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News & Updates

News & Updates

UW presents to House Higher Education Committee on plans to reach state’s educational attainment goals

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Earlier this week, the Washington Student Achievement Council presented to the House Higher Education committee on its 2013 Roadmap, which established two state educational attainment goals for 2023:

  1. All adults in Washington will have a high school diploma or equivalent.
  2. At least 70 percent of Washington adults will have a postsecondary credential.

Yesterday (Jan. 16), UW Senior Vice Provost Gerald Baldasty, UW Bothell Chancellor Bjong Wolf Yeigh, and UW Director of State Relations Margaret Shepherd presented to the House Higher Education committee on the University of Washington’s plans to reach the Roadmap’s attainment goals.

The UW presenters emphasized plans for growth at the UW Tacoma and UW Bothell campuses, expanding access to STEM, Graduate & Professional Degree programs, and expanding access to and success of non-traditional & underserved students.

Watch the presentation on TVW.

View the UW panel’s presentation below:

Reaching Higher Education Attainment Goals

In related news at the federal level today, the University of Washington committed to a White House plan to help more students afford college.

The President’s Increasing College Opportunity for Low-Income Students initiative is intended to reduce the time it takes for low-income and underrepresented minority students to finish college, making it more likely that they will complete a degree.

New Team Member in the Office of State Relations

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We are pleased to introduce a new member of the State Relations team, Marissa Ingalls, who is taking on the position of Assistant to the Director.

Marissa spent her childhood on the Big Island before moving to Everett, WA in 1999. After high school, she became a proud Husky and graduated in 2008 with a BA in European Studies.Marissa completed a MA in Political Science in 2010 at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Prior to joining the UW State Relations team, Marissa was the Legislative Assistant to State Senator Nick Harper for three years. She has also interned with the Office of Senator Maria Cantwell and at the State Department in Washington, D.C.

Marissa is looking forward to many Purple Fridays in her future. Please join us in welcoming her to the team!

2014 legislative session begins January 13, UW releases legislative agenda

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The 2014 60-day legislative session starts next Monday (January 13).

To learn more about the UW’s 2014 top legislative priorities, you can now read and download the University’s 2014 Legislative Agenda.

Here is a quick overview:

Priority #1: Preserve the 2014 Resident Undergraduate Tuition Freeze

The UW is committed to a continued freeze in 2014 as long as there are no reductions in state funding.

Priority #2: Fully fund the State Need Grant (SNG). 

Last year, 32,000 students were eligible for the SNG but went unserved.

Priority #3: Make strategic investments in What’s Next

Small strategic investments in innovative work occurring at the UW can result in big economic impact:

  • Next Generation Medicine
  • Next Generation Health Care
  • Next Generation STEM Education
  • Next Generation Higher Education

In other Olympia news:

Several House seats are still awaiting appointments, including the 2nd, 4th, and 26th Legislative Districts.

Longtime legislator and former UW faculty member and alum, Sen. Paull Shin, announced his resignation yesterday due to health concerns. His departure creates a vacancy in the Senate, with an appointment process expected to fill his seat representing the 21st Legislative District.

Also this week, a variety of business, civic, and media organizations are holding a variety of legislative preview events. One not to be missed is the Associated Press’ annual legislative preview. It’s set for tomorrow in Olympia (watch live on TVW or online).

Finally, tomorrow the House Republican Caucus will be holding a Twitter town hall, answering questions from constituents online:

The House Democratic Caucus, Senate Democratic Caucus, and Majority Coalition Caucus also maintain Twitter accounts, with updates covering legislative news.

Stay tuned to the Office of State Relations’ Facebook and Twitter for updates as the countdown to the 2014 legislative session continues! Leave us a comment below with any questions or feedback.

Governor Inslee releases 2014 supplemental budget proposal

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This week (Dec. 17), Governor Jay Inslee released his 2014 supplemental budget proposal, calling it a “hold-steady” budget in a “get ready” year, acknowledging that tough decisions await on the horizon for the next biennial budget in 2015.

READ: UW Office of Planning & Budgeting Blog and Brief (PDF) on the Governor’s budget proposal.

The funding levels in the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal will allow UW to maintain its commitment to holding resident undergraduate tuition at current rates through the next academic year.  The University of Washington’s Board of Regents are currently the only governing board that have voted on a 0% resident undergraduate tuition increase in both years of the biennium.  This budget affirms that vote.

Governor Inslee’s budget proposal also makes a few small, but important investments in targeted areas at UW that will benefit Washington’s economy.  These investments include:

  • $1 million in state funding for UW’s Institute for Protein Design to spur commercialization of next generation medical research.
  • $750,000 in state funding for the Entrepreneurs in Residence program that aids in commercialization of R&D projects at the state’s research universities.
  • $500,000 in state funding to define and develop a business plan for an Advanced Materials Manufacturing (aerospace) facility in partnership with local governments and private industry in Snohomish County.

In addition to the above state investments in the University of Washington, Governor Inslee’s budget includes a necessary investment to ensure the College Bound Scholarship Program is fully funded. The College Bound program supports 1,338 students at the UW.

In sum, the Governor’s budget appears to reflect the reality of steady but slow improvement in the state economy. It preserves increased funding levels for higher education that were established last legislative session, and makes several targeted new investments in the University. As the state’s revenue outlook continues to improve, UW will advocate for additional important priorities as part of our 2014 legislative agenda. These include fully funding the State Need Grant program, and making additional state investments in STEM education.

The 2014 legislative session begins on January 13, 2014.

Additional Budget Links

Governor Inslee’s Press Conference (TVW)

Governor Inslee’s 2014 Budget Education Highlights (OFM)

Governor’s News Release (GOV)

Gov. Inslee, Pres. Young Attend Clean Energy Institute Launch Events

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A new University of Washington institute to develop efficient, cost-effective solar power and better energy storage systems launched last week (Dec. 12) with an event attended by UW President Michael K. Young, Gov. Jay Inslee and researchers, industry experts and policy leaders in renewable energy.

Clean Energy Institute Kick-Off
Gov. Jay Inslee (center) shakes hands with Daniel Schwartz, director of the new Clean Energy Institute, with UW President Michael Young (left). Photo: Mary Levin / UW

 

Gov. Inslee made securing $6 million for CEI a priority last session. Lawmakers allocated the funding in the 2013-2015 state budget. The new research center will advance solar energy and electrical energy storage capacities. The institute will better connect and boost existing energy research at the UW as well as attract new partnerships and talent, including new faculty members.

Read more about the launch events in the Seattle Times, or in this news story from KIRO 7.

 

Gov. Inslee discusses STEM education at Summit

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This week Washington STEM hosted its second annual summit at Microsoft’s Redmond-campus. Over the lunch hour, the audience heard from Microsoft’s Brad Smith and Governor Jay Inslee on the importance of STEM education, both at the K-12 and post-secondary levels, to the state economy. (Read highlights from the day in this report from the Redmond Reporter)

In an interview with McKinstry CEO Dean Allen, Gov. Inslee noted that one of his leading indicators in the Results Washington program under “World-Class Education” is increasing the number of graduates in STEM and high-demand programs from the state’s public baccalaureate institutions.

The jobs “skills gap” is particularly troubling, the Governor noted, because it means that many high-skilled jobs the state is producing go to workers with degrees recruited from outside the state.

Answering a question about what’s next for the upcoming legislative session, Governor Inslee said he was pleased with investments in the 2013-2015 budget to increase Computer Science & Engineering enrollments at UW, WSU, and WWU — and that he hoped to continue that progress moving forward.

 

This Week in Olympia: Committee Assembly Days, Revenue Forecast

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State lawmakers return to Olympia this week for Committee Assembly Days.

On Thursday (Nov. 21) and Friday (Nov. 22), legislative members will attend committee hearings to discuss upcoming legislative priorities, and also gather for caucus meetings.

To find out what meetings are happening when, check out the legislative calendar here; if you want to follow the action yourself, tune in to TVW.

At 10:00AM today (Nov. 20), all eyes will be on the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council’s Revenue Forecast. The Governor will use the revenue projections and the caseload forecast (released last week) as a basis to build his budget, with release of a budget proposal expected in mid-December.

The 60-day 2014 legislative session begins on January 13, 2014.

In other Olympia news:

Gov. Inslee returns to the state after a trade mission to China (check out Twitter for news from that trip: #GovAsiaTrade).

State Senator Ed Murray (D-Seattle), now Seattle Mayor-elect Murray, announced yesterday (Nov. 19) that he will resign his seat effective December 31.

Sen. David Frockt, (D-Seattle) has been serving been as the interim caucus leader. Senate Democrats are expected to meet this week to elect a permanent leader. According to The News Tribune, two contenders have emerged for the Senate Democratic leadership post: State Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines) and State Sen. Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island).

State Senator Nick Harper (D-Everett) resigned his seat earlier in the month. No word yet on when that vacancy will be filled.

Several vacancies in the State House will also be filled in the coming months.

A 26th Legislative District House seat will be left vacant when Rep. Jan Angel (R-Port Orchard) moves to the State Senate (after a successful campaign for the seat in the recent election).

State Rep. Gary Alexander (R-Olympia) is resigning effective December 31, leaving a vacancy in the 2nd Legislative District, and State Rep. Larry Crouse (R-Spokane Valley) is also leaving the legislature, creating an opening in the 4th Legislative District.

The 3rd Special Session of 2013 adjourned November 9. The legislature successfully passed a package of legislation relating to the Boeing 777x aircraft.

Today in Olympia: Day 2 of Special Session

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Today is Day 2 of the 2013 3rd Special Session.

This morning, the House Finance Committee approved a proposal (House Bill 2089) to extend tax incentives for Boeing and the aerospace industry.

The proposal’s next stops are in committee meetings this afternoon: Senate Ways & Means (1:30PM), and House Appropriations (3:30PM).

Tune in to watch the sessions online at: http://tvw.org/

More Olympia news:

Sen. Ed Murray has resigned as leader of the Senate Democrats following his election as mayor of Seattle. Sen. David Frockt has been named interim leader (read more at King5.com).

The News Tribune reports on Jan Angel’s victory in the closely watched race for the State Senate seat in the 26th Legislative District.

Earlier in the week, Governor Inslee named a new Chief of Staff — longtime adviser Joby Shimomura.

Governor calls special session for Boeing 777X package

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Gov. Jay Inslee announced yesterday (11/5) that he is calling the legislature back for a special session beginning Thursday, Nov. 7, to approve a package aimed at encouraging The Boeing Company to build the 777X airplane in Washington State.

The Governor’s Office released a list of the package elements here.

Reporting on the Governor’s announcement, the Seattle Times outlines some of the challenges expected in passing both an incentive package and a statewide transportation package, in just one week.

Stay tuned to the UW State Relations blog, Twitter, and Facebook for more developments!