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News and Updates

News and Updates

Governor Inslee signs bipartisan transportation investment package at UW

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Yesterday (July 15), joined by a bipartisan group of state legislators and transportation leaders, Governor Jay Inslee signed the statewide transportation package at the UW’s Conibear Shellhouse.

Interim Pres. Cauce welcomes legislative leaders, and introduces Gov. Inslee
Pres. Cauce welcomes legislative leaders, and introduces Gov. Inslee

UW Interim President Ana Mari Cauce introduced Gov. Inslee, and in her remarks noted the investment package will benefit thousands of UW students, faculty, employees, patients, visitors, and fans who depend on safe and reliable transportation. In fact, within a mile-or-so radius of the bill signing location, State Route 520, light rail, and the Burke Gilman Trail all form one of the most significant regional and multimodal transportation hubs in the state.

Gov. Inslee signs statewide transportation package bills.
Gov. Inslee signs statewide transportation package bills.

President Cauce also thanked the bipartisan group of state legislators, business and labor leadership, and transportation leaders who assembled for coming to the UW campus for the bill signing. She noted the location, Conibear Shellhouse, was an apt place for signing a bill that required so much determination and teamwork — as it is also the central hub for Husky student-athletes, and the home of the UW Crew Team.

View more photos on State Relations’ Facebook page.

Statement from UW interim President Ana Mari Cauce on the two-year state budget approved by the Washington Legislature

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“On behalf of University of Washington students, faculty, staff and alumni, I want to express my thanks and appreciation to our elected officials for making investments in higher education a true budget priority during the 2015 legislative session. While the previous budget began to reverse the long-term trend of shifting the burden of paying for college from the state to students and their families, this new spending plan truly recommits the State of Washington to supporting public higher education. This historic tuition reduction is outstanding news for our students and their families, and I applaud the governor and legislators who came together to make this possible.
“I also want to thank policymakers for their support of UW’s efforts to educate the health professionals Washington needs to be healthy and prosperous. The budget agreement enables us not only to continue medical education in Spokane and eastern Washington through WWAMI, but to expand our ability to educate physicians for all of Washington State. I am also grateful for the legislature’s support for expansion of our computer science program through investments to expand enrollment to help us meet another critical workforce need for the state.”

State operating budget deal announced, third special session starts today

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Early Saturday (June 27) morning, after an all-night negotiating session, word came from legislative negotiators and the Governor that a “deal in principle” had been agreed to on the state operating budget.

In a press statement that followed late yesterday, budget negotiators released an outline of the agreement, but also note they are continuing their marathon negotiation sessions to iron out the details.

UW State Relations has been on the ground every day continuing to work the University’s top legislative priorities. This includes advocating for funding quality and access, adequate compensation for our employees, and critical investments in the capital budget.

While final details on the budget are not expected to be publicly available until late today (Sunday), our on the ground sources in Olympia tell us a 5 to 15% tuition reduction for the UW is likely in the compromise budget.

Governor Inslee has called a third special session starting today (June 28) at noon, and legislators are expected to stay in Olympia to finish up work on the budget by Monday or Tuesday. The end of the state’s fiscal year is Tuesday, June 30 — the date by which a new operating budget must be in place.

In related news, rumors of a transportation package agreement being reached have begun to make their way around the Capitol, but no official announcement has been made. Similarly, while none of the press statements this weekend referenced a state capital budget deal, much anticipation remains on the front too.

As more details become available on all things budget, we’ll share them with you here on the blog. Stay tuned!

Purple and gold in Spokane

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The University of Washington is hosting a series of events in Spokane this week and next.

UW President Ana Mari Cauce speaking at a kickoff reception for the UW Spokane Center.
UW President Ana Mari Cauce speaking at a kickoff reception for the UW Spokane Center.

On Wednesday (June 17), UW Interim President Ana Mari Cauce hosted a kickoff reception at the new UW Spokane Center (201 W. Main). It was a wonderful gathering of state and local elected officials, business and community leaders, UW faculty and staff, and friends of the University. View photos from the event here.

UW President Ana Mari Cauce speaking at UWAA's Welcome to Washington dinner in Spokane
UW President Ana Mari Cauce speaking at UWAA’s Welcome to Washington dinner in Spokane.

On Wednesday evening, the UW Alumni Association hosted its annual Welcome to Washington dinner at the Spokane Club. Over 200 alumni, parents, incoming students, and UW faculty attended — and had the chance to hear from Pres. Cauce as well as Dean of Undergraduate Academic Affairs Ed Taylor.

Dean Ed Taylor speaking at Welcome to Washington dinner
UW UAA Dean Ed Taylor speaking at Welcome to Washington dinner

Next week, on Wednesday, June 24 the UW Spokane Center will host an Open House from 2PM-5PM.

The afternoon will feature fun for all ages with great music, food and beverages, purple-and-gold prizes, apparel discounts and visits from some of your Husky favorites — including the UW Husky Marching Band, the UW Cheer Team and Harry the Husky!

Learn more about the Open House and the Spokane Center here.

UW Spokane Center located at 201 W. Main in downtown.
UW Spokane Center located at 201 W. Main in downtown.

Governor signs bill expanding computer science education, second special session approaches half-way mark

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Bill Signing HB 1813
Governor Jay Inslee signs HB 1813 into law. Photo: Legislative Support Services

UW State Relations was pleased to attend Governor Jay Inslee‘s signing of HB 1813, a bill that expands computer science education in K-12 schools. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by Reps. Drew Hansen, D-Bainbridge Island, and Chad Magendanz, R-Issaquah, and intends to help prepare more Washington students for jobs in the high-tech industry. Read more about the bill in news releases from the members here and here.

In related news, the Legislature has now turned the corner into the second half of the second special session (today is day 14 of 30).

Stay tuned to the blog and our Twitter and Facebook streams for updates!

Seattle Times Editorial: Legislature should fund UW computer science expansion

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CSE Students and Faculty in the Lab
CSE Students and Faculty in the Lab Photo: Photograph ©2007 Stuart Isett

From today’s Seattle Times:

WHILE computer science and engineering jobs boom in Washington, the state is graduating too few of its own residents in this field, which plays such a crucial role in the state’s fortunes.

The University of Washington argues persuasively that it needs more space to address the demand both from students and employers.

The state Legislature should appropriate funds this year to help pay for a new 130,000-square-foot computer science and engineering building.

The university asked lawmakers for $40 million of the $105 million total, with plans to raise the remaining costs from private donors. So far, the Senate’s capital budget set aside $32 million, while the House budget appropriated only $6 million. The final capital budget should be closer to the Senate’s amount.

Continuing reading here.

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Revenue forecast shows $400 million uptick

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State budget writers received some positive news this week in the form of a modest increase of about $400 million over previous assumptions in the state’s revenue forecast.

From TVW’s Capitol Record:

The Economic and Revenue Forecast Council expects the state to collect $327 million more in the 2015-17 cycle than previously projected. It also projects an additional $79 million more in the current 2013-17 budget cycle.

UW’s Office of Planning & Budget has a blog post with additional highlights.

From OFM’s news release:

Today’s forecast was released a month ahead of schedule to help lawmakers reach agreement on its 2015–17 operating, capital and transportation budgets. Gov. Jay Inslee called lawmakers into special session last month after they were unable to reach final budget agreements during this year’s regular legislative session. The 30-day special session ends May 28.

Watch TVW’s coverage of the Economic & Revenue Update online here.

 

UW Law students help secure passage of SB 5564

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Governor Jay Inslee signed the Youth Equality and Reintegration Act (YEAR) (SB 5564), a bill sponsored by Sen. Steve O’Ban, and authored by a group of five students at the University of Washington School of Law, as well as community partners including Columbia Legal Services.

The new legislation will permit all eligible youth in Washington state the opportunity to seal their juvenile record, not just those from families with the necessary financial resources.

Learn more about the group of UW Law students who helped pass the legislation.

Legislative Support Services Photo Department: Senate Bill No. 5564 &emdash; 20150514_115307ab

Governor Inslee signs bill addressing sexual violence on college campuses

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Sen. Barbara Bailey and Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles both introduced legislation this session to assess and address sexual assault on college campuses in our state.

Governor Inslee signed Sen. Kohl-Welles’ SB 5518 last week, which charges institutions of higher education with developing procedures to address sexual assault.

Sen. Bailey’s SB 5719, which creates a sexual assault task force, will be headed to the Governor’s desk soon.

For more background on this topic, read this Seattle Times story that ran over the weekend.

 

SB 518, Relating to campus sexual violence.
Governor Inslee signs SB 5518 into law. Photo: LSS

LSS

 

Legislature heads into overtime

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On Friday (April 24), the Legislature adjourned from its regular session. With several critical items left undone, including a 2015-2017 operating budget, Governor Inslee announced he will call the Legislature back into session this Wednesday (April 29). Meanwhile, the Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler has called for the Legislature to finish its work by May 15. For more background on where things stand with higher education budgets, be sure to read this Seattle Times article.

Stay tuned to the blog for more updates as we head into special session!

In other news, Governor Inslee recently signed two bills related to higher education (and offered by UW alums!) into law.

SB 5638 sponsored by Sen. Bob Hasegawa expands access to the State Need Grant.

HB 1138 sponsored by Rep. Tina Orwall creates a task force on mental health and suicide prevention.