The February 2026 APF eDigest highlights key March deadlines, including H‑1B submissions, faculty reappointment notifications, and sabbatical-related actions. It announces the March 4 training session for the 2026–2027 Promotion & Tenure cycle and shares updates to online P&T resources. New and revised templates are now available for postdoctoral scholar offers and faculty annual reviews. ISO has published new guidance on EB‑1B sponsorship as part of UW’s visa pilot program, and USCIS premium processing fees will increase on March 1. Additional updates include changes to Gerberding Hall access and reminders on where to direct questions for academic personnel and visa support.
Welcome to the Academic Personnel & Faculty (APF) eDigest, a monthly resource for University of Washington administrators engaged in academic personnel support. Looking for additional guidance or tools? Visit the APF website for expanded resources.
March Deadlines and Reminders
Mar 1, 2026 — Submit H‑1B visa requests for appointees starting in July
Mar 13, 2026 — Notify 9‑month faculty in their first year of appointment of the reappointment decision
Mar 14, 2026 — Initiate the Return from Sabbatical Leave request for faculty returning from Winter Quarter Sabbatical
Mar 14, 2026 — Submit “Spring” spreadsheets for faculty reappointments and title changes
Mar 15, 2026 — Initiate the Sabbatical Leave request for faculty approved for Spring Quarter Sabbatical
📆View the Academic Personnel & Faculty Due Dates Calendar for more information.
2026–2027 Promotion & Tenure Cycle Refresh
Training date: Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Time: 10:00–11:30 a.m.
All P&T administrators are encouraged to attend
Start the new promotion and tenure cycle prepared and confident. This essential training will cover key updates for the 2026–2027 P&T cycle, including policy changes, critical deadlines, and lessons learned from the 2025–2026 cycle to help you avoid common administrative pitfalls. The session will also include live demonstrations of Interfolio RPT, with guidance on template preparation, case initiation, and best practices for managing cases efficiently. Q&A will be available throughout.
🗒️Learning outcomes:
Stay current on all changes and critical deadlines for the 2026–2027 cycle
Identify and avoid common administrative errors from the previous cycle
Navigate Interfolio RPT with greater confidence and efficiency
💻Updated Online Resources for the P&T Cycle
In advance of the training, several Academic Personnel and Faculty website resources have been refreshed to better support your work:
- A new Getting Started page outlining steps for launching new promotion and/or tenure cases
- Updated guidance on Annual Template preparation
- Additional content added to the Unit Materials and Case Management pages
- A new Frequently Asked Questions page
These updates are designed to help units prepare early and streamline case management for the upcoming cycle.
Postdoctoral Scholar Offer Letter and Exception Templates Updated
The postdoctoral scholar offer letter and exception templates have been updated. Before initiating your next postdoctoral scholar hire, please visit APF’s Forms and Templates page to download the most current versions.
New Faculty Annual Review Template Available
A new annual review template for faculty is now available to support chairs and deans. This template provides a structured guide for conversations and a mechanism to document the discussion. Units are encouraged to adapt the template to meet their specific needs.
Learn More About EB‑1B Outstanding Researcher or Professor Sponsorship
As part of UW’s pilot program expanding O-1 and EB-1B visa sponsorship, ISO has added a section to its Visa Guidance for Unit Administrators regarding EB-1B permanent residence sponsorship for outstanding researchers and professors. The new content includes eligibility, process, and cost information regarding this specialized sponsorship pathway, as well as comparisons with the UW’s standard EB-2 sponsorship pathway. We encourage units to share this content and information with both employees and leadership.
To learn more about UW permanent residence sponsorship, register for ISO’s Permanent Residence Fundamentals training at our Upcoming Trainings and Forums page.
USCIS Premium Processing Fee Increases March 1, 2026
USCIS has announced a fee increase for the I-907 Request for Premium Processing Service from $2805 to $2965, effective Sunday, March 1. This fee will be necessary for all premium processing requests received by USCIS on or after March 1. ISO advisors will reach out to units to request new G-1450 forms where necessary. Please contact ISO with any questions.
ISO Visiting Hours and Updated Gerberding Access
In order to better address unauthorized building access, Gerberding Hall has recently closed some of its entrances to the public. Going forward, only the front/main entrance to Gerberding Hall (facing Red Square) will be open to the general public during business hours. Other entrances will have restricted access at all times. Please plan accordingly when visiting the ISO office.
Contact Information & Support
General academic personnel matters and promotion and tenure: acadpers@uw.edu
Visa questions: acadvisa@uw.edu