budget
June 3, 2019
President’s letter
This year, our state Legislature approved a budget that reinvests in public higher education.
March 11, 2019
Down to the core
While the UW may look robust, long-standing cuts in state funding are eroding the school’s ability to maintain buildings, raise salaries and retain faculty.
December 1, 2018
President's letter
Public education requires public support—help us sound the alarm.
September 1, 2011
Higher aid, tuition
In July, the UW Board of Regents voted to raise tuition 20 percent and to increase the amount of aid available to low- and middle-income families by 45 percent, a dollar increase of $12 million.
Intellectual House funding
A total of $3.7 million from state funding and an anonymous gift have been received to support the building of the Intellectual House at the University of Washington.
March 1, 2011
Husky pride
One of the most disappointing aspects of the terrible state budget cuts isn’t just that the University of Washington will take a big hit. It’s how easily the state Legislature aimed its budget-cutting ax at the University.
June 1, 2009
Bitter budget
For the first time in its history, the UW will be getting more money from tuition than from the state of Washington.
March 1, 2009
UW feels the crunch
Gov. Chris Gregoire, '69, '71, warned that her 2009-11 state budget would contain "something ... for everybody not to like," and the University of Washington proved to be no exception.
June 1, 2008
Projects delayed
The Washington Legislature postponed decisions on two major UW projects at the close of its 2008 session, but it did enhance the UW’s operating and capital budgets, adding modest amounts to each.
March 1, 2008
UW looking north
As the Washington State Legislature works its way toward a March 12 adjournment, the UW is waiting for decisions on two major issues: the fate of public financing for Husky Stadium and the location of a new UW North Sound campus.
Progress on stadium
State lawmakers are considering a plan to help finance the renovation of Husky Stadium by tapping funds currently used to pay for professional stadiums in King County. A decision is expected before they adjourn March 12.
June 1, 2007
Closing the gap
In what could be a turning point in the recent history of state support for higher education, the Legislature passed an operating budget on April 22 that gives the UW its biggest financial boost in nearly two decades.
March 1, 2007
Budget boost
March is a crucial month in Olympia, as the Legislature looks at a new revenue forecast on the 15th and then the House of Representatives releases its two-year budget plan about a week later.
December 1, 2006
Minding the gap
There’s a huge difference between state funding for the UW and what our competition is getting, says President Mark Emmert, but he has a plan to help the Huskies keep up with the pack.
UW makes a promise
A revolutionary financial aid program called Husky Promise will allow about 5,000 in-state undergraduates to attend the University of Washington tuition-free next fall, President Mark A. Emmert, ’75, announced.
June 1, 2006
State invests in UW
State lawmakers approved an additional $18.1 million in new funding for the University of Washington.
March 1, 2006
Waiting on budget help
Even though the state government is sitting on a $1.5 billion surplus as it nears the end of the 2006 legislative session, alumni should not expect significant new dollars for higher education this year.
December 1, 2005
Nearly $1B for research
The UW drew a record-breaking $997 million in research grants and contracts for 2004-05, which is $43 million more than last year, the UW Office of Research announced Sept. 15.
September 1, 2005
Oversight urged
After a 10-month review of billing problems in physician groups attached to UW Medicine, a panel has recommended appointing a compliance officer who answers only to the vice president for medicine affairs.
June 1, 2005
State support grows
For the first time in the new century, the University of Washington is in better shape coming out of a legislative budget session than it was going in.
March 1, 2005
Growing pains
The state needs 33,000 more spaces for college students by 2009. To help solve the problem, the UW must transform its campuses in Tacoma and Bothell.
Budget hopes high
Lawmakers and higher education officials are watching for two important milestones as the state Legislature meets in Olympia for its 2005 session — the latest review forecast, due March 17, and the new budget proposal from Gov. Christine Gregoire, ’69, ’71, due shortly afterwards.
June 1, 2004
Boost from Olympia
Hailing the recent legislative session as “remarkably successful,” UW President Lee Huntsman told the regents March 19 that the UW saw progress on several budget issues.
March 1, 2004
Hot-button issues
To the surprise of many longtime Olympia observers, higher education has been a hot topic during the 2004 legislative session. As lawmakers work toward a March 11 adjournment, they are debating bills on new enrollments, performance contracts and other issues.
September 1, 2003
Record applications
Recent application numbers confirm what UW officials have been saying for a decade — it’s getting harder and harder to enter the University as a freshman.
State funding drops
Faced with a $2.65 billion deficit in its 2003-05 budget, the state Legislature passed a plan in June that includes a $47 million cut for the UW, no new enrollments and a 7 percent hike for in-state undergraduate tuition.
June 1, 2003
Gift and grumbling
When the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced that it was giving a record $70 million to the University of Washington to further genetic research, everyone on the campus was ecstatic. But on the second floor of Gerberding Hall there was one senior official who felt that his job just got a little harder.
Budget cuts coming
The UW can expect a cut in the amount of money coming from the state to support its teaching mission, but as Columns went to press in mid-May, the exact amount was still undecided.
March 1, 2003
Disappearing act
Nursing shortages plague America's hospitals, and even faculty are threatened. Can the nation's top-ranked nursing school come to the rescue?
Dire budget forecast
March may be the cruelest month of all in the state budget process, warn UW officials as they prepare for new proposals likely to contain dramatic cuts.
Our crumbling campus
They may look good from the outside, but many campus buildings are slowly crumbling away. Will the state rescue its most valuable piece of property?
December 1, 2002
Funding battle
As the state of Washington faces a $2 billion revenue shortfall, a battle is looming over support for higher education.
September 1, 2002
Paying the price
With state support dropping, the UW is looking for a way out of the financial maze, but could these new pathways alter the character of the university?
June 1, 2002
'Painful' cuts coming
Facing a $24.6 million loss of state revenue, the University of Washington regents voted May 17 to raise undergraduate tuition by 16 percent and impose a budget cut across academic and administrative units of about 2.5 percent.
March 1, 2002
Giving counts
Columns Editor Tom Griffin spoke with Connie Kravas, the UW's new vice president for development and alumni relations, about the rising challenges of private support at a public university.
Tuition change
The University of Washington could face an $18 million cut in state funding for 2002-03, but part of the damage might be offset by rising tuition, especially if the Board of Regents is allowed to set rates for all students.
September 1, 2001
Budget deficit
The University of Washington is facing a “significant budget deficit” of $25 million, says its chief budget officer, despite raising tuition to its maximum level for undergraduates.
March 1, 2001
Tough budget
Lawmakers are writing a 2001-03 budget that could severely impact enrollment, tuition, faculty salaries and other issues crucial to the University of Washington.
December 1, 2000
Budget crossroads
Since the core funding for the UW comes from the state, decisions made in Olympia will have a long-lasting impact.
June 1, 2000
Face to face
Forget the crises, brain drain, chronic underfunding and even the rain. After five grueling years, Richard L. McCormick still loves his job as UW president.
June 1, 1999
Salary boost
The University of Washington may find fewer professors leaving for higher paid positions elsewhere as a result of a new state budget passed April 25.
March 1, 1999
Tuition on the rise
Undergraduate tuition could rise from 10 to 24 percent in the next two years under several proposals currently under debate in the Washington State Legislature.
December 1, 1998
Brain drain
Some top UW professors are leaving, and more will follow if nothing is done about the faculty pay gap.
June 1, 1998
Less room for students
While higher education saw some advances in the last legislative session, UW officials also saw signs that access to a college education may be shrinking.
March 1, 1998
Endowment plan
The Washington State Legislature is currently considering a proposal to establish a $500 million public-private partnership to enhance the quality of higher education in Washington.
December 1, 1997
Research rising
The University of Washington received $510 million in research grants during 1996-97, passing the half-billion-dollar milestone for the first time.
Passing grades
Despite the economic boom of the late 1990s, higher education is under the microscope. Business leaders, legislators and some educators feel our colleges and universities are just not efficient.
June 1, 1997
Tuition, faculty salaries to rise under state budget
The new two-year state budget has UW officials cautious about the future of the University.
March 1, 1997
Spending limits put squeeze on UW budget plans in Olympia
In past sessions the Legislature often had less money than it wanted to spend, but this session it has more money than it can spend, due to the Initiative 601 spending limit.
December 1, 1996
Accountability, access, quality are top issues for UW, Legislature
The UW goes to the 1997 Legislature with an $814 million budget request, about $75 million over current levels.
June 1, 1996
UW to see higher enrollments, better technology, thanks to state budget
Students will graduate faster and citizens will have more degree options, thanks to the 1996 legislative session which ended March 7.
December 1, 1995
UW seeks matching funds from lawmakers
A $30 million plan that leverages state funds with private support and tuition would boost access to the UW, expand instructional technology and help retain faculty.
September 1, 1995
Applied mathematics, Slavic languages saved from closure
President William P. Gerberding rejected plans to cut the applied math and Slavic languages and literature departments, but he approved terminating the Institute for Environmental Studies.
June 1, 1995
Budget stalls
As Columns went to press, the Washington State Legislature remained deadlocked on a state budget for 1995-97.
Slavic studies may be cut
UW deans decided to eliminate the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature and the Institute for Environmental Studies.
March 1, 1995
Tuition may rise
The University of Washington and other state universities may have the power to set some tuition rates if the Washington State Legislature follows Gov. Mike Lowry's recommendations.
Chopping block
The UW must consider closing the School of Communications and the applied math, Slavic languages and literature, and speech communication departments, President Gerberding announced.
December 1, 1994
What if they sold the ‘U’?
Imagine the state without its flagship university. Like a bad dream, it's a scenario with symbolic value.
$19 million cut
UW deans, vice presidents, vice provosts and the director of libraries submitted plans in November for $19 million in budget reductions at the Seattle campus.
June 1, 1994
UW spared cuts
Lawmakers spared the University of Washington from budget cuts in the session that concluded in March 1994.
March 1, 1994
Budget worries
UW officials are concerned about long-term trends coming out of Olympia following the passage of Initiative 601.
June 1, 1993
UW deals with cuts
The University of Washington must absorb a $32-million shortfall in state funding following the passage of the 1993-95 state operating budget.
March 1, 1993
Slash or invest?
The fate of budget cuts, tuition increases, instructional improvements and salary hikes rests with the state of Washington's revenue forecast.
December 1, 1992
Funding increase sought
When the legislature meets next month, UW officials will ask Olympia for enough funds to keep the University's motor running.
June 1, 1992
Budget outlook
The Washington State Legislature adjourned with a budget that left officials "very, very pleased," says Bob Edie, the UW director of government relations.
March 1, 1992
Paying the piper
Raising tuition and bringing it under the control of the regents may be the only way to avoid crippling budget cuts.
September 1, 1991
Budget buoys UW
The University of Washington will be more competitive and more accessible, thanks to an 11.6 percent increase in its state funding.
June 1, 1991
Budget outlook good
UW officials are generally pleased over the shape of the 1991-93 state budget.
March 1, 1991
Funding boost
When UW undergraduates settled into their seats last October, they got the "new, improved" versions of some entry-level courses.
Budget cuts loom
UW officials are anxiously waiting for the March 19 state revenue forecast, as the Washington State Legislature begins to write its budget for the UW and all state agencies.
December 1, 1990
UW seeks funding hike
The UW asked for $806.7 million in state funds for its 1991-93 budget.
June 1, 1990
Olympia chips in
The Legislature agreed to fund a new evening degree program at the UW, but at a level set at half of what the UW requested.
December 1, 1989
Capitol gains
A small staff shepherds the UW's budget through the legislative process.