University of Washington Tacoma

"My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together." —Desmond Tutu

The Emancipation Proclamation took effect on January 1, 1863, declaring freedom for more than 3.5 million African Americans who were enslaved in Confederate-held states.

But freedom didn't reach everyone at once — it spread unevenly across the South.

For 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas, freedom would take two more years to arrive.

On June 19, 1865, the U.S. Army arrived and enforced emancipation from those who fought to uphold chattel slavery.

This is the date we now commemorate as Juneteenth.

Throughout U.S. history, we’ve struggled to fully realize our promise of liberty and justice for all. This deep struggle continues today.

In this context, celebrating may feel complicated, but Juneteenth is a joyous, community-led celebration. It’s a critical part of how we remember the past, honor those who advanced freedom and recommit to engaging with and for our communities.

Celebrations are happening all weekend across the South Sound.

UW Tacoma is proud to be an official sponsor of Tacoma’s Juneteenth Celebration at Lemay Car Museum, the largest in the state of Washington, starting at noon today (6/19): juneteenthwa.com / Juneteenth Celebration: A Road To Economic Freedom WA State

Join us!

Alumni has a nice ring to it. 💜✨

The wait is almost over. 🎓 Tomorrow's the big day, Tacoma Huskies!

The University of Washington Tacoma will celebrate the Class of 2026 at our 36th Annual Commencement Ceremony on Friday, June 12, at 10 a.m. Pacific at the Tacoma Dome.

📺 Can't attend in person? Join the livestream on YouTube: tacoma.uw.edu/commencement/livestream

This year, graduates will receive more than 1,600 degrees and join a Tacoma Husky alumni network that now exceeds 35,000 graduates. Poetic for our 35th year as a campus community, no? 💜

Before we kick off the festivities, take a moment to meet some of the remarkable members of the Class of 2026.

From overcoming obstacles and chasing lifelong dreams to changing their communities for the better, these graduates represent the same unwavering spirit of hard work and resilience that put Grit City on the map.

Read their stories: tacoma.uw.edu/news/celebrating-uw-tacoma-class-of-2026

Congratulations to our newest class of Tacoma Husky graduates. Tomorrow, we've got a date at the Dome. 😎 See you there!

Tomorrow, we have a date at the Dome with the Class of 2026. 🎓💜💛

Let’s treat the comments section like a yearbook page, Tacoma Huskies — and we just handed you a fresh Sharpie. ✍️

Send off our graduates with good vibes and leave a message for them in the comments below. 👇

The University of Washington has selected Maslow's Campus Communities as the development partner for UW Tacoma's student housing and dining development project, marking a significant step in bringing long-awaited amenities to the campus community. 🍽️🏠💜

The selection follows a competitive request for qualifications and proposals process that attracted multiple teams interested in partnering with the university on the first major project to move forward under the campus master plan.

Planned as a public-private partnership and scheduled to open in late 2029, the project will add housing for nearly 500 additional students to live on campus and include UW Tacoma’s first traditional dining hall, offering healthy, flexible meal options and a welcoming space for students to gather and connect.

More details and a word from Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange: tacoma.uw.edu/news/uw-tacoma-selects-maslows-campus-communities-development-partner-campus-student-housing-and