The University District

UDPDA Public Records Information

Thu, 31 Dec 2026 00:00:00 -0800

To submit a public records request to the University District Public Development Authority (UDPDA) please utilize this form. Alternatively, requests can be emailed to Public Records Officer, info@spokaneudistrict.org, or sent via U.S. mail to UDPDA, 120 N Pine St, Ste 252, Spokane WA 99202.

The UDPDA provides access to public records under the provisions of the Washington State Public Disclosure Act (RCW 42.56) and the UDPDA Public Records Policy. Per RCW 42.56.520 please allow five business days to respond to a records request.

All records maintained by the UDPDA are available for public inspection unless specifically exempted by law. You are entitled to access public records, under reasonable conditions, and copies of those records can be provided upon paying copying costs. In most cases, you do not have to explain why you want the records. However, specific information may be necessary to process your request. The UDPDA may require further information to establish if disclosure would violate certain provisions of law.

The more precisely you can identify the record(s) you seek, the more responsive the UDPDA can be. The UDPDA provides access to existing public records in its possession but is not required to collect information or organize data to create a record not existing at the time of the request. Keep in mind that a question or request for information only is not a request for a record.

2026 University District Board and Committee Dates

Thu, 31 Dec 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Advance agendas will be posted approximately 3-4 days before the meeting. Contact info@spokaneudistrict.org if you need a Zoom link for the meetings.

In 2026, the University District Development Association (UDDA) board of directors will meet on January 7, February 4, March 4, May 6, June 3 (retreat), September 2 (annual meeting), and October 14. Meetings (unless otherwise indicated in the agenda) are at the Catalyst Building, 601 E Riverside Ave, Spokane, Room 309.

In 2026, the University District Public Development Authority (UDPDA) board of directors will meet on January 7, February 4, February 19 SAO audit exit conference, March 4, May 6, September 2 (annual meeting), and October 14. Meetings (unless otherwise indicated in the agenda) are at the Catalyst Building, 601 E Riverside Ave, Spokane, Room 309.

In 2026, the UDDA/UDPDA Executive Advisory Committee (EAC) will meet on the following dates at 11:30 AM via Zoom: January 20, February 17, April 21, May 19, August 18, September 22, and December 8. Please email info@spokaneudistrict.org for the virtual link.

University District U-Forward Monthly E-Newsletter Issues

Fri, 25 Dec 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Below are links to our most recent monthly U-Forward e-newsletters:

2026 - January, February

2025 - January, February, March, August, September

2024 - No issue November and December, October 2024, September 2024, August 2024, July 2024, no issue May or June, April 2024, March 2024, February 2024, January 2024

2023 - No issue December, November 2023, October 2023, September 2023, August 2023, no July issue, June 2023, May 2023, April 2023, March 2023, February 2023, January 2023

2022 - No December issue, November 2022, October 2022, September 2022, August 2022, July 2022, June 2022, May 2022 ,April 2022 (first issue)

Saranac Art Projects April Exhibits

Sat, 25 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

April 2026 Exhibitions

East Gallery - On Other Correspondences: a Collaboration with Get Lit!

West Gallery – Madeline McGinn

EXHIBITION DATES: April 3rd - April 25 th, 2026

GALLERY HOURS: Fridays 12:00 – 8:00 PM, except day of exhibit opening: Saturdays 12:00 – 8:00 PM

1ST FRIDAY OPENING RECEPTION: April 3rd, 2024, 5:00 – 8:00, free and open to the public

SPECIAL RECEPTION: Friday, April 17th, 3:00 – 5:00 PM, Get Lit Writers and Artist Reception at Saranac Art Projects, at the Gallery

EAST GALLERY – Eastern Washington University, GET LIT!

EXHIBITION DESCRIPTION: Saranac Art Project Artists are pleased to be part of Eastern Washington University’s Get Lit! Artists, have chosen a writer from the 2026 Get Lit! authors list with whom they have “corresponded” through the ancient practice of ekphrasis.

Mariah Boyle - Jess Walters
Olivia Evans - Margaret Albaugh
Tobe Harvey - Joe Wilkins
Hannah Koeske-Rollins – Laura Read
Lena Lopez Schindler – Maya Jewell Zeller & Mita Mahato
Rebekah Wilkins-Pepiton - Lindsey Drager

WEST GALLERY – Madeline McGinn

Artist Statement

Madeline McGinn is a Spokane based multidisciplinary artist working on a large scale focused around the human body. Through her work, she continues to push identity through public vs. private, layering memory and understanding fraught relationships with the body. There is a distinct push for comfort and repetition through this body of work during a time of high productivity for the artist. It is a field guide to getting lost and finding the way back through the organized chaos.

Get Lit Writers and Artist Reception at Saranac Art Projects, Friday, April 17th, 3:00 – 5:00 PM, at the Gallery

WSU Presidential Listening Session in Spokane April 24

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Please join Washington State University President Betsy Cantwell for a community forum focused on WSU’s future.

This important conversation will explore the university’s opportunities, challenges, and institutional priorities, and we need your insights and expertise to help inform and shape WSU’s direction.

These forums are designed to bring community voices into WSU’s strategic planning process. Your perspectives, ideas, and feedback are essential as the university works to strengthen its impact and ensure long-term success.

Public Forum
Friday, April 24
4:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Kirk H. Schulz Academic Center - Room 241

Participants will engage in small-group discussions on key institutional topics in a collaborative setting, with conversations facilitated by President Cantwell. The session will focus on listening, learning, and gathering meaningful input from our community partners.

We hope you will mark your calendar and join us for this special opportunity to contribute your voice and help shape the future of Washington State University.

Link to register.

GU hosting Value & Responsibility in AI Technologies Conference April 23

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Gonzaga University's second annual Value & Responsibility in AI Technologies Conference
Date/Time: Thursday, April 23, 2026 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Location: Hemmingson Ballroom

This year’s conference will address three themes through panels and discussions with industry leaders, educators, scholars and healthcare leadership; Personal Identity and Meaning, Learning and Education, and the Future of the Workforce. Look for additional events and workshops throughout the week of April 20-24.

Who Should Attend?

This event convenes scholars, students, thought leaders in education, INW industry professionals and global tech leaders to explore the impact of AI on our identity, educational practices, and the evolving landscape of work.

Gonzaga Faculty, Staff and Students: Free
Other (non-GU) students: $10
Educators (K-12 teachers, Other University employees): $35
Industry and General Public: $75
Registration link

EWU Business Leadership Series - Irv Zakheim April 14

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

The latest in the EWU Business Leadership Series here in the UD. Parking will be free in the lot in front of the Catalyst building. As always, EWU would appreciate an RSVP through the QR code below.

Gonzaga to hold AI conference in April

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Gonzaga University's second annual Value & Responsibility in AI Technologies Conference
Date/Time: Thursday, April 23, 2026 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Location: Hemmingson Ballroom

Who Should Attend?

Gonzaga Faculty, Staff and Students: Free
Other (non-GU) students: $10
Educators (K-12 teachers, Other University employees): $35
Industry and General Public: $75
Registration link

Whitworth Online Transitions Undergrad Programs for Adult Learners to Accelerated 90 Credit Degrees

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Whitworth University is committed to expanding access to high quality education for working adults and responding to regional workforce needs. That’s why the university is launching accelerated, 90 credit degree pathways for its adult undergraduate programs through Whitworth Online.

Approved by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU), the new pathways reduce both the time and total cost of a degree by about 25 percent while preserving Whitworth’s full general education curriculum and program rigor.

“At Whitworth, innovation grows out of our mission, not apart from it,” Whitworth President Scott McQuilkin says. “Accelerated degree pathways allow us to remove unnecessary barriers while preserving the depth, formation and academic excellence that define a Whitworth education. This is about honoring adult learners’ time, expanding access and strengthening the communities we serve.”

Beginning this August, every Whitworth Online program from business management and human services to teacher certification pathways and interdisciplinary studies will adopt the new accelerated, 90 credit structure, marking a major leap forward in flexibility and access for adult learners.

This new structure will:

• Preserve Whitworth’s rigorous core by retaining all general education requirements and essential disciplinary coursework.

• Cut unnecessary credits, eliminating excess electives to streamline students’ path to graduation.

• Maintain full Title IV eligibility while advancing Whitworth’s broader cost clarity initiative, ensuring students have a transparent, affordable path forward.

“When working adults can complete a degree faster and with less debt, the benefits ripple outward to families, employers and the broader community,” says Brooke Kiener, dean of Whitworth Online. “These pathways reflect our belief that education should be both transformative and attainable.”

The university is encouraging regional employers to expand or reinstate tuition assistance programs in response to the increased accessibility of Whitworth Online degrees.

Whitworth University has served adult learners for more than a century, with degree completion programs in formats accessible to working adults. Whitworth Online programs are designed for students ages 23 and older who bring professional experience into the classroom. The new accelerated model strengthens that legacy while positioning Whitworth as a leader in innovative online education in the Pacific Northwest.

About Whitworth University:

Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private Christian liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of about 2,500 students, offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.

$2M scholarship match supports future WSU doctors

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0700

PULLMAN, Wash. — A pair of major gifts totaling $2 million is helping Washington State University’s Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine expand scholarship support for students, with the goal of training more physicians to serve communities across Washington.

The funding, provided by longtime WSU supporters Tom and Barbara Wilson and first-time donor Barbara Stephanus, will match philanthropic contributions to student scholarships through the college’s Medicine Multiplied campaign, reducing financial barriers for future doctors and encouraging them to practice in rural and underserved areas of the state.

“These matching funds are to help reduce the huge cost of going to medical school,” Tom Wilson said. “We’re trying to build it to $10,000 each year for each student to get that cost down so they can afford to work in the rural communities and stay out of student debt.”

For the Wilsons, that effort is rooted in the same vision that inspired the college’s creation.

When the College of Medicine celebrated 10 years of homegrown health care last year, the tributes poured in for the school’s namesake and his vision of accessible medical education to serve not only Washington’s students, but also its communities.

“From the outset, we were impressed by Elson Floyd’s vision for a Washington-centric medical school that caters to Washington-based students and produces doctors who will come back and serve rural and underserved areas of Washington,” Barbara Wilson said.

The investment by Barbara Stephanus, a longtime supporter of medical research, in the Medicine Multiplied scholarship match program represents her first philanthropic gift for WSU (photo courtesy of Barbara Stephanus).

In 2025, the Wilsons recognized that the need to support medical students is greater than ever. Key sources of financial aid, including federal funding and borrowing limits, have been reduced or eliminated.

The Wilsons partnered with the college to match $1 million in philanthropic gifts to endowed student scholarships, determined to help Coug docs succeed and return to the communities that need them most.

A second $1 million gift for matching scholarship funds from Barbara Stephanus, a longtime supporter of medical research in Washington and first-time WSU donor, kept the momentum going.

With $2 million overall in matching funds, the College of Medicine launched the Medicine Multiplied scholarship campaign last fall to make a medical degree more accessible and affordable for Washington students. The campaign has raised more than $1 million for student scholarships so far and will run through 2026.

“Our future physicians are facing unprecedented challenges to financing their education,” said College of Medicine Dean Dr. James Record. “The generosity of Tom and Barbara Wilson and Barbara Stephanus made our matched scholarship campaign possible, and Cougs have already stepped up to support our students. With this momentum, we can continue to fulfill Dr. Floyd’s vision and meet the growing health care needs of our state.”

Longtime and new WSU supporters alike looking to future of medicine

The Wilsons, retirees from Seattle, have supported WSU for more than 30 years. They were among the first donors to the College of Medicine and longtime supporters of the women’s rowing program at WSU.

For WSU’s MD program, the Wilsons saw an opportunity to make a greater impact through a matching grant, allowing other donors to double contributions to endowed scholarships.

“Each MD can treat up to 150,000 patients in the course of their career,” Barbara Wilson said. “That’s quite the reach.”

Stephanus, also based in Seattle, is of a like mind. Seeing the impact federal borrowing limits would have on aspiring physicians, she also wanted to support student scholarships and encourage others to do the same.

“Without more doctors, we will not be able to implement the lifesaving medical knowledge that we have learned through research, which we’ve supported over the years,” Stephanus said.

WSU medical students come from across Washington’s communities, within many coming from rural, first-generation and low socioeconomic status backgrounds. Despite offering the more affordable MD degree in the state of Washington, WSU medical students tend to graduate with higher-than-average debt. More than 60% of last year’s graduates accrued debt of $200,000 or more, the national average for medical school debt. Many relied on the Federal Grad PLUS Loan, which will be eliminated in July 2026.

The Medicine Multiplied campaign is designed to fill that void. And while the $1 million gift from the Wilsons has been matched for endowed scholarships, there is still room to match the entire $1 million for current-use scholarships from Stephanus by December 2026.

“With this scholarship match, we are meeting the growing needs of our future doctors,” said Libby Manthei, senior director of development at the college. “Our donors set an ambitious goal for us. We intend to multiply their impact and the impact of every donor that gives to scholarships. Donors have until the end of the year to double their donation to current-use scholarships through this match program.”

To learn more about making a matched gift to the scholarship campaign — and its impact on WSU’s more than 300 medical students — visit the Medicine Multiplied website or contact Libby Manthei at elizabeth.manthei@wsu.edu.