UW Budget Watch

Since 2009, the University of Washington sustained the loss of nearly half its state funding level. The current fiscal year, 2013, marks the first year in four without new, significant state budget cuts. However, state funding remains severely constrained and likely will be for many years. To help Washington’s four-year institutions partially make up for these budget cuts, the Legislature authorized 14% tuition increases in both 2009-10 and 2010-11. Additionally, the Legislature, for the first time ever, granted institutions tuition-setting authority for resident undergraduate students starting with the 2011-12 school year. The UW Board of Regents exercised this authority by approving a 20% increase in tuition for UW resident undergraduate students in 2011-12 and an increase of 16% in 2012-13.

To protect student access, the Regents have met increases in undergraduate resident tuition with significant increases in financial aid. In 2012-13, the UW is increasing the amount of aid available to low- and middle-income families by 41% or $18.5 million.

• Almost $64 million from UW is going toward financial aid for low- and middle-income families.
• Continuing commitment of the Husky Promise program. About 9,200 students are paying no tuition and fees this next year through Husky Promise.
• Over 14,000 students currently receive grant assistance to attend the UW.

As the 2013 Legislative Session progresses, we hope the UW will receive no new cuts to state funding for the upcoming biennium.

This page centralizes information about the UW budget from multiple sources. Be sure to visit the pages listed to the right and subscribe to the OPBlog, where you will get the most up-to-date information about the UW budget and more.

A new funding paradigm

Although state funds comprise a small percentage of the UW’s multibillion-dollar annual budget, alongside tuition revenue, state funds are a primary support for the UW’s core instructional mission in addition to being leveraged to secure outside research, medical and philanthropic funding that creates discovery, jobs and overall economic impact for the state.

However, the trend of supplanting state support with tuition revenue has continued in throughout the current biennium (through FY13). Although total per-student funding in constant dollars will be approximately the same in 2013 as it was in 1990, the state will cover only 29% of that funding level in 2013, compared to 82% in 1990. This is a major shift in the UW funding model.

• 1990: Funding per student was $17,000 – the state paid 82% and the student 18%
• 2013: Funding per student will be approximately $16,800 – the state will pay 29% and the student 71%

Updates

• Governor Gregoire releases 2013-15 Biennial Budgets
• Legislature passes Supplemental Budget
• Special Legislative Session ends with no material changes for UW.
• Governor releases Supplemental Budget Proposal.
• New UW Provost announced.
• Regents approve UW Budget for FY12.
• Final Conference Operating and Capital Budgets for 2011‐13 (PDF).
• UW creates Pact With Students.
• WA Legislature grants tuition-setting authority to four year institutions.
• Internal budget principles and priorities released by Provost and Faculty Senate.
• OPB publishes Program Evaluation Initiative Metrics and FY12 Unit Budget Narratives.

Video overview of rapid decline in state support

A defining moment – External Affairs Vice President Randy Hodgins and State Relations Director Margaret Shepherd talk about the unprecedented decline in state funding for the University of Washington and share facts about higher education and the UW’s impact today and in the future.

The video (10:55) is also available on the Husky YouTube channel.