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The University of Washington sustained a $207 million (32.5%) state funding cut for the 2011-13 biennium. After a third straight year of deep state budget cuts, the UW has lost half of its state funding in a very short period of time. Unfortunately, as we prepare for the 2012 Legislative Session, which commences January 9th, we anticipate an additional round of funding cuts due to another growing state budget deficit.
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.
To protect student access the Regents have met increases in undergraduate resident tuition with significant increases in financial aid. The UW will increase the amount of tuition revenue set aside for resident undergraduate financial aid by 45 percent ($12 million) in 2011-12.
This page centralizes information about the UW budget from multiple sources. Be sure to subscribe to the blogs listed to the left, 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 multi-billion 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 will continue in 2011-13. Although total funding per student in constant dollars will be approximately the same in 2013 as it was in 1990, the state will cover on 30% of that cost by 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 30% and the student 70%
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 Challenge of a Lifetime: With an adventurer's spirit, Michael Young plans to make the UW a leader in solving the public higher education funding model - Columns Magazine
UW Initiatives
Two Years to Two Decades- Articulating long-term strategic priorities that guide near-term decisions.
Sustainable Academic Business Plan - Guiding our decision-making, prioritizing, reorganizing, investing and sunsetting activities in the next two years.
Organizational Effectiveness - Helping units achieve operational excellence through work process improvements and innovations.
Program Evaluation - Identifying opportunities for prioritization and informed decision-making.
Activity Based Budgeting - The UW is in the midst of implementing a new budget model to provide increased transparency and enable management to make more informed budget decisions.
