2000s

2000 – ‘Annus horribilis’: Administration of the University substantially unified by September.
UWS Rotary Observatory opened on Campbelltown campus.
Gabrielle Kibble appointed Deputy Chancellor of the University.
Sydney Graduate School of Management started.
Memorandum of Understanding with the Whitlam family establishes in principle library collection which acts as the basis for the Whitlam Institute.
Peter Botsman appointed as first Director (2000-2002).
John Phillips AO announced as second Chancellor.
Sir Ian Turbott retires with title ‘Emeritus Chancellor’.
University of Western Sydney Amendment Act 2000 abolishes ‘university Members’, their Councils and constituent elements, and appoints two Deputy Chancellors (positions later filled by Gabrielle Kibble and Geoffrey Roberson).
Wayne McKenna joins UWS as Executive Dean of Arts.

2001 – Teething problems with common enrolment and examination procedures across all campuses.
Brendan Nelson becomes federal Education Minister.
First Research Landscape Review.
Widespread curriculum unification continues, and begins implementation.
Unification of Aboriginal Education Units commences with appointment of Wendy Brady.
Wilson Review of International Programs.

2002 – Internal research funding significantly increased on administrative savings.
CrossRoads Review Report issued.
Kiemah Residential Colleges opened on Bankstown campus.

2003 – Compacts entry system discontinued.
Deed of Gift of Whitlam materials, including the original Dismissal Letter.
Howard government publishes Backing Australia’s Future reform package.
UWS threatened with losing $30 million.
Vice-Chancellor clashes with Coalition MPs over government policy.
Nelson promises bridging funding.
UWS wins Employer of Choice for Women citation. It would do so for the next nine years straight.

2004 – Last pre-unification students leave the system.
Geoff Scott appointed PVC (Quality): prepares for AUQA Round 1 (2006).
UWS becomes sole owner of SWIC. Commences restructuring into UWSCollege.
TVS begins trial broadcasting.
Bob Carr sparks debate over health provision in the Southwest, promising consideration of a Medical School at Liverpool.
Howard government includes a UWS Medical School in the 2004 'Backing Australia’s Ability Mark 2’ Policy.
Prof. Neville Yeomans and Tim Wills appointed to bring Medical school into reality.
First ‘Women of the West’ Awards at UWS.

2005 – University moves to establish uwsconnect to place student services on a sound basis.
Bain & Company commence Review of University strategic alignment, resulting in the Plan entitled Making the Difference (2007). 

2006 – TVS moves to full broadcasting program.
First round of AUQA Reviews.
Chung-Tong Wu retires.
John Ingleson appointed to DVC International and Engagement role.

2007 – First Medical Student intake (104 students).
Election of Rudd government.
Opening of Confocal Biomedical Imaging Facility (Hawkesbury).
Uproar over University’s plans to close the Nirimba site at Blacktown. 

2008 – Bradley Report released.
Medical school Building opened by Hon. Julia Gillard.
Peter Brennan Chair of General Practice established.
Funding from the Structural Adjustment Fund for UWSCollege, Indigenous graduate attributes, and Parramatta CJC.
UWS Capital Works and Facilities moves to Hawkesbury campus.
115th anniversary celebrations of first Hawkesbury Agricultural College (HAC) graduations.
Convergent Media Studios (Penrith) opened.

2009 – $4 million Federal Government grant to help develop Science Education and Research Precinct (Parramatta).
Launch of Western Sydney’s first dedicated English language testing centre (Westmead).
Behavioural Medicine Clinic (Bankstown) opened.
Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS) installed (Hawkesbury).
343 bed student apartment complex opened (Parramatta North).
Centre for the Study of Contemporary Muslim Societies opened (Bankstown).
Alison Jones appointed Dean of Medicine.
UWSCollege teaching facilities opened by Hon. Roger Price (Nirimba).
Opening of NSW Police Leadership Centre (Hawkesbury).
Nirimba site becomes the home for reconstituted UWSCollege.
UWS Village opens on North Parramatta site.