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News & Updates

News & Updates

UW, WSU, WWU Alumni Team Up for “Week of Action” in Olympia

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Alumni groups from three of the state’s public four-year universities are launching outreach efforts in Olympia this week.

Through social media postings, the three alumni groups (UW Impact, WSU Impact, and Western Advocates) announced they are joining forces for an “Alumni Week of Action.”

Their message? Asking legislators to support state reinvestment in higher education in exchange for a two-year tuition freeze.

The alumni-driven efforts come on the heels of proposals introduced in both the State House and State Senate to address sagging state support of public higher education.

Bipartisan Proposal Introduced in State House To Reinvest in Public Higher Education

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Washington State CapitolWe reported last week on a proposal by Senate Democrats to address sagging state funding for public higher education. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles (D-Seattle) introduced SB 5420, which would make a $225 million reinvestment in public higher education, and freeze tuition for two years.

Additional Democratic sponsors of the proposal are Senators Frockt, Murray, McAuliffe, Fraser, Ranker, Rolfes, Kline, Conway, and Chase.

On Friday, a bipartisan effort emerged in the state House led by Rep. Gerry Pollett (D-Seattle) with similar aims.

According to the Seattle Times:

HB 1624 aims to move Washington toward a 50-50 split between students and the state, with students paying half the cost of their education and the state paying the rest.

The House bill would also tie tuition increases to the inflation rate.

Rep. Pollett’s bill also has the support of House Higher Education Chair Rep. Larry Seaquist (D-Gig Harbor), and the committee’s Ranking Republican Rep. Larry Haler (R-Richland).

Additional bipartisan sponsors of the bill include Representatives  Walsh, Zeiger, Goodman, Farrell, Sells, Upthegrove, Fitzgibbon, Roberts,Kirby, Fey, Freeman, Ryu, and Magendanz

Crosscut.com has more on the House and Senate reinvestment proposals.

Both bills now await hearings before their chambers’ respective Higher Education committees.

Gov. Makes Appointments, 8th LD to Get New State Senator, Differential Tuition Bill Gets a Hearing, and Senate Dems Release Higher Ed Proposal

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Welcome to week three of the 2013 session of the Washington State Legislature. Here is what’s happening in Olympia today…

Gov. Jay Inslee announced three new Cabinet appointments today, via KOMONews.com:

Brigadier General Bret D. Daugherty was reappointed Tuesday to his position as Adjutant General of the state’s Military Department. Daugherty serves as commander of Washington’s Army and National Guard forces and oversees the state’s Emergency Management and enhanced 911 programs.

 

Brian Bonlender, who had served as Inslee’s chief of staff and legislative director while Inslee was in Congress, was named as director of the Department of Commerce.

 

Inslee named Dorothy Frost Teeter as director of the Health Care Authority, overseeing health care services for state employees and low-income residents. Teeter, who is a senior adviser at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation in Maryland, will start in March.

Yesterday, KOMO profiled newly elected State Rep. Cyrus Habib (D):

Like every freshman representative, Habib is learning his way around the Capitol, getting acquainted with the many staircases and the shortcuts. But there is a twist in his learning curve.

 

“I lost my eyesight to a fairly rare form of childhood cancer, so I was totally blind by the time I was 8 years old,” said Habib, the first blind legislator in Washington state for perhaps a century.

 

He represents the technology-driven Eastside — including Bellevue, Redmond and Kirkland, where he campaigned on a platform of funding higher education and growing small business — by door-knocking, personally walking up to seven thousand homes.

Earlier today, the House Higher Education committee met for a work session on financial aid and student debt (Full Agenda, Video via TVW). The committee also held a public hearing House Bill 1043, which would limit differential tuition.

House Higher Ed Cmte

UW’s Director of State Relations testified in opposition to the bill in its current form, because it takes away a tool for expanding access for students to high-demand programs, without providing an alternative.

This afternoon, the Senate Higher Education Committee held a Work Session titled, “What industry needs from our students and higher education institutions” (Agenda, Video via TVW).

Several of the firms presenting to the committee noted their close partnerships with UW, and ongoing recruitment of its graduates. These presenters included ZymoGenetics, Philips Health Care, and Socrata.

In other State Senate news, according to the Tri-City Herald, Benton County Commissioners voted last night to appoint Kennewick Mayor Pro Tem Sharon Brown to replace Jerome Delvin in the State Senate.

Finally, Senate Democrats called a 3:30PM press conference to spotlight a new Higher Ed proposal.

https://twitter.com/brianmrosenthal/status/296402979014193152

Their press release follows…

Continue reading “Gov. Makes Appointments, 8th LD to Get New State Senator, Differential Tuition Bill Gets a Hearing, and Senate Dems Release Higher Ed Proposal”

Updated Interactive Map Shows UW’s Impact in Legislative Districts Statewide

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This week the Office of State Relations released an updated web tool that provides a range of data gathered from campus units on the University of Washington’s impacts in all 49 legislative districts across the state.

Visit the newly re-launched UW In Your Community interactive map online at www.uw.edu/maps/state.

UW In Your Community Map

By clicking on any district, a user can view Fast Facts about the UW’s impact, such as number of UW students, alumni, and employees living there.

Each district has its own dedicated page, with photos and links to the representatives serving from that district in the State Legislature. The district pages also provide information on the many UW partnerships and programs with local schools, community organizations, health care clinics, and more that operate in communities around the state.

UW Experts Testify on STEM, Online Learning in Hearings

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Policy committees are in full swing this week. On the docket this week: developments in the Higher Education realm, from online learning to the needs of industry.

Yesterday, Dr. Elaine Scott presented before the House Higher Education Committee on the needs of STEM-related industries.

Dr. Scott is the Director of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Program at the University of Washington Bothell.

Watch the hearing here.

Today, before the Senate Higher Education Committee, a panel from the UW presented on “current practices, what’s new, and what’s next” in online learning.

The UW presenters were:

Dr. David “Dave” Szatmary, Vice Provost, UW Education Outreach

Dr. Barbara Endicott-Popovsky, Director, UW Center for IA and Cybersecurity

Dr. Gail Joseph, Faculty, UW Early Childhood and Family Studies program

Dr. Endicott-Popovsky was interviewed by the Seattle Times recently about the UW’s partnership with Coursera to provide several MOOCs (Massively Open Online Courses).

Watch the hearing here. View the PowerPoint slides here.

Today in Olympia: Higher Ed Needs of Industry, Overview of Performance Data & Dashboard

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The House Higher Education Committee kicked off a week of work sessions this morning focusing on the Higher Ed needs of industry.

Today’s panels focused on the Aerospace and Software industries.

UW’s Computer Science & Engineering Chair Hank Levy presented on the Software panel.

In his presentation, Prof. Levy discussed the broad needs of the software industry, from large firms to startups, and from IT users to IT producers.

Large firms like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft are intensely competing for candidates with a broad set of skills, at both the bachelor and graduate levels.

Smaller startups rely on local talent, and can rarely compete on the national or global scale that larger firms can.

Prof. Levy noted that with more state resources, UW could increase STEM degree production and help begin filling workforce gaps.

The UW Daily covered today’s hearing, and reported:

Hank Levy, chair of the UW Computer Science Department, said the main problem his program is facing in terms of producing graduates is capacity.

“We are currently turning away over 300 applications a year at the undergraduate level,” Levy said. “At the graduate level we are only taking about 1 in 10 graduates that apply.”

Watch Prof. Levy’s presentation & discussion with members here.

This afternoon, the Senate Higher Education Committee held a Work Session to get an update on the Statewide Public Four-Year Dashboard, and other data-driven reporting issues.

Watch video of the session on TVW.

Today in Olympia: Capital Budget, Operating Budgets, State Need Grant, College Bound, and GET

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Welcome to Week 2 of the 105-day legislative session.

Clearing the fog of what’s happening in Olympia this week, we turn to Crosscut for a succinct treatment of legislative affairs:

For those new to the Legislature, committees are where shy new bills go to introduce themselves. After being read for the first time to the whole House (or Senate, for Senate bills), bills are sent to committees depending on their subject. Once in committee, bills are presented to committee members, who decide whether to send them on for review by the larger group — or nip them in the bud.

Turning to Higher Ed, interested parties from around the state came before the House Committee on the Capital Budget to give testimony on HB 1089, the 2013-2015 capital budget.

UW’s Director of State Relations Margaret Shepherd provided  testimony on the university’s priority capital projects. Watch the testimony here.

This afternoon, the Senate Ways & Means Committee held a Work Session on Higher Education. Committee members received an overview of the Higher Education Operating Budget, State Need Grant and College Bound program, Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program, and heard perspectives from Higher Ed stakeholders – including UW. Senators had a chance to ask the public four-year universities about the $225 million reinvestment proposal to freeze undergraduate tuition for two years.

In related news, the Seattle Times reported this weekend that the College Bound program has been more successful in sending low-income students to four-year colleges than expected.

Here’s how the program works, per the Times:

Middle-school students sign a pledge to keep at least a C average, stay out of legal trouble and apply for college and financial aid. Low-income students already can get substantial financial aid from the state and federal government and from private sources. College Bound also gives students up to $500 a year for books. Grants do not need to be repaid.

College Bound is one of the programs that UW undergrads participating in the Dream Project are helping spread the word about through mentoring students in Seattle-area high schools. In 2012-13, 713 College Bound students became Huskies.

Tomorrow, the House Higher Education Committee will begin hearings on “The Higher Education Needs of Industry.”

For an early perspective on that topic, last week Richard Fabian (VP of Imaging Systems Marketing at Philips) testified before the House Technology & Economic Development Committee.

Responding to a question from the Chair, Mr. Fabian noted the crucial importance of the University of Washington to its presence in the state. Watch the testimony here.

This Week in Olympia: Legislature Kicks Off, Governor Sworn In, Committees Get to Work

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On Monday, members of the House & Senate took their oaths of office. In the State Senate, as was expected, the Majority Coalition Caucus took control after a brief floor fight.

https://twitter.com/brianmrosenthal/status/290942408521310209

On Tuesday, Gov. Gregoire delivered the final State of the State address of her 8-year tenure.

On Wednesday, Gov. Jay Inslee was sworn-in and delivered his inaugural address. In his speech, the new Governor noted the role UW and other public universities play in growing the economy.

At a press availability later in the day, Gov. Inslee further noted that he did not believe extending certain taxes would break his no-new taxes campaign pledge:

Also on Wednesday, the House Higher Education Committee held a Work Session, with public four-year institutions presenting. Watch the proceedings on TVW, and be sure to catch UW State Relations’ presentation here.

On Thursday, the Senate Higher Education Committee met for the first time with Sen. Barbara Bailey (R-Whidbey Island) at the helm as Chair. On the docket: An update on the state budget, overview of the Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) Program & recommendations from the Legislative Advisory Committee to the GET Committee, and overview of the State Need Grant & College Bound Scholarship Program. Watch the proceedings on TVW.

Also on Thursday, Nathan Schlicher (J.D. ’02, M.D., ’06) was appointed by county commissioners in the 26th Legislative District to fill the State Senate Seat left vacant by now Congressman Derek Kilmer.

Today, the Senate Law & Justice Committee held a work session and hearing on alcohol-related issues on college campuses.

For more Olympia-related news, tune in to TVW’s Inside Olympia segment. Host Austin Jenkins interviews State Senators Andy Hill (R-Redmond), Steve Litzow (R-Mercer Island), Jim Hargrove (D-Hoquiam), and Sharon Nelson (D-Maury Island).

Today in Olympia: Gov. Inslee Sworn-In, Committees Begin Considering Higher Ed Agenda

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At 10:42AM this morning, Gov. Jay Inslee was sworn in at the Capitol Rotunda.

Shortly after, he delivered his inaugural State of the State Address.

https://twitter.com/brianmrosenthal/status/291616569329610753

Speaking about education generally, the new Governor talked about the need for alignment, “from early learning to K-12 to our universities.”

More specifically in regards to Higher Education, Gov. Inslee said:

“It’s also critical for us to preserve the leading role our research institutions play in inventing the future, growing our economy, and creating jobs. While we do this, we can no longer accept the misalignment between what our schools teach, and what skills our employers need. This is something I will act on immediately, to sharpen the relationship between our schools and the economy they are preparing our young people to enter. It will be hard work, but it is required work if we want Washington to rise to the challenges the world will present us.”

Watch Gov. Inslee’s address on TVW, or read it online. Watch the Republican response, delivered by State Rep. Kevin Parker (R-Spokane).

This afternoon, the House Higher Education Committee held a Work Session on Higher Education policy priorities for 2013. On the docket in the Work Session: presentations from each of the six public four-year universities, including the UW. Watch the presentations here. UW’s Director of State Relations Margaret Shepherd gave an overview of the university’s student profile, tuition & financial aid programs, economic impacts, academic excellence, and policy priorities.

Yesterday, Shepherd testified before the House Appropriations Committee in support of a recent reinvestment proposal presented to the legislature by the Council of Presidents.

The proposal, which has received positive marks from newspaper editorial boards and widespread media coverage, would freeze in-state undergraduate tuition for two years in exchange for state reinvestment of $225 million.

 

Today in Olympia: State of the State Address

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Gov. Chris Gregoire gave the final State of the State address of her 8-year tenure today.

The State of the State is delivered annually before a join session of the State House and Senate.

Gov. Gregoire used her final address to encourage legislators to focus on funding for education and transportation during the session. The outgoing Gov also made clear she doesn’t believe the legislature can cut or save its way out of the $1 billion budget shortfall.

For reactions from both sides of the aisle, read this News Tribune article.

Tomorrow, Gov-Elect Jay Inslee will be sworn-in and give his inaugural address.

Watch the State of the State address on TVW.