Dear colleagues,
As we enter 2026, I want to extend my sincere thanks for your leadership and partnership across the University of Washington. I hope you found time over the break to rest and reflect, and that the months ahead bring energy and clarity as we continue our shared work in support of students, scholarship and the public good.
The past year was not without its challenges. Like many of you, the Graduate School navigated uncertainty shaped by shifting federal and state funding, changing enrollment dynamics, and evolving expectations from our students and communities. These road bumps required adaptability, communication and, above all, collaboration. I am deeply grateful for the ways campus leaders worked together – often behind the scenes – to steady our units while keeping students at the center of decision-making.
Those dynamics are reflected in recent graduate enrollment trends, which I shared with the Board of Regents earlier this month. Overall graduate enrollment has remained relatively stable over the past six years, with modest long-term growth and a slight decline this past autumn. Applications continue to be strong and have increased significantly since 2020, while new enrollment in master’s and professional programs has largely held steady. At the same time, we are seeing more pronounced pressure in research doctoral enrollment, particularly among domestically funded Ph.D. programs, reflecting broader uncertainty in the funding environment. These trends underscore both the resilience of demand for graduate education at UW and the importance of sustained, coordinated investment in doctoral training and student support.
That shared commitment is reflected in several initiatives now underway. The Ph.D. Task Force continues its work to reimagine doctoral education at UW, engaging faculty, students, and staff in thoughtful conversations about how we prepare scholars for meaningful careers while sustaining academic excellence. At the same time, the Graduate Student Research Resilience Fund was launched to address immediate student needs during periods of disruption.
These efforts underscore what has long been true at UW: progress is possible because of partnership. Your collaboration, with the Graduate School and with one another, makes it possible to respond quickly to challenges while staying grounded in our values. Thank you for your continued leadership, your willingness to engage across units, and your shared dedication to prioritizing students in all that we do.
I look forward to working alongside you in the year ahead.
With gratitude,
Dean Joy Williamson-Lott
UW Graduate School
Ph.D. Task Force updates
The Ph.D. Task Force continues its work to reimagine doctoral education at UW through a faculty- and leader-driven structure overseen by a steering committee and co-chaired by Dean Joy Williamson-Lott and Divisional Dean Daniel Pollack. Five working groups are operating under defined charters and are now actively developing recommendations informed by institutional data, national context and campus input.
At the January 2026 Town Hall, early themes emphasized the importance of a shared and accountable definition of Ph.D. excellence; greater transparency and consistency in doctoral funding structures; and clearer alignment between doctoral training and diverse career outcomes. The discussion highlighted transferable skill development, near-term opportunities to reduce structural friction, and the need to balance innovation with existing labor and governance frameworks. Town Hall recordings and materials are available on the Task Force website for review.
As the Task Force moves toward draft recommendations this spring, continued leadership engagement is essential. UW leadership and faculty are encouraged to review the Town Hall materials, foster local conversations within their units and share input either identifiably or anonymously on the Task Force website. Ongoing engagement will help ensure that final recommendations are both aspirational and operationally grounded.
From the Office of Academic Affairs
Academic grievance procedure
Three months after the implementation of revisions to Policy 3.8: Academic Grievance Procedure, roles for academic units and the Graduate School in addressing student concerns have become clearer. Each school or college should now share its grievance procedures with the Graduate School to maintain a central record on behalf of the Provost. The Graduate School will contact units individually over the next two quarters to request and review these materials.
Graduate curricular innovation and growth
Despite ongoing challenges in higher education, faculty and staff continue to develop new academic opportunities for students. Since the end of Academic Year 2024-25, six new programs, which included two certificates, two master’s, and two master’s options, have been approved. Seven programs are currently working on well-developed proposals that could launch as early as Academic Year 2026-27.
Compliance in application reviews
As graduate application review season approaches, the Graduate School is reminding faculty and program leaders of state and federal compliance requirements governing admissions decisions.