Office of Planning & Budgeting


October 31, 2011

Does America Have a STEM Supply Problem?

Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce released a report that investigates the importance of American science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) positions in the US economy and the perceived shortage of qualified STEM workers to fill them. The report finds that, contrary to popular belief, America already has enough students studying STEM related…


October 27, 2011

As Expected, Federal Loan Borrowing Has Increased

The US Department of Education’s Stats in Brief from October 2011 entitled “Borrowing at the Maximum” investigates the percentage and demographics of students who take out federal subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans, and how this has changed over time. The report also seeks to differentiate between those who take out the program maximum loan amount…


Governor’s Budget Options Include 20% UW Cut

The Governor released a preliminary list of potential budget reductions for FY13 today. The list includes a set of severe cuts across state government but demarcates which reductions she would include in her formal November budget. For higher education, the Governor would cut colleges and universities 15 percent in FY13 and suspend the State Work…


October 26, 2011

New from OPB

Make sure to check out the following recent additions to the website: Updated printable UW Fact Cards for your wallets and pockets and new UW Fast Facts! Please let us know if you have any questions. Updated brief on Institutional autonomy among UW peer institutions across the US. Final Decision Summary and Overview report on…


October 20, 2011

WA and UW in the News

We’ve been busy and the blog has been a bit quiet as a result, but we have a queue of posts on interesting new reports and OPB briefs that will show up soon. We are also preparing for the special legislative session that will commence in Olympia on November 28th, so stay tuned. In the…


October 13, 2011

Distance Learning Growing, Primarily Among Non-Traditional Students

The U.S. Department of Education’s Stats in Brief report for October 2011 presents updated NCES  based research on the types of students engaging in distance learning (defined now as online, or live and interactive video/audio instruction through CD/DVD or webcast), and changes in distance learning over time. Distance education degree programs are those that utilize…


October 6, 2011

University of Washington 25th in World University Rankings

The Times Higher Education/Thomson Reuters World University Rankings for 2011-12 were released today and the University of Washington ranked 25th, one of only five public US institutions to make the top 25 (UC Berkeley was the highest ranking US public at 10). US News and World Report recently ranked the UW 42nd among all national…