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UW releases 2017 state legislative agenda

Just in time for the start of the 2017 legislative session, the University of Washington released its legislative priorities. Here’s an overview of key priorities from the agenda:

Operating Budget Priorities

Competing for excellence:

As a world-class academic and research institution, the UW is dedicated to retaining and attracting the best faculty and staff who provide a world-class educational experience to our students. As a means of investing in talented educators, the UW requests funding for competitive compensation.

Investing in proven strategies to ensure student success:

It is critical that historically underserved students are supported to boost retention, graduation, and career preparation in high demand fields. Delivered through a tri-campus initiative, UW requests $5.1 million to expand programming and bolster support to underserved students.

Additionally, the UW supports full funding of the State Need Grant, which provides financial assistance to low-income students pursuing a higher education in Washington. More than 24,000 students who are eligible for the State Need Grant have not had access due to lack of funding.

Targeted investments to serve the needs of the state:

Washington currently faces severe workforce shortages in areas related to healthcare, computer science, and engineering. To combat this problem, UW is requesting $9.3 million to invest in rural health care professionals and another $16 million to invest in engineering, computer science, and ocean engineering and cyber operations.

Key Capital Investments

Seismic improvements

The safety of our students, faculty, and staff are of paramount importance at the UW. At the Seattle campus, there are masonry buildings in need of major reinforced upgrades to reduce the risk of collapse in case of an earthquake. The UW seeks $25 million to upgrade multiple buildings in critical need of repair.

Population Health sciences

In an effort to support and improve the health and well-being of communities both in Washington and globally, the UW requests $20 million for a Population Health research building. An additional $10 million is requested for the design of a shared Health Sciences classroom facility to replace the Magnuson Health Sciences Teaching Center (T-wing).

Accommodating growth

UW Bothell and UW Tacoma are experiencing rapid student enrollment in high-demand programs. In response to the increasing growth, UW requests $3.5 million in predesign and design funding to accommodate the academic needs of students.

Parrington Hall renovation

Enrollment has doubled in the Daniel J. Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. Parrington Hall, one of the oldest buildings on campus and home of the Evans School, is in need of maintenance and renovation. The UW requests $10 million for construction.

Burke Museum

The Burke Museum provides diverse science and cultural programming to schools, communities, and families. In an effort to increase programming and access, the Burke Museum is in the process of constructing a new facility on campus. To complete construction, $24.2 million is requested by UW.

Washington Competes

The University is committed to partnering with other statewide public baccalaureate institutions, community and technical colleges, and independent colleges to advance a jointly supported agenda focused on increasing investments in higher education to bolster student success. Read more about Washington Competes here.

New members of State Relations

The State Relations office has two new members looking forward to representing the university and working with you. Meet the team:

Joe Dacca Headshot

 

 Joe Dacca, Director

Since graduating from the UW in 2006, Joe has spent the past decade working for state and federal elected officials.  Most recently, Joe worked as the District Director for Congressman Derek Kilmer (WA-06).  Joe is an avid Husky fan and plays pick-up basketball as much as his ailing body will allow.

 

 

Jillian Kilby HeadshotJillian Kilby, Associate Director

With a passion for higher education accountability and college access, Jillian has had diverse roles in the education policy arena. She served as a Research and Evaluation Officer at the College Success Foundation as well as a former Legislative Assistant to Rep. Drew Hansen, Chair of the House Higher Education Committee.  She is a recipient of the Betty Jane Narver Fellowship, a graduate of Project Lead, and a co-chair for the Master’s in Education Policy Alumni Advisory Board at the UW. In her spare time, Jillian loves trying new cafes, listening to Beyoncé, and sleeping more than six hours.

 

MKI headshot 2015

Marissa Ingalls, State Relations Associate

A veteran of the Office of State Relations, Marissa has worked at the university for over three years and is a proud Husky alumna. She previously worked as a legislative assistant for three years in the Washington State Senate. Marissa’s husband also works at UW and she enjoys being able to commute to campus with him when not in Olympia. You will see them both donning Carolina blue during college basketball season as they cheer on the University of North Carolina Tarheels.

Update from State Relations: Initial state election results are in

The State Relations team has been closely monitoring the results of the election for our state-wide and state legislative offices. Here are some of the highlights and things to expect in January 2017:

-Governor Jay Inslee will continue to reside in the Governor’s mansion.

-Five new faces in state-wide office:

Lt. Governor: Cyrus Habib – current State Senator for the 48th legislative district

State Treasurer: Duane Davidson – current Benton County Treasurer

State Auditor: Pat McCarthy – current Pierce County Executive

Commissioner of Public Lands: Hilary Franz – current executive director for Futurewise

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Chris Reykdal – current State Representative for the 22nd legislative district

-The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus lost one seat to Senate Democrats, but will retain control of the chamber by a 25-24 margin. (The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus is comprised of Senate Republicans and one Democrat.)

-The House Democratic Caucus is positioned to maintain its majority with 50 seats accounted for. Depending upon the outcome of close races in the 5th and 19th legislative districts, they could expand their majority to 52-46.

-New senators to be appointed in the 37th, 45th and 48th legislative districts:

With the death of Senator Andy Hill, and the election of Senator Pramila Jayapal to Congress and Senator Cyrus Habib as Lt. Governor, there will be three additional seats to fill when the legislative session begins on January 9.

New UW faculty tour Washington, meet state leaders and incoming students

The annual UW Faculty Field Tour took place this week with stops that highlight Washington’s rich geography, economy, history and agricultural community. Below are a few pictures from time spent in eastern Washington.

The first day of the tour departed from Seattle and headed south, with stops at the Port of Tacoma, Mount St. Helens and dinner at the Heathman Lodge in Vancouver. Representatives Sharon Wylie, Brandon Vick and Paul Harris joined the faculty for dinner and an evening lecture on Washington’s geologic history by Professor David Montegomery.

UW President Ana Mari Cauce with Rep. Brandon Vick and Rep. Paul Harris at the Heathman Lodge.
UW President Ana Mari Cauce with Rep. Brandon Vick and Rep. Paul Harris at the Heathman Lodge.

On Wednesday, State Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler took the faculty on a tour of his wheat farm in Ritzville. The visit included discussion of Washington’s agricultural products and the importance of international trade to the state economy.

Sen. Mark Schoesler discusses his wheat farm with new UW faculty.
Sen. Mark Schoesler discusses his wheat farm with new UW faculty.

Faculty were greeted in Spokane by the UW Alumni Association and Provost Jerry Baldasty at the Welcome to Washington celebration. The annual dinner with parents, alumni, and community members offers a chance to celebrate students who are new to the Husky family.

Provost Jerry Baldasty welcomes new faculty and students to the Husky family.
Provost Jerry Baldasty welcomes new faculty and students to the Husky family.

On Thursday morning, Spokane area elected officials, business & community leaders and representatives from Gonzaga University and Eastern Washington University joined UW faculty for breakfast at the Davenport Hotel.

Spokane Tribal Council Vice Chairman, David Browneagle, speaks to faculty.
Spokane Tribal Council Vice Chairman, David Browneagle, speaks to faculty.

 

View more pictures from the 2016 UW Faculty Field Tour on UWGOV’s Facebook page and Twitter.

External Affairs hosts state, federal staff and business leaders for Clean Energy & Innovation Tour

On Monday, the Office of External Affairs hosted a Clean Energy & Innovation Tour. Attendees started the day at the UW Clean Energy Institute in the Molecular Engineering & Sciences building, learning about CEI and the UW’s efforts to accelerate a clean energy future from Director Dan Schwartz. The tour included a visit to the Hugh Hillhouse Research Group lab to see the development of low-cost and high-efficiency solar cells from inks and dyes.

At the David Ginger Research Group lab, the group viewed scanning probe microscopy and optical spectroscopy for next-generation solar and learned about techniques for understanding the basic science of energy materials and application.

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Hugh Hillhouse discusses developing low-cost and high-efficiency solar cells.
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David Ginger discusses optical spectroscopy for next-generation solar.

Devin MacKenzie then discussed future testbed facilities and equipment that will be available for university researchers and industry partners. Time at CEI concluded with a lunch discussion with graduate students Sarah Vorpahl and Matthew Murbach about the opportunities they’ve had at UW and the importance of state and federal investment in clean energy research.

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Devin MacKenzie discusses future testbed facilities and equipment coming to the university.
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Graduate students Sarah Vorpahl and Matthew Murbach discuss their Husky experience.

The second half of the tour was spent at CoMotion in Fluke Hall. Vikram Jandhyala, Vice President for Innovation Strategy, and Elizabeth Scallon, Associate Director of the CoMotion Incubator, provided an overview of the university as a leader in innovation and the services provided by the incubator. Event guests also spent time in the wet labs with current incubator startups and met students in the MakerSpace.

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Event guests meet current CoMotion incubator startups.
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Event guests hear from the award winning hyperloop student team in the CoMotion MakerSpace.

 

View more photos from the Clean Energy & Innovation Tour on UWGOV’s Facebook page.

President Young in Spokane for meetings with region’s business and community leaders

President Michael Young was in Spokane yesterday for meetings with local business and civic leaders.

President Young Spokane Pearson Packaging 5-20-13
President Young tours Pearson Packaging Systems.

Among other events, he spoke at a luncheon hosted by Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI). In his remarks to the group, President Young highlighted UW’s growing impacts in the region, and discussed how the university’s cutting-edge research benefits the state economy.

Topics of conversation also included the growing range of UW education programs in local K-12 schools, and the UW’s enduring 40-year plus WWAMI program that provides medical education in Eastern Washington.

Later in the day, he toured Pearson Packaging Systems on Spokane’s West Plains with the company’s President & CEO Michael Senske.

Senske is a UW alum (’93), and the incoming Chairman of GSI.

Washington Secretary of State visits UW campuses as part of College Civics tour

Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman, who is serving her first term in office, recently embarked on a 14-campus College Civics tour which included visits yesterday to University of Washington Tacoma and the Seattle campus.

https://twitter.com/alexjon/status/332221073187823616

During her stop at UW’s Seattle campus, Secretary Wyman talked with students about her background, the importance of voting and being involved in campus life and the community.

Additional topics during a Q&A session included the process of electing of State Supreme Court Justices, how the state’s redistricting commission operates, and internship opportunities in the Secretary’s Olympia office.

Ed Boards Weigh in on State Senate, Revenue Collections Up

The newly formed Majority Coalition Caucus in the State Senate received cautiously optimistic reviews from newspaper editorial boards around the state.

At separate editorial board meetings with the Seattle Times this week, Senate leaders on both sides discussed their ongoing negotiations on a governance plan.

According to tweets from the meeting, Sens. Rodney Tom (D-Medina), Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville), and Joe Fain (R-Auburn) were optimistic about reaching a power-sharing agreement.

In terms of policy, Sen. Tom told the Times’ editorial board that the coalition was “committed to enhancing funding for education,” while Sen. Schoesler said Higher Education had sacrificed enough.

In the Democrats’ meeting with the Times’ board, Sens. Ed Murray (D-Seattle) and David Frockt (D-Seattle) both expressed concerns with what they called a “take-it-or-leave-it” proposal from the Coalition, but left the door open to further negotiation:

Both sides are expected to continue negotiations on governance proposals heading into the weekend.

In other Olympia-related news:

An update released from the ERFC shows state revenue collections ticked up last month, and unemployment dropped.

Gov. Gregoire announced she is preparing a new package to address the state’s transportation infrastructure needs.

Election day is Nov. 8

Did you know, the state of Washington had 3,640,468 registered voters as of Oct. 5, 2011? That’s according to the Secretary of State’s Office, which reports that there are a number of statewide and local issues on ballots across the state for the Nov. 8 General Election.

A number of resources are available to help voters learn about issues and cast their ballots. One such resource is the non-partisan and non-profit Living Voters Guide, which bills itself as the state’s “citizen-powered voters guide.”  You can read, write and discuss issues, and build your own pro and con list using the LVG.

Other election resources include:

Please visit the Secretary of State’s Election Page for more info and resources.