While UW students prepared for midterm examinations during the past two weeks, President Emmert embarked on a travel-intensive schedule that led him from testifying before a Senate committee in Olympia, Wash. to delivering a keynote speech in Raleigh, N.C.

As Governor Gregoire's biennial state budget has not been fully ratified by the Legislature, Emmert met with legislators in Olympia two weeks ago to continue state budgetary discussions. With Senate committees also convening during this time, Emmert testified before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, again on the importance of approving the pending budget.

"So far we have received very good support from the leaders of the Legislature for the Governor's budget," he said. "I met many of them, and worked with key staff members."

The morning he testified before the Senate committee, Emmert also spoke at the University Sunrise Rotary Club.

Later that evening, Emmert took a momentary pause in his schedule to attend a Husky basketball game with UW Provost Phyllis Wise, but later hosted a dinner party for the UW Foundation.

In conjunction with legislature meetings and committees, spanning from Jan. 22 to 24, Emmert and Washington State University President V. Lane Rawlins came together and spoke before four local editorial boards, visiting The Seattle Times, The Seattle P-I, The Olympian and The News Tribune.

"Both presidents visited with the editorial boards to reinforce the importance of higher education with the hope that the editorial boards continue to support higher education," said UW spokesman Norm Arkans.

In a reprieve from his hectic schedule, Emmert attended a reception at the Governor's Mansion held on behalf of the Tacoma Executive Council Jan. 26. Following this event, Emmert met with the UW Foundation to determine the direction of the UW fundraising attempt.

"We reached a wonderful milestone raising $2 billion ... with 18 months to go," he said. "The Foundation Board then agreed to raise our fundraising target to $2.5 billion, with much of the new goal focused on student scholarships and fellowships."

Reunited once more with Rawlins Jan. 29, Emmert spoke before the Community Development Roundtable, a civic group comprised of media and business leaders.

"Both presidents talked about the role research universities play in a state's economy and the importance of the state to maintain support of the research universities to continue in that role," Arkans said.

At the behest of the former governor of North Carolina, Emmert gave a speech at a forum held in North Carolina State University Jan. 31. Emmert once again spoke on the interconnected relationship between states and research universities and the necessity for the two to work together.

While Emmert is currently in Maui, Hawaii, meeting with donors and potential donors, looking back over the past two weeks he said he is most pleased with the continued progress in the legislative session and the progress with faculty recruitments he has been working on.

Emmert said he had several goals in mind for the coming weeks.

"I hope we finalize some of the key faculty recruitments," he said. "[I also hope] we stay focused in Olympia and see a successful launch of our communication effort."

Reach reporter Nathan Lee at nathanlee@thedaily.washington.edu.