Today, the University released its legislative priorities for the 2015 session that began this week in Olympia.
Here is a quick overview of what’s on the agenda:
Priority No. 1: Keep the UW affordable
Washington’s public colleges and universities are jointly requesting a $198 million state investment
for 2015–17 (the UW’s share is $68 million) to expand student access and support the state economy while maintaining current tuition levels.
Priority No. 2: Rapidly Increase Health Care Access for All Washingtonians
The UW requests $4 million per year to double the class size at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Spokane by the fall of 2017.
The UW requests $2.6 million for the biennium to double the class size of the University of Washington School of Dentistry’s Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program in Spokane and Eastern Washington by the fall of 2017.
Priority No. 3: Invest to Fully Fund Student Financial Aid
The UW supports the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) request for an additional investment of $48 million in 2015–17 toward the SNG, growing the pool of students who qualify by 4,000 yearly.
UW’s legislative priorities also include several requests for capital investments in key high-demand areas, including a Computer Science & Engineering building, Life Sciences building, and other critical areas.
Click here to view and download the document.