Skip to content

Sen. Braun & Rep. Abbarno cheer on local students in UW STEM Camp engineering competition

The UW partnered with the Chehalis Foundation to host a four-day summer STEM camp at W.F. West High School this week for high school students in the Chehalis-region. Students enrolled in the camp have the opportunity to learn from engineering and medical science experts and work with cutting-edge technologies.

For the past two days, students learned about the Engineering Design Process and its applications from faculty in the UW College of Engineering. In small groups, they designed and built a Rube Goldberg machine and tested it in a competition held yesterday afternoon. Senate Minority Leader John Braun and Representative Peter Abbarno stopped by the camp to watch the competition and give the students words of encouragement before it began.

Today, students worked with scientists from the Institute for Protein Design to design custom proteins using the scientific video game Fold It. After designing their proteins, they learned how to study them in a lab.

Tomorrow, students will explore DNA, antibodies, antigens, viruses, and other elements of advanced biology with experts from the Brotman Baty Institute. They will engage in hands-on activities once again to expand and deepen their understanding of precision medicine research.

The Chehalis summer STEM camp gives students in the region a unique and fun educational experience, while also showcasing STEM degrees and pathways post-high school.

Thank you, Sen. Braun and Rep. Abbarno, for joining your local students to watch them in action as they tested their machine designs. We appreciate your continued support of the UW!

 

Sen. Nguyễn tours the WA Clean Energy Testbeds

Last week, Senator Joe Nguyễn visited the Washington Clean Energy Testbeds at the UW Clean Energy Institute to learn more about the open-access facility that helps accelerate the development, scale-up, and adoption of new technologies in solar harvesting, energy storage, and system integration.

Sen. Nguyễn is the Chair of the Senate Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, which considers issues related to climate change, current and emerging technologies, and the availability, production, and conservation of energy. The groundbreaking research and work being done at the Testbeds coincides with the policy considered in the Environment, Energy & Technology Committee, and may help inform future decisions by Sen. Nguyễn and his committee.

Sen. Nguyễn also serves on the Senate Ways & Means and Human Services Committees and as the Senate Democratic Assistant Floor Leader. He represents the 34th legislative district, which encompasses West Seattle and Vashon Island.

Thank you, Sen. Nguyễn, for taking the time to visit the UW and learn from our experts at the Testbeds.

Session news: Floor action is underway as session hits midway point

Today is the halfway point of the 105-day legislative session and the House and Senate are on the floor considering the bills that remain alive. Bills that did not pass out of their house of origin fiscal committees are now “dead” unless necessary to implement the budget.

The UW is tracking numerous bills with varying degrees of impact on students and the University, including:

  • SB 5048 – Eliminates College in the High School student fees.
  • SB 5079 – Changes the date tuition is set so financial aid packages can be provided to prospective students earlier.
  • SB 5702 – Expands the students experiencing homelessness and foster youth program.
  • SB 5711 – Extends eligibility for the Washington College Grant from five to six years to align with Pell.
  • HB 1559 – Establishes student basic needs navigators at public postsecondary institutions.

For a complete list of the bills being considered by the legislature or to look up a bill not listed above, click here.

House and Senate budget leaders are currently drafting the 2023-25 biennial operating, capital, and transportation budgets. The Office of State Relations has worked hard throughout session to advocate for the inclusion of the UW’s legislative priorities in the draft budget proposals, which will be unveiled after the state’s economic and revenue forecast is published on March 20.

For questions about the legislative process, specific legislation, or the UW’s priorities, please contact the Office of State Relations at staterel@uw.edu.

Session news: UW leaders champion operating and capital budget priorities

Today is day 38 of the 105-day legislation session. The last day for bills to pass out of the policy committee in their house of origin is this Friday, Feb. 17. If bills have not moved out of policy committee by the Feb. 17 deadline, they are considered dead unless they’re necessary to implement the budget (NTIB). Legislation that passes out of policy committee before the deadline will move to their house of origin fiscal committee or if they do not have a fiscal impact, directly to the Rules Committee, where members select which bills move to the floor for consideration by the full body of the House or Senate.

The House and Senate fiscal committees, Appropriations and Ways & Means respectively, will work long hours this weekend and next week as they consider the bills that have come to them from the various policy committees. The house of origin fiscal committee cutoff is scheduled for next Friday, Feb. 24.

The Office of State Relations is monitoring legislation that impacts the University, as well as the budget process. If you have questions about specific bills or the legislative process, please contact staterel@uw.edu.

President Cauce champions the UW’s legislative priorities with budget leadership

Last week, President Ana Mari Cauce traveled to Olympia for the second time to advocate for the UW’s legislative priorities. She met with Democrat and Republican budget writers in both the House and Senate to advocate for increased compensation for University faculty and staff, as well as additional support for UW’s hospitals so they can continue to serve as the state’s safety-net and health care workforce training hospitals. She also emphasized the need to support high-demand degree programs and student support services.

Before meeting with legislators, President Cauce connected with UW students in Olympia for their annual Huskies on the Hill lobby day. Huskies on the Hill is organized by the ASUW Office of Government Relations to advocate on issues important to UW students, such as financial aid and mental health resources. President Cauce enjoyed starting her day in Olympia with UW students and hearing about their priorities this session.

 

School of Environmental & Forest Sciences advocates for Anderson Hall renovation

The UW College of the Environment Dean Maya Tolstoy and Associate Dean Stephanie Harrington participated in legislator meetings with the Director of the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences Dan Brown to ask for support for the renovation of Anderson Hall, which is one of the oldest buildings on the Seattle campus.

Anderson Hall is the hub for the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, which has seen undergraduate enrollment double in the past decade. Built in 1925, the building has an antiquated learning environment that lacks adequate classroom and collaborative learning spaces. Additionally, it lacks cutting-edge technologies critical to fostering environmental leadership and learning.

Renewed facilities will accommodate increased enrollment, address long-standing accessibility and safety issues, and allow for innovative learning and research in support of Washington’s environmental, economic, and societal prosperity.

UW leaders request support for wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House

Yesterday, the Director of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House Chenoa Henry (Tulalip), UW student and co-chair of the First Nations @ UW Kaila RedBow (Oglala Lakota Sioux), Regent Leonard Forsman (Suquamish), UW Native American Advisory Board immediate past-chair Patricia Whitefoot (Yakama), and University Diversity Officer Rickey Hall met with policymakers to advocate for phase two of the construction of wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House.

wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House is a longhouse-style learning and gathering place for the UW’s American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) students, faculty and staff. It is also provides a welcoming environment for sharing the knowledge of Northwest Indigenous peoples, and serves as a reminder that the University campus sits in the heart of Native land.

Phase two of construction will bring additional support to the UW’s AIAN community through a Native art lab, a student resource center, indoor and outdoor gathering spaces, and educational Native gardens. It will also help to further support access and retention for AIAN students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Session news: Regents & Trustees Advocacy Day; Health sciences deans champion Magnuson renovation request

Regents & Trustees champion higher education in Olympia

Regents and trustees from the state’s public two- and four-year higher education institutions traveled to Olympia this week to meet with policymakers to discuss major issues facing the higher education sector, including the need to invest in competitive compensation, high-demand degrees, and student support services. They also highlighted the importance of funding capital requests.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was the first in-person advocacy day regents and trustees have participated in. Throughout the day, they spoke with a unified voice about the importance of continuing to invest in higher education with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate.

Thank you to our Regents for participating in this important advocacy day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Health Sciences Deans advocate for the Magnuson Health Sciences Center renovation and expansion of the UW’s rural dentistry program

The deans from the UW’s six health sciences schools (dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, and social work) met with legislators on Tuesday to champion phase two of the Magnuson Health Sciences Center (MHSC) renovation and replacement.

The MHSC is the primary teaching space for the health sciences schools, which are recognized as leaders in professional education, research innovation, and public service. Constructed in the 1970s, current facilities have mostly original infrastructure and an inflexible learning environment not suited for modern health sciences education. After the renovation, the MHSC will promote innovative, multidisciplinary learning to over 8,000 students and will accommodate future program growth, as well as support continuing education for current health-care professionals. The renovation also anticipates and addresses future accreditation requirements for increases in team-based and simulation learning and assessment.

The School of Dentistry Dean Andre Ritter also met with legislators to advocate for the expansion of the UW’s Regional Initiatives in Dental Education (RIDE) program. RIDE is a cost-effective, scalable model for increasing the number of qualified dentists practicing in the state’s rural and underserved areas, and prioritizes team-oriented, culturally competent training so graduates are prepared to meet the unique needs of Washington’s diverse communities. Located in Spokane, RIDE’s innovative training model immerses students in community-based clinics so they gain valuable field experience while also providing high quality dental care to local communities. RIDE is also co-located with Eastern Washington University’s dental hygiene program so training is interprofessional.

Both requests are on the UW’s legislative agenda and will ultimately help the state address its health care needs and workforce shortages.

Session news: UW promotes Tacoma & Bothell priorities and high-demand degrees

UW Bothell and UW Tacoma Chancellors champion campus requests

The UW Bothell Chancellor Kristen Esterberg and UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange met with legislators this week to advocate for improved compensation for faculty and staff to help with recruitment and retention, as well as the high-demand degree requests specific to their campuses:

  • UW Bothell School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics: $862,000 annually to develop a program modeled after STARS to support 75 pre-major students in accessing and graduating with computer science degrees.
  • UW Tacoma School of Engineering & Technology: $854,000 in fiscal year 2024 and $2,000,000 ongoing to add 55 graduates in computer science and engineering by fiscal year 2027, expanding on funding provided by the legislature in the 2019-21 biennium.

In their meetings, they also emphasized the need for student support services, given the challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic and the unique student populations their campuses serve.

With capital budget leaders, Chancellor Edwuards Lange highlighted the UW Tacoma’s capital request for $7.7M to acquire land within the 46-area campus footprint to help accommodate future growth.

The UW is fortunate to have the leadership of Chancellors Esterberg and Edwards Lange.

 

Leaders in the College of Engineering, Information School, and School of Computer Science & Engineering advocate for investments in STEM degrees

The College of Engineering Dean Nancy Allbritton, the Information School Dean Anind Dey, and Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering Professor Ed Lazowska traveled to Olympia to champion their high-demand degree priorities included in the UW’s legislative agenda:

  • Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering: $2M in FY24 and $4M ongoing to add 100 annual graduates by FY27; $455K per year to continue one-time funding provided in FY23 for the successful Startup program.
  • College of Engineering: $420K annually for the Dean’s Scholars program and $125K annually for an academic counselor to support Startup, Dean’s Scholars and Washington State Academic RedShirt (STARS) students across the college.
  • Information School: $500K in FY24 and $1.25M ongoing to add 140 annual graduates by FY25 in informatics, including staff for student academic support.

The UW cannot keep up with the extraordinary demand from students for these degree programs and is turning away qualified students due to capacity constraints. Additionally, employers in the state desperately need engineers, scientists, and analysts to maintain current operations and drive innovation.

Investing in STEM degrees will improve pathways to high-paying, local jobs for Washington residents, further cutting-edge technology and research, and fuel economic growth in the state. This request also improves educational and economic opportunity for traditionally underserved students and directly contributes to the UW’s mission to educate a diverse student body to become responsible global citizens and future leaders through an excellent education.

Session news: President Cauce advocates in Olympia; Regent Lee testifies in confirmation hearing

President Cauce champions the UW’s legislative agenda in Olympia

Yesterday, President Ana Mari Cauce traveled to Olympia to champion the UW’s legislative priorities. In her meetings with legislators, she highlighted the importance of competitive compensation for the University’s faculty and staff, as well as the need to expand high demand programs and students support services. She also emphasized the additional support needed for the UW’s hospitals to ensure they can continue to serve as the state’s safety-net and health care workforce training hospitals. With capital budget leaders, she reviewed the University’s capital project priorities.

During her visit, she also ran into current UW students who are working as legislative staff for session. She was thrilled to see the students and learn about the hands-on experience they’re getting as communication interns.

Her visit concluded with the Council of Presidents legislative reception where she connected with Washington’s other university presidents, elected officials, and higher education leaders and advocates.

Regent Lee’s participates in Senate confirmation hearing

The members of the UW Board of Regents are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate after a public hearing and floor vote.

Last Friday, Regent Elizabeth Lee took the first step to confirming her term by participating in a public hearing in the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee. At the hearing, she provided testimony about her background and commitment to service to the UW.

After the public hearing, the committee voted unanimously to advance her confirmation to the Senate floor for consideration and a vote. The floor vote is likely to take place in the next few weeks.

The UW is fortunate to have the leadership of Regent Lee!

Session news: Legislative session begins with testimony on the Governor’s budget proposals

The 2023 legislative session began on Monday and for the first time in two years, it is being held in-person. This session is unique because 29 new legislators have joined the ranks of the House and Senate and most of the sophomore legislators have never worked an in-person session. During this long 105-day session, legislators will decide the 2023-35 biennial operating, capital, and transportation budgets.

Throughout the week, the House and Senate fiscal committees heard the Governor’s operating and capital budget proposals, which included a majority of the University of Washington’s 2023 legislative priorities. The Office of State Relations Director Joe Dacca and Associate Director Morgan Hickel testified in support of both of the Governor’s budget proposals. In their remarks on the operating budget, they emphasized the importance of competitive compensation for faculty and staff with the state covering at least two-thirds of the costs, as well as the expansion of high demand programs. On the capital budget, they thanked the Governor for investing in the UW’s priority projects, including Magnuson Health Sciences Center, Anderson Hall, wǝɫǝbʔaltxʷ – Intellectual House, and Chemical Sciences. They also asked the legislature to consider funding for UW Tacoma to acquire land within their campus footprint that is important to future growth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The UW is also monitoring and supporting policy bills, including:

  • SB 5048 – Eliminates College in the High School student fees.
  • SB 5079 – Changes the date that tuition is set so financial aid packages can be provided to prospective students earlier.
  • HB 1156 – Extends eligibility for the Washington College Grant from five to six years to align with Pell.

Visit leg.wa.gov to learn more about specific pieces of legislation and track the legislature’s progress.

If you have any questions about the UW’s legislative agenda or bills being introduced, please contact the Office of State Relations at staterel@uw.edu.

Governor and higher education leaders celebrate session successes at UW Tacoma

Governor Jay Inslee, legislators, students, and higher education advocates gathered at UW Tacoma yesterday for Bridge to the Future, an event celebrating the post-secondary successes of the 2022 legislative session. In recent years, the state has made considerable investments in higher education, including student financial aid and increased funding for faculty and staff compensation.

UW Tacoma Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange kicked off the celebration by welcoming the attendees and highlighting how the state’s recent investments have benefitted UW Tacoma and students, especially those that are first-generation and low-income. She also emphasized the importance of continuing to invest in faculty and staff, who are vital to the excellence of higher education institutions and student success.

Gov. Inslee and the House and Senate higher education committee chairs, Rep. Vandana Slatter and Sen. Emily Randall, celebrated the recent legislative achievements that have helped make post-secondary education more accessible and affordable for all Washingtonians. Additionally, they focused on the future and stressed the importance of continuing to invest in higher education to improve prosperity for our residents, local communities, and the state.

Speakers also included student leaders who have directly benefited from the state’s recent investments, including Reanne Chilton, WSU Graduate student; Andre Jiminez, UW Tacoma Student Body President; Marco Montoya, South Bates Technical College Ironworker Apprentice, and; Evans Kaame, Washington Student Association President. They shared their unique journeys to post-secondary education and spoke of the profound impact it has had on their lives and futures. They highlighted the broad swath of investments that were critical to their success, such as financial aid, mental health and student support services, and opportunity pathways, and encouraged the state to expand investments so more Washingtonians will pursue higher education and students will receive the support needed to attain a degree or credential.

Thank you to all the higher education leaders in attendance, including Speaker Laurie Jinkins, Representatives Mari Leavitt, Drew Hansen, and Gerry Pollet, and Senator David Frockt.

Extraordinary number of state legislators not seeking reelection

Since October, twenty-two state lawmakers have announced their retirement from the Washington Legislature or their decision to run for the Senate instead of the House. Turnover in the legislature is common, especially in an election year, but the considerable number of state lawmakers not seeking reelection is sure to shake up the upcoming election season and makeup of the 2023 legislature.

Washington state’s legislature consists of 98 seats in the House of Representatives and 49 seats in the Senate, with Democrats controlling both chambers. This election cycle, all 98 House seats are up for election, as are 23 of the Senate seats.

Here are the legislators who have officially announced they will not seek reelection:

House of Representatives

Rep. Eileen Cody, D-West Seattle (Legislative District 34), announced her retirement in March. She has served in the House since 1995 and sits on the Appropriations and Health Care and Wellness Committees.

Rep. Laurie Dolan, D-Olympia (LD 22), is a UW alumnus who assumed office in 2017 and currently serves on the Appropriations Committee. She announced her decision to retire from the legislature in March.

Rep. Jeremie Dufault, R-Selah (LD 15), assumed office in 2019 and will not seek reelection because the state’s new redistricting plans draw him out of district and he and his family do not want to move.

Rep. Larry Hoff, R-Vancouver (LD 18), is serving his second term in office and announced last week that he will not seek reelection. He sits on the Appropriations and College & Workforce Development Committees.

Rep. Jesse Johnson, D-Federal Way (LD 30), was appointed to the legislature in 2020 and announced in early March that he would leave the legislature to spend more time with his family. He is a UW graduate, and his wife is currently a UW Medical student.

Rep. Steve Kirby, D-South Tacoma (LD 29), has served in the House since 2001 and announced his decision to retire from the legislature in December.

Rep. Bob McCaslin, R-Spokane (LD 4), announced in February that he would leave the legislature to run for Spokane County Auditor. He has been a member of the House since 2014.

House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington (LD 47), is a UW alumnus who assumed office in 2005 and became the House Majority Leader in 2010. He announced his retirement from the legislature last week.

Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett (LD 38), assumed office in 2005 and announced in February that he would leave the legislature at the end of his term. He received his fifth-year teacher certification from the UW.

Rep. Emily Wicks, D-Everett (LD 38), was appointed in 2020 and announced she will not seek reelection this week. Her announcement leaves both House seats in the 38th legislative district open.

In addition, five legislators currently serving in the House plan to run for the Senate:

Rep. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick (LD 8), is serving his second term and sits on the Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Noel Frame, D-Seattle (LD 36), assumed office in 2016 and serves on the Appropriations Committee.

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union (LD 35), has served in office since 2013 and sits on the Appropriations and Capital Budget Committees.

Rep. Javier Valdez, D-Seattle (LD 46), is a UW graduate who assumed office in 2017.

Rep. Jesse Young, R-Gig Harbor (LD 26), was appointed to the House in 2014.

Rep. Brad Klippert, R-Kennewick (LD 8), and Rep. Vicki Kraft, R-Vancouver (LD 17) will also not seek reelection in the House to run for Congress.

Senate

Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick (LD 8), was appointed in 2013 and currently serves on the Ways & Means Committee. She announced her decision to retire from the legislature in November

Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle (LD 36), assumed office in 2009 and announced in January that he will leave the legislature at the end of his term. He sits on the Ways & Means Committee.

Sen. David Frockt, D-Seattle (LD 46), has served since 2011 and announced in October that he would not seek reelection. He’s the capital budget chair of the Ways & Means Committee and serves on the Health & Long Term Care Committee. He received his law degree from the UW.

Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlach (LD 35), is a UW alumnus and the longest serving member of the Washington Legislature. He was elected to the House in 1990 and the Senate in 1996. He announced his retirement in March.

Sen. Keith Wagoner, R-Sedro-Woolley (LD 39), announced in December his plans to run for Secretary of State. His Senate seat is not up for election so he will return to the Senate if he loses his bid for Secretary of State.

The Washington state General Election will be held Nov. 8.