Regents want to see residency requirements made more stringent

The way the guidelines are interpreted for establishing residency in Washington are not serving the intentions of the Legislature. This is the view Tim Washburn, associate vice president for enrollment services, presented to the Board of Regents during its monthly meeting.

Students who intend to make Washington their home should fulfill the requirements to become residents, according to Washburn, not students who want to lower their tuition bills. Washington's requirements are not as strict as other states', said Carol Niccolls, executive assistant to interim UW President Lee Huntsman.

Washburn briefed the regents on some new guidelines the UW administration wants the Legislature to pass this winter.

One would be that students would have to prove their financial independence based on whether they have their own car or medical insurance, not just by opening a bank account in the state. He also said the University wants the Legislature to presume that a trust or account into which parents can deposit money for students should be evidence of financial dependence.

Washburn said that students who enrolled this fall would be grandfathered under the old requirements; however, students who enroll next quarter would have to fulfill the new requirements. It usually takes out-of-state students at least a year and a quarter to establish residency, Niccolls said.

   Washburn did bring up concerns that the new requirements might hinder the UW's ability to recruit outstanding graduate and professional students.

"We want to be careful that whatever policies we put in place don't restrict graduate students," Washburn said.

Graduate students who fail to establish residency under the new guidelines would be able to apply for exemptions and pay in-state tuition during their second year, he said.

Regents submit qualifications for next president

The regents agreed upon a list of criteria its advisory committee should look for in the UW's next president.

On the list of about 20 qualities are such personal characteristics as integrity, excellent listening skills and the ability to handle stress. The regents also want the next president to effectively advocate for the UW and its mission as well as to be experienced in fund-raising in public, private and corporate sectors.

The advisory committee has 15 members and was made to represent constituencies of Washington, according to Board of Regents President Gerald Grinstein. As such, an undergraduate and graduate student sit on it as well as residents of Eastern Washington and members of the faculty senate and Alumni Association.

The regents have a new link on their Web site offering updates on the search. It can be accessed at www.washington.edu/regents. By April 1, the committee is to submit to the board the names of three to five candidates for the presidency. The regents want the new president to take office before the 2003-04 academic year.

The search is expected to cost the UW at least $200,000, according to John Byrne, a former president of Oregon State University advising the regents on the search.

Architectural institute lauds UW's architects

Two architectural firms received awards for their work on the UW's branch campuses, executive Vice President Weldon Ihrig told the regents.

The Seattle chapter of the American Institute of Architects gave an award to LMN Architects for the firm's work on the Keystone Building at the Tacoma campus. NBBJ Architects also received an award for its work on the Bothell campus, which includes Cascadia Community College.

A national jury came to Seattle to review the work of local architects. The jury evaluated more than 200 entries and gave awards to 12 projects; however, the jury also recognized five other projects which did not receive any awards. In those five, the jury included the Radford Court student housing project in Sand Point and the Hec Edmundson Pavilion restoration.

"It is significant that the UW was the dominant client represented in the awards because it recognizes that we are advocates and supporters of excellence in design," Lee Copeland, UW architectural adviser and consultant on the master plan, said in an e-mail to Ihrig.

Update: Administration increases trust for Curtis Williams' daughter

Following instructions from the regents, the UW administration increased the amount of money to go from the Curtis Williams Fund into a trust for Williams' daughter, Kymberly. The rest of the money will go into an endowed football scholarship.

The administration put $85,000 more into the trust than what was recommended to the regents in September. From the $460,000 fund, the administration put $250,000 into the football scholarship and $210,000 into the trust, according to Norm Arkans, associate vice president of University relations.

Arkans said the goal of endowed scholarships is to worry less about raising money. For example, he said increasing tuition affects the athletic department's budget because the department provides funds for non-endowed scholarships. If tuition increases, the department's budget decreases because of its commitment to those scholarships.

Arkans emphasized that the scholarship was created to honor Williams' talent on the field as well as his personality. He added that it will always be named to a UW football player and that the amounts in the fund and the scholarship were made with respect to the wishes of the Williams family. Tailback Braxton Cleman received the scholarship this year.

Kymberly will receive a monthly amount from the fund, which will also pay for her college education. Any money left over in the fund would go to her when she turns 25.

The money in the fund came from donations after the former strong safety suffered a paralyzing spinal injury in a helmet-to-helmet collision during a football game against Stanford Oct. 28, 2000. The UW established the fund to assist Williams during his recovery in a California hospital. Williams died May 6, 2002, from complications related to his injury.

Former student leader to work in Legislature

Regent Cindy Zehnder informed the regents that a former UW student leader will be working as a legislative assistant this winter.

Zehnder, who is chief clerk for the Washington state House of Representatives, said former ASUW President Jasmin Weaver will work for state Rep. Eileen Cody, D-Seattle.

Weaver graduated magna cum laude in philosophy and political science and summa cum laude in community and environmental planning last year and was Homecoming Queen in 2001. She was awarded a dean's medal in social sciences from the College of Arts and Sciences and is credited with creating the student group Affordable Tuition NOW! She also led a successful lawsuit against the UW for the energy fee that was ruled as an illegal tuition increase last year.

Weaver has admitted to using a doctored photo of her and Gov. Gary Locke in her 2000 campaign for ASUW president. In the photo, Weaver is shown standing alone next to Locke; the original print, however, contains several other people who were removed for "logistical" purposes, according to Weaver-supporter Noah Purcell in 2000.

Purcell and former ASUW President Danica You have also applied to work for legislators; however, their appointments were not known as of yesterday.

New appointment receives own endowment

Dr. Bonnie Ramsey was one of the many people the regents appointed to positions Friday; however, she is unique in that she will hold the Bonnie Ramsey Endowed Professorship in Cystic Fibrosis for the next 12 months.

Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the body to produce abnormally thick, sticky mucus, according to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The mucus obstructs the pancreas, preventing enzymes from reaching the intestines to break down and digest food.

Ramsey, who holds a bachelor of arts from Stanford University and a medical degree from Harvard University, received compliments from regents when Acting UW Provost David Thorud pointed out her appointment to them.

"She is considered the leading cystic fibrosist in the world," Grinstein said.

Ramsey has been the director of the Cystic Fibrosis Center at Children's Hospital and Medical Center and an associate professor of pediatrics for the UW.

"There are a lot of people living from her work," said Regent Constance Proctor.

She is married to Dr. Paul Ramsey, dean of the School of Medicine.

From this month's appointments, the person to receive the highest salary is Dr. Edward Walker. Walker is now the associate dean of the School of Medicine. He will receive an annual salary of $156,588 with an additional monthly administrative supplement of $3,334 for as long as he holds the position.

Walker has a bachelor of arts from Fordham University, a master of management from Catholic University and a medical degree from the UW.