Robert J. Jones

The University of Washington's Strategic Framework 2026-2030 outlines a roadmap to lead with boldness and imagination amidst rapid technological and societal change. It is built upon four strategic pillars: delivering high-quality, debt-free education; engaging in radical collaborations for breakthroughs and public benefit; strengthening healthier communities; and stewarding and growing people and resources. The plan aims to prepare learners for a changing world, advance discovery and technology, improve human health and well-being, and generate lasting benefits for Washington and beyond, while upholding ethics and public trust.

This Statement of Work outlines the development of a comprehensive three-year strategic plan for University of Washington Information Technology. The plan aims to align UW-IT's goals and objectives with the university's mission and vision, addressing the evolving technological landscape and the needs of the academic community. Key objectives include conducting situational and environmental analyses, refining vision and mission statements, setting SMART strategic goals, engaging stakeholders, reviewing resource models, establishing performance metrics, developing an implementation roadmap, and supporting communication strategies.

This Statement of Work outlines the development of a comprehensive three-year strategic plan for the University of Washington's Information Technology (UW-IT) department. The plan's high-level objectives include conducting situational and environmental analyses, refining vision and mission, setting SMART goals, engaging stakeholders, planning resource models, establishing performance metrics, developing an implementation roadmap, and managing communications. The ultimate goal is to align UW-IT's objectives with the university's mission and vision, adapt to the evolving technological landscape, and enhance UW-IT's value proposition and service delivery to the academic community.

The meeting involved announcements regarding staffing changes, including the recruitment of a new Chief Ambulatory Officer and the initiation of searches for a Chief Quality Officer and Chief Financial Officer. Highlights from UW Medical Center included successful inspections by The Joint Commission and CMS, the creation of real-time safety reports, and positive trends in the annual staffing engagement survey. The finance report provided an overview of key performance indicators for October 2025, noting that while operating revenue was unfavorable by $44M due to lower complexity/volumes in procedural areas and transplants, strong expense management kept the overall operating result close to budget. A deep dive focused on Length of Stay (LOS) as a critical driver of financial performance, noting the impact of the state-funded behavioral health unit. The session concluded with an executive session to review quality improvement activities and a subsequent action to approve the provider credentials table.

The Finance and Asset Management Committee meeting included several informational items and actions. Key discussions centered on the Annual Report of the Audit Advisory Committee, which reported a clean, unqualified opinion on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 audited financial statements due to improved processes via Workday Finance, and oversight of financial risks including cyber risk and federal grant reimbursements. The committee approved receipt of the FY 2025 audited financial statements and report, noting an operating loss improvement of $225 million over FY24, though noting ongoing challenges related to governmental reimbursement rates and funding. The Budget, Finance, and Capital Report covered efforts to manage risks from the governmental shutdown, improving cash on hand, and concerns regarding UW Medicine's revenue due to payer mix and reduction of deferred-payment programs. The committee also discussed escalating costs driving misalignment in facilities projects, such as the need for Board approval to redirect funds for seismic retrofitting on the Seattle campus. Furthermore, the committee addressed the proposed transfer of operations of the UW Botanical Garden to the Arboretum Foundation after a 15-year commitment from the University, and approved the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the UW Tacoma Student Housing & Dining Project.