Founded in 1861, the University of Washington is one of the oldest state-supported institutions of higher education on the West Coast and is one of the preeminent research universities in the world.

The primary mission of the university is the preservation, advancement and dissemination of knowledge. It is defined in part by the breadth and scope of its research mission and its strong commitment to excellence and innovation in all areas of discovery and learning.

The university fosters an environment in which its students can develop mature and independent judgment and an appreciation of the range and diversity of human achievement.

The university is governed by a 10-member Board of Regents, which includes one student. The president leads the administration, the executive vice president manages the fiscal affairs and the provost serves as the chief academic and budgetary officer. Links to their Web pages and e-mail can be found in the left column on this page.