UW Bothell Community Communications
Communications sent in March 2021:
March 29, 2021 | Campus listening sessions and healing spaces — reminders and NEW events
Holistic well-being offerings
To support the building of campus community and connection, Organizational Excellence and Human Resources is continuing to enhance UW Bothell’s well-being initiative. Through consultation with Cultures Connecting and UW Bothell’s Office of Diversity & Equity, Cultures Connecting will be facilitating listening sessions for Black communities, BIPOC communities and white communities.
These listening sessions will be held at the dates and times below. The capacity for each session is 25 to 30 people. If each session fills, we will explore the possibility of additional sessions. The intention of each listening session is to provide a safe and confidential space for staff and faculty to talk about the impact of COVID-19, anti-Asian racism and violence, the killing of Black people and inequity in access to health care, in addition to other topics each community may wish to surface. The themes that emerge from these sessions will also serve as the foundation of continued well-being programming and resources.
LISTENING SESSIONS REMINDERS:
- BIPOC listening session
Tuesday, April 6, from 9 to 11 a.m. – calendar link
- Black listening session
Tuesday, April 6, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. – calendar link
- White listening session
Monday, April 12, from 9:30 to 11:30 am – calendar link
NEW LISTENING SESSION:
Given the rise in anti-Asian racism and attacks during the pandemic and the recent deadly shootings in Atlanta, we are specifically offering a listening session for the Asian American and Asian Diaspora community.
- Asian American and Asian Diaspora listening session
Wednesday, April 7, from 3 to 5 p.m. – calendar link
NEW HEALING CIRCLES AND SPACES:
In response to feedback and requests, OE/HR will also be hosting a series of healing circles and spaces that are topic specific. The intention of each is to bring a group together to express shared needs and experiences so that all participants can share, learn and create both connection and community. The capacity for each session is 10 to 15 people.
BIPOC Healing Circles
These groups are for individuals seeking a healing and therapeutic space. The healing circles will support learning from each other’s shared common experiences and identifying personal issues — all of which can help us to grow and build community with each other. The session will be facilitated by Andrea Salazar-Nuñez, Ph.D., a psychologist from the UW’s Husky Health & Well-Being counseling center.
Grief and Loss Healing Space
Many faculty and staff across campus have experienced the unexpected loss of loved ones during the pandemic. This healing space will focus on the unique needs of those experiencing grief and loss. This facilitated healing space will bring together campus community members to share experiences and gather collective wisdom. A healing space allows people to support each other through deep listening and shared learning. This leads to authentic and deep connectivity and can create wisdom and healing for our campus community members.
- Watch for more information soon about dates and times.
In appreciation,
Beth Beam
Assistant Vice Chancellor Organizational Excellence & Human Resources
March 22, 2021 | Updated Back-to-Work guidance (Bothell campus)
In accordance with the directions received from UW President Ana Mari Cauce, telework flexibility to employees that was available till June 30, 2021, is now extended through Sept. 10, 2021. If an employee can telework without impeding operations, they should be allowed to do so until Sept.10, 2021.
If an employee can telework but would prefer to come to campus, unit leaders may now authorize them to return to the work environment, so long as it is safe and operationally feasible. The March 19 Back-to-the-Workplace Guidance details the steps necessary to authorize employees to return to campus, including the safety measures required to increase the number of employees working in person.
In cases where an employee has been teleworking, but is needed in person to support operations as the University prepares for autumn quarter, units must provide employees with at least 30 days’ notice before they ask them to report back to work in person. Exceptions can be made for emergency situations and in accordance with relevant collective bargaining agreements.
This spring, the University plans to finalize guidance on remote work in the post-pandemic environment, with the goal of allowing more flexibility in working arrangements while still fulfilling our mission as a university where the majority of learning and research is conducted in person.
Environmental Health & Safety and the Back-to-the-Workplace Task Force have updated the COVID-19 recovery status page with a summary on what is allowed in Phase 3. You can also find more guidance on the Back-to-the-Workplace Task Force page regarding Phase 3 and what we expect in Phase 4. Specifically, I direct your attention to the document entitled "Back-To-The-Workplace-guidance," which summarizes all known information.
S. Gowri Shankar
Interim Vice Chancellor for Planning & Administration
March 17, 2021 | Denouncing Asian American Violence
Dear Cascadia College and UW Bothell Communities,
With heavy hearts, we want to acknowledge the eight lives tragically slain yesterday in Atlanta. Although authorities have not yet determined whether these killings were racially motivated, the fact of the matter still stands — six of the eight people killed were Asian women. The intersection of gender and race, as well as the hateful rhetoric directed at the Asian community over the coronavirus during past several months, cannot be ignored.
Furthermore, this current wave of violence directed towards Asians and Asian Americans must be linked to the larger historical context of U.S. imperialism in the Pacific and anti-Asian racism here in this country. There have been 4,000 reported hate crimes targeting Asians and Asian Americans since last March nationwide. These acts have not occurred in a vacuum but represent recent examples of an ongoing legacy of violence towards people of Asian descent. In essence, these global cases have harmful local effects on our community. It is imperative to keep this understanding in our minds or else we risk losing sight as to how and why this violence occurs in the first place.
On behalf of the leadership of Cascadia College and the University of Washington Bothell, we want to express our continued solidarity with our Asian and Asian American students, staff and faculty at this difficult time. We as a joint campus community firmly and categorically denounce any bigotry, xenophobia and racism directed towards all Asian communities.
While yesterday’s tragedy took place in Atlanta, we understand that these actions have a real impact on our community here in Washington. All of us process events like this in our own way. Please don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you need it (Counseling Center, Student Diversity Center, the Center for Culture, Inclusion and Community, CareLink). If you’re interested in learning more about equity and inclusion on our shared campus, the Diversity at UW Bothell and the Cascadia College Equity and Inclusion webpages can provide helpful information.
As Chancellor Yeigh mentioned in his previous message, “There is no fast fix to problems that long predate the events of 2020. Consistent expressions of solidarity along with renewed institutional actions are required in the face of hate and bigotry.” We renew our commitment to providing a safe and inclusive learning and working environment for our communities and to do so for the long haul.
In solidarity,
Wolf Yeigh, Ph.D., F.ASME
Chancellor
University of Washington Bothell
Eric Murray, Ph.D.
President
Cascadia College
March 4, 2021 | COVID Vaccine Now Available to Veterans of All Ages!
COVID-19 vaccines are now available to all Veterans receiving VA health care who want one. There is no longer an age requirement.
If you’re not currently receiving health care through the VA, find out if you're eligible and how to apply now.
The U.S. vaccine safety system ensures that all vaccines are as safe as possible. Safety is a top priority as federal partners work to make COVID-19 vaccines available.
Before the FDA authorizes a vaccine for use, they carefully review the available safety data and clinical trial results for that vaccine. To learn more about the safety of the 3 authorized COVID-19 vaccines, read the FDA fact sheets.
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets:
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets:
Janssen COVID-19 vaccine fact sheet:
Eligible Veterans can call 206-716-5716 to schedule, or contact their primary care team. Call the Veteran COVID Vaccine Hotline, 206-277-4040, (recorded message only) for vaccine information.
Please note that this announcement just become public and the VA is quite overloaded on these phone lines. Patience will be key and you may have to try multiple times.
March 1, 2021 | Updates on spring break & COVID-19 vaccines
This message is being sent to all students at UW Bothell.
Dear Students,
On behalf of the UW’s Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases, I hope you’re having a successful winter quarter and that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. I’m writing today with advice on how to stay safe during spring break, as well as an update on COVID-19 vaccines.
As we all look forward to the week off, we also must make sure spring break doesn’t become a break from taking precautions against the coronavirus. While case counts in Washington and the nation have thankfully declined from their winter peak, the number of infected individuals is still high — with hundreds of new cases in our region each day — and the risk from new, more contagious variants is very real. In addition to the “UK” B.1.1.7 variant previously detected in our region, the B.1.351 variant, first detected in South Africa, has also now been detected in King County. These new “variants of concern” are predicted to be the predominant strains in our region in the coming month due to their increased transmission potential and will require us all to redouble our prevention efforts.
This is why nonessential travel is still strongly discouraged, and why it remains vital to keep taking the basic safety measures you’re already familiar with: Wearing a well-fitting, multilayered mask when around others. Watching your distance and avoiding gatherings. And washing your hands regularly.
In the coming weeks, students living in campus housing or who come to campus frequently will receive an invitation from Husky Coronavirus Testing for post–spring break testing. You must be enrolled in Husky Coronavirus Testing to receive an invitation. If you are not yet enrolled, please do so. If you are enrolled, please sign up when you receive the invitation.
As always, if you have symptoms or have been exposed to someone confirmed to have COVID-19, please indicate this on the daily Husky Coronavirus Testing check-in so that you can be scheduled for a test.
Even as we see concerning variants emerge, there continues to be good news about vaccines. Supplies of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are increasing each week, and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine was approved this past weekend. I join UW colleagues such as Dr. Vin Gupta in saying that as soon as you’re eligible to get vaccinated, please do so.
As was announced last month, most spring quarter courses will be held online, and we will offer more in-person student services and activities as health conditions permit, including opening parts of the Activities & Recreation Center as study spaces.
The UW Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases also looks forward to supporting UW Bothell’s desire to safely return to largely in-person instruction in the fall.
We can see the end of the pandemic on the horizon, and that end will come more quickly if we each continue to do our part. Thank you for the sacrifices you’re making in support of our collective efforts to fight the coronavirus, and best wishes for a successful conclusion to the quarter.
Sincerely,
Geoffrey S. Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D.
Chair, University Advisory Committee on Communicable Diseases (ACCD)
Medical Director, Environmental Health & Safety Department
Professor, School of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases