovation, ensuring faculty have the necessary support to advance their scholarly work.

Accessing Mentorship and Professional Development

Faculty development at the University of Washington is a comprehensive effort led by the Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty. It aims to enhance faculty skills, knowledge, and effectiveness through tailored workshops, mentorship programs, and resources, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. The Faculty Development Program, led by UW sociology professor Alexes Harris, supports a variety of perspectives and belonging by creating a welcoming environment for faculty to form social and research networks across disciplines. Additional initiatives ensure equitable hiring practices and professional development opportunities, aligning with UW’s commitment to a broad academic community and supporting faculty in their professional growth and advancement.

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Teaching, Connection, Community and Growth

Empowering Faculty and Enhancing Learning

Teaching@UW is more than just an event—it’s also a year-round resource offered through the Center for Teaching and Learning. It supports faculty with evidence-based teaching strategies, instructional technologies, and opportunities to connect with colleagues across campus. In addition to the annual onboarding event, the Teaching@UW resource provides ongoing guidance on inclusive, student-centered teaching, and access to tools like Canvas, Panopto, and Zoom to enhance course design and delivery.

Sustaining Meaningful Community Partnerships

Building Capacity is a University of Washington initiative launched in 2022 to strengthen tri-campus community engagement through shared principles, practices, and accountability. Supported by an anonymous gift, the effort promotes ethical, effective, and sustainable partnerships that go beyond individual projects. Priorities include aligning community engagement with diversity, equity, and inclusion; integrating it into institutional strategies; addressing fiscal barriers; enhancing data collection; and expanding professional development for faculty, staff, and students.

Connecting with the UW Community

Faculty Field Tour: The UW Faculty Field Tour is a five-day summer journey across Washington for about 35 new faculty members. Covering 1,000 miles from the west side to the agricultural heartland, the tour helps faculty connect with colleagues, learn about UW student communities, and engage with University leaders. Eligible faculty will receive an email invitation to apply.

New Faculty Reception: Each autumn quarter, we invite all new faculty to join UW leadership for a New Faculty Welcome Reception. The event provides opportunities for conversation and community building, along with a brief program during which the president, provost, and Faculty Senate chair welcome faculty, express gratitude, and offer a toast to the academic year ahead. Watch for an emailed invitation early in the academic year.

Affinity Groups at the UW are designed to foster community and expand networks among staff and faculty. These groups provide a supportive environment where individuals can connect, share experiences, and celebrate diversity. By participating in affinity groups, members can build meaningful relationships, enhance their sense of belonging, and contribute to a more welcoming and fair workplace.

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UW Campuses and Resources

The UW has campuses in Seattle, Bothell and Tacoma. Additionally, UW Medicine owns or operates various on and off campus clinics and medical centers.

Additional Resources

Well-being & Community Support

• WholeU: The WholeU is your resource for community-building at the University. They offer information about discounts, events, healthy living, and more.
• Benefits & Human Resources: health insurance, retirement and work-life information.
• Disability Services Office(DSO): DSO provides resources on disability accommodations and more.
• The Office of the Ombud: Serving the UW community by providing high-quality, client-focused services for preventing, managing, navigating, and resolving conflict at the university.
• The Faculty Liaisons: Resource created in partnership by the President’s Office and the faculty leadership to support faculty navigating workplace conflict or engaging in formal university processes.

Tools & Services

• Campus Community Safety: Valuable resource for understanding campus safety, emergency preparedness, and personal security, helping you stay safe and respond effectively in various situations.
• Husky Card: Your official UW ID card that gives you access to transit, libraries and more.
• UW-IT Faculty Quick-Start Guide: UW-IT provides many resources to help instructors teach dynamic and engaging courses. Use this guide to find out about the resources available to you, and check with your local IT department for their technology recommendations and guidelines.
• UW Transportation: Information on commuting options such as public transit, biking, carpooling, and walking, as well as details on parking permits, campus shuttles, and the U-PASS program, which provides unlimited rides on regional transit systems.
• UW Libraries: Access to a vast collection of over 9 million items, including books, journals, maps, videos, and other multimedia materials, as well as information on library services, research resources, and study spaces across its 16 libraries on three campuses.

 

We are excited to have you as part of the UW community and look forward to supporting your success!