Hi everyone,
We’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the functional reviews, in particular the outcomes of the functional review implementation teams (FRITs) and what’s coming next for staff. With the MoA revisions, you’ll be hearing from us more than usual in the coming weeks, but we felt this issue was worth an additional message.
I’m going to be direct: We don’t have much in the way of new information to share right now, which is why I’m sharing this as a blog post and not a formal president’s update. I know this is frustrating, and it’s certainly not a message I enjoy sharing. At the same time, I want to be transparent about what we’re hearing from you and what we’re continuing to raise with the University.
The conversations I’ve had with staff and comments we’ve received point to a pervasive sense of anxiety across the staff community, which has been building since the functional reviews were announced nearly a year and a half ago.
At the January budget forum, the University shared an April 2026 timeline for outcomes related to the marketing and communications functional review, which is the area we are hearing about the most from staff, likely since it’s the one with a specific timeline attached. What isn’t clear to us (or staff) is whether April may mean full implementation, an announcement, or something in between, or what opportunity there may be to understand what’s coming before anything takes effect. We have similarly limited information on the other functional review areas as well.
I want to be clear that we’ve been raising the topic of functional reviews consistently with senior leadership. In each conversation—at the Staff Relations Committee, regular meetings with leadership, and in a recent chat with the incoming UW president, Bill Rosehart—we are sharing what we’re hearing from staff, pushing for transparent communication, and asking for any information on what we can expect.
So far, the information available to us has been limited, which is why this is not a formal update. But please know that your concerns are being heard and brought forward, and that we continue advocating for staff wellbeing to be a meaningful part of decision making.
In terms of what’s next, our understanding is that the FRITs are working with faculties and ASUs on what the changes will look like. The UWSA does have a role in organizational change under Policy 18, and we expect to be engaged via SRC as this work progresses, similar to other organizational changes. While we may not have control over the outcomes, please know that we will ask questions, press for transparency and communication, ensure that policies are followed, and emphasize the importance of considering the human impact throughout this process.
We know many of you are continuing to do your (amazing) work while carrying so much uncertainty, and in many cases taking on more and more work as your teams change around you. We also know some are required to support the work of the functional reviews behind the scenes in different ways, which adds another layer of pressure. If you’re feeling uncertain, frustrated, or simply worn down by the waiting, please know that you are not alone.
As soon as there is something concrete we can share, we will. In the meantime, please know that we are here and we will continue to advocate for clearer communication and a more thoughtful approach to how this change is experienced.
You can always reach out directly or use our suggestion box. It genuinely helps us bring your perspective into the rooms where these conversations are happening.
Forgive a bit of levity after such a weighty topic, but I’d like to leave us all with a closing thought in the immortal words of Bill and Ted: Be excellent to each other.
Thank you for taking the time to read this,
Alyssa Kuron
President, UWSA