University of Washington, Seattle
EN-13: Community Stakeholder Engagement

The UW Office of Regional and Community Relations coordinates consistent community stakeholder engagement across the institution. This office links the University with surrounding neighborhoods, civic groups and local government. It works to build collaborative relationships between these groups through information sharing, and continually seeks new opportunities to match UW academic capital with needs in the region and community.

In addition to participating in community meetings, serving on advisory groups and sitting on local boards, the University has three primary ways to identify and engage community stakeholders:

1) The City/University Community Advisory Committee (CUCAC) includes representation from sixteen surrounding communities. CUCAC advises the City and University on the physical development of the University, advocates for adequate services in the surrounding neighborhood, reviews potential impacts from development and makes suggestions for mitigating those impacts. This group meets monthly.

2) The University helps fund and participates in the U District Partnership (UDP). The Partnership is a 501 (c) 3 that is dedicated to promoting a vibrant, innovative and diverse community surrounding the campus. The partnership was forged through a four-year period of time that saw unprecedented levels of community engagement and collaboration between the City, the UW, Sound Transit, Business Owners, Property Owners, and Residents of the District. Together they crafted a Strategic Plan guided by a Steering Committee. Their efforts produced a long term, sustainable organization that provides the community with the leadership capacity required to realize their own goals.

3) The North of 45th Committee was formed to promote safety and cleaning, improve rental housing standards, and promote positive interaction between students and permanent residents in the neighborhoods north of campus. This group creates a monthly newsletter, organizes volunteer activities and lobbies the City for neighborhood improvements. It includes participation by students, permanent residents, local police agencies, university administrators and city staff.

Associated Students of the University of Washington, Eastlake Community Council, U District Partnership, Laurelhurst Community Club, Montlake Community Club, Portage Bay/Roanake Park Community Council, Ravenna-Bryant Community Association, Ravenna Springs Community Group, Roosevelt Neighbors’ Alliance, Roosevelt Neighborhood Association, University District Community Council, University Park Community Club, Wallingford Community Council, Interfraternity Council, Panehellenic Association, U District Partnership, U Heights Community Center, ROOTS Young Adult Shelter

U District Partnership Strategic Plan: This plan forms the foundation for building successful working relationships between the community, the university, and the city to plan for change now and working together toward the betterment of the U District community in the decades ahead. The U District Livability Partnership’s vision is to sustain a vibrant and innovative district of entrepreneurs, major employers, talented workers, and diverse residents. Strategic partnerships of effective champions and disparate voices will build on the district’s creative and eclectic character and draw on the University of Washington’s world-class presence to achieve this vision.

U District Next – A Community Conversation: Focused around a series of three large public events and supporting engagement activities, the community conversation was a forum for the public to share perspectives, explore new ideas, help identify and cultivate a shared sense of possibilities, and to develop a cohesive vision for the U District’s future. The first of three large public events focused on the question “What is the future of the U District as it experiences change, including the arrival of Link light rail?” The second event focused on the question “How could the U District be more economically and ecologically sustainable?” The third event highlighted university partnerships at Ohio State and discussion of strategies for moving forward together.