Making higher education a priority in the state of Washington

A Shared Vision at Risk 2012

The UW’s Legacy of Accessible and Affordable Education

• UW opened in 1861 with 20 students, one faculty member and one building.

• Today UW serves nearly 100,000 students throughout the state:– 37,000 undergraduates– 14,000 graduate and professional students– 47,000 through Professional and Continuing

Education

Updated November 20112

The UW is Continuing its Legacy of Accessible and Affordable Education

• 80% of all undergraduates are Washington residents.

• 30% of all undergraduates are first in their family to attend college.

Updated November 2011 3

What Happened to the “Public” inPublic Higher Education?

• In the past three years, the UW’s state funding has been cut 50 percent — over $200 million.

Updated November 2011 4

What Happened to the “Public” inPublic Higher Education?

• In 1990, the state provided nearly 80 percent of the funds to educate UW students, and students funded the remaining 20 percent through tuition and fees.

• Today, the state funds only about 30 percent of the cost and UW students fund 70 percent.

• Costs at the UW aren’t going up—the cost of educating a student at the UW has remained constant for the last 20 years.

Updated November 2011 5

20 Years of Decreasing State Funding Has Led to an Increased Reliance on Tuition

Updated November 2011 6

The UW Still Provides a Quality Education at an Affordable Cost

Updated November 2011 7

The UW Reduces Costs Through Efficiency

• About 150 campus units are increasing their efficiency through the Lean philosophy, which is based on empowering staff to find ways to eliminate redundancy and waste.

• $30 million saved to date.• UW Information Technology is saving more than $3

million annually through:– New software agreements– Utilizing “the cloud”– Strategic purchasing of hardware

Updated November 20118

Tuition Increases Allowed the UW to:• Significantly increase financial aid by 45%.– Keep Husky Promise alive: In 2011, about 8,500

students covered under Husky Promise – about 25%.

– Provide 45% more financial aid for low- and middle-income students.

• Reinvest in writing and learning centers and high-demand courses.

• Maintain access for undergraduate resident students (currently at 80%).

Updated November 2011 9

What’s Next?The State of Washington must make higher education a real priority in the next state budget.•Prioritize current investments in education.

•Invest in students, not bureaucracy.– Provide the UW with more operational flexibility to better

serve our students.– Relieve the UW from certain regulatory burdens involving

investments, personnel, procurement and public works to increase our efficiency in running the University’s business.

Updated November 2011 10