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, March 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

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)

EWU Business Leadership Talk by David Condon March 12

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700

WSU Spokane Robert F.E. Stier Lecture in Medicine - March 11

Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0700

Sleep and Other Solutions to Effective Treatments of Substance Use Disorders

Kelly Dunn, PhD, MBA

ï»¿Director, Kahlert Institute for Addiction Medicine, Professor of Psychiatry and

ï»¿Neurobiology; University of Maryland

Accompanied by Panelists

Sterling M. McPherson, PhD, Professor and Vice Dean for Research, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, WSU

Denise Dillard, PhD, MS, Director of IREACH, Professor, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, WSU

Matt Layton, MD, PhD, Professor, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, WSU

This event is free and open to the public. TO REGISTER.

WSU Health to launch Logan Family Clinic in Spokane

Sun, 01 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0800

The Logan Family Clinic at Logan Elementary School in Spokane provides comprehensive, patient-centered care for community members of all ages. Whether you need an annual checkup, help managing a chronic condition, or care for an unexpected illness or injury, we’re here to support your health every step of the way.

For more information, see this link.

Saranac Art Projects February 2026 Exhibits

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

EXHIBITION DATES: February 6th – 28th, 2026

OPENING RECEPTION: 1st Friday Reception, February 6th, 5:00 – 8:00, free and open to the public

GALLERY HOURS: Thursday 2:00 – 6:00 PM, Fridays 12:00 – 8:00 PM, except day of exhibit opening: Saturdays 12:00 – 8:00 PM

EAST GALLERY: Louise Kodis, “Covered Dish”

An installation by Louise Kodis involving a long, long table, a silk ceiling, vintage cafe crockery and the artist's extensive collection of fake food.

WEST GALLERY: Melissa Rackham, “Obscure”

Melissa Rackham explores the tension between omission and exposure within the

photographic frame in her newest exhibition, Obscure. A visual play on words, she

draws on historic image-making techniques such as pinhole photography and the

camera obscura; this work examines how light, limitation and time shape perception.

Central to the exhibition are images made at Spokane Falls Community College, just

prior to the demolition of the old photography building, capturing a fleeting moment of

transition before new construction began.

Based in Spokane, Rackham is a photographer, educator, and fine artist who works with

various photographic media and processes and has exhibited her work internationally.

She currently teaches photography at both Spokane Falls Community College and

Whitworth University and is the new Photography Gallery Director at SFCC.

WSU Spokane Pharmacy grads lead the PNW with top licensure pass rates

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

The College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is celebrating an important milestone with statewide impact: the class of 2025 achieved a 92.5% first-time pass rate on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX), well above the national average of 86.8%.

Beyond the strong national showing, the results place WSU in a leadership position regionally. With this year’s outcomes, the college ranks #1 among pharmacy schools in the Pacific Northwest, and #3 among all public pharmacy schools on the West Coast.

NAPLEX pass rates are a key measure of how well pharmacy graduates are prepared to enter professional practice. All pharmacists are required to pass the exam to practice. For Washingtonians, this achievement signals something even more meaningful — a highly trained, practice-ready pharmacy workforce equipped to improve health outcomes, expand access to care, and serve communities across the state and beyond.

EWU art, design programs to merge

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Two closely aligned programs at Eastern Washington University will join forces in a faculty-led effort to create efficiencies and expand opportunities for students.

The new program will share resources and create a synergy for recruiting students, building community partnerships, raising funds and providing applied learning opportunities, according to Mindy Breen, EWU professor and chair of the Design Department, and Jenny Hyde, director of art and chair of EWU Fine & Performing Arts.

“It’s going to be positive all across the board for our students and will help with the two programs becoming stronger,” says Hyde, adding that the move could lead to additional career options for students.

Over the years, the programs have found themselves offering similar courses, such as photography and illustration, on two different campuses.

“When it comes to designing curriculum, we’re often running into each other because we often overlap in a lot of different areas,” Hyde says. “So, there was a curriculum discussion, and it became apparent that this was the right time to make this happen.”

Breen says another factor is the university’s focus on dedicating space in the Catalyst building, where upper-level design courses are currently housed, to EWU health science and certain C-STEM programs.

“It will free up space for the programs moving in, and it gets us back to campus to start this new phase of our existence,” says Breen, who looks forward to having all the design courses and the program’s students and faculty located in Cheney.

The 2025 Research and Creative Works Symposium showcased some of the inspirational artwork created by EWU students.

Although the two programs share core language and similar skillsets, they are housed within different colleges. Art resides in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences (CAHSS) while design is housed in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM).

Nonetheless, when Breen and Hyde went to Michelle DenBeste, dean of CAHSS, and Jennifer Waldo, interim dean of CSTEM, both leaders were supportive, as was university leadership.

“This collaboration reflects exactly the kind of mission-aligned innovation we need at Eastern Washington University,” says Provost Lorenzo Smith. “By reducing unnecessary duplication and intentionally sharing expertise and space, we strengthen academic quality while expanding applied learning opportunities for our students. When faculty lead thoughtful efforts like this—grounded in student success and responsible stewardship—it positions both programs to grow, adapt, and better serve the region.”

The two deans highlighted multiple ways the merger will benefit both art and design students.

Waldo says the move “provides students with greater access to the talents, experiences and connections of the faculty in both programs” as well as “greater access to shared resources.”

DenBeste agrees, saying the integration will make it easier for students to take courses across both disciplines and realize more choices. Faculty will also benefit from collaboration and shared facilities, she says.

“Whatever happens with the choice of college, I am really excited about the opportunity for our art and design programs to work together,” DenBeste says. “We have amazing faculty in both art and design, and I’m looking forward to working with all of them.”

Three Visual Communication Design students unveil an Itron-branded sign they designed in partnership with the company.

Art and design shared a degree about a decade ago, Breen points out, adding that the shared degree program was “fun and collaborative.” It was created because many students were double majoring, she continues.

“It’s an example of our shared history, and this move back to Cheney to merge with art feels like we’re finishing something we started years ago,” Breen says. “It feels like it’s coming full circle – and that’s a good feeling.”

The timeline for the merge is as follows:

Summer 2026: Design moves from Catalyst to Isle Hall in Cheney.

Fall 2026: Design begins offering all classes on the Cheney campus.

Fall 2027: Submit curricular changes for approval. Finalize college and administrative piece.

Fall 2028: Approved curricular changes go into effect.

The program integration will proceed in accordance with university policy AP 301-01, which includes faculty engagement, governance, review and approval.

Waldo says leadership of both colleges are collaborating to get space needs ironed out and identify necessary renovations for the move this summer.

“It is a great privilege to be able to facilitate the implementation of an initiative that springs from faculty members that think deeply about ways to problem solve while centering student success and opportunity,” Waldo says. “Their work provides an incredibly important model for our students and is a showcase for applied learning in action – putting your skills to use in new and important contexts.”

Spokane Public Schools partners with Whitworth to boost enrollment

Tue, 17 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0800

Whitworth University and Spokane Public Schools (SPS) have long worked together to support students. Now, Whitworth’s Guaranteed Admissions & Aid Program (GAP+) is taking that relationship to the next level.

Whitworth and SPS signed a GAP+ agreement last week that will provide hundreds of students at Ferris, Lewis & Clark, North Central, Rogers, Shadle Park, The Community School, On Track Academy, The Enrichment Cooperative at Bryant and Spokane Virtual Learning high schools with a 3.6 grade point average or higher with a direct pathway to guaranteed admission and substantial scholarship support.

Spokane Public Schools Chief of Student Success Scott Kerwien ’02 says SPS is excited to be a part of this partnership and watch it open doors for hundreds of its students.

"Our hope is that all students pursue their post-high school goals with streamlined support and advocacy from an amazing partner like Whitworth,” Kerwien says. “I happened to find my ‘fit’ at Whitworth University, and I hope this collaborative effort raises awareness for students and families that might also find their fit at Whitworth. It’s exciting to see Whitworth's transparency in their guaranteed admissions criteria as well as their long list of financial aid opportunities for students."

Thanks to Whitworth’s new cost clarity tuition, students can expect a simplified tuition price of $26,900 for the 2026-27 academic year and will receive the following academic scholarships based on their grade point average:

• 3.9 GPA and above = $9,000 per year ($36,000 total over four years)

• 3.6-3.89 GPA = $6,000 per year ($24,000 total over four years)

• 3.3-3.59 GPA = $3,000 per year ($12,000 total over four years)

The schools in SPS join Mead High School, Mt. Spokane High School, East Valley High School, Gonzaga Preparatory School, Saint George’s School and Marantha High School in Pasadena, Calif., as members of the GAP+ program. Northwest Christian Schools and Lakeside High School (9 mile) are expected to sign an agreement soon.

“Whitworth and Spokane Public Schools share a common purpose: preparing students for lives of meaning and impact,” says Josh Hibbard, Whitworth vice president of enrollment management. “Through GAP+, we are making admission and scholarship support transparent and predictable, so students can focus less on uncertainty and more on their future. This is an investment in Spokane and in the students who will shape its future.”

To learn more about GAP+ or if you represent a school looking to join the program, please click
here.

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.

About Spokane Public Schools:

Spokane Public Schools (SPS) serves approximately 29,000 PreK-12 grade students in 58 schools, including 34 elementary schools, nine middle schools, five comprehensive high schools and multiple option schools and programs to meet the needs of all students.

Contacts:

Trisha Coder, associate director of media relations, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4703 or tcoder@whitworth.edu.

Ryan Lancaster, executive director of communications, Spokane Public Schools, (509) 354-7363, ryanla@spokaneschools.org.