March 31, 2011
New OPB Brief on Differential Tuition
Be sure to check out the latest OPB brief on the use of differential tuition at public universities. The brief primarily focuses on differential tuition by major or class standing, which is now in effect at over 50 percent of all public research institutions in the US.
March 24, 2011
Planning for Urbanization
In 43 years, the world’s population is expected to double. In developing countries the urban population is expected to double between 2000 and 2030. The urban land cover will double in 19 years and the built-up area of major cities in the developing world will triple. At least, this is according to a new report,…
March 21, 2011
Administrator Pay Flat at Public Institutions
CUPA-HR salary survey data, analyzed by Inside Higher Education, shows that, similar to faculty members, median pay for senior and mid-level administrators at public institutions of higher education was flat in 2010. At private institutions, members of all three categories showed modest gains of between 1 and 2 percent, contributing to a growing gap between…
Report Confirms Deep Cuts to Higher Ed Across US
The SHEEO State Higher Education Finance report for FY 2010 was released last week. Unsurprisingly, it confirms that the same general pattern in Washington of deep state cuts to higher education funding coupled with steep tuition increases is being replicated in states across the US. Report Highlights: National Trends Nationally, on average, state support for…
March 18, 2011
New UW Website Centralizes Budget Information
You might notice links for a new website, UW Budget Watch, popping up on UW homepages (including OPB and right here on the blog). OPB worked with Web Communications staff to develop one website that would consolidate many sources of information relating to the state budget and how it has and is expected to continue…
March 17, 2011
March Revenue Forecast Reduces WA General Fund Budget by $698 million
State Economic Forecast Council Director Dr. Arun Raha released the March revenue forecast today. This forecast serves as the revenue basis for the Legislature’s general fund budget in the 2011-13 biennium (FY12 and FY13). 2009-11 Biennium (FY10 & FY11) While many economic indicators used in his analysis show tentative growth in 2011, revenue collections through…
Chronicle Corrects UW Data
Were you surprised to learn in the Chronicle of Higher Education this week that, in 2008, the UW received over $19,500 in state appropriations per student, the second highest rate in the country? Well, so were we! Office of Planning Budgeting staff worked with the Chronicle to clarify that they were not reporting state appropriations…
March 14, 2011
Education Roundtable with US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined Governor Chris Gregoire and legislative leadership today for an education roundtable. Duncan congratulated state lawmakers on discussing the issue of education reform, even through tough budget times. He further drew attention to the grave problems troubling education in the United States—a 25% national dropout rate, poor STEM education,…
March 11, 2011
State Budget Updates
OPB published a new brief yesterday discussing expectations for the upcoming Washington State revenue and caseload/entitlement forecasts, and how both are likely to affect UW state funding levels. **EDITED TO ADD: Note that after we released this information, the new caseload forecast was released and lowered the expected growth of caseloads for K-12, Medicaid, and…
March 9, 2011
NYRB Assesses Recent Higher Ed Literature
The New York Review of Books has published a high level review of the recent spate of ‘higher education in crisis’ books. In Our Universities: How Bad? How Good?, Peter Brooks takes a look at common themes contained in four recent publications on the state of higher education in the US. Read the whole piece…