Uncategorized

Yesterday, Governor Inslee released his proposal for the State’s 2021-23 capital budget, which includes funding for many of WWU’s capital priorities. The governor’s capital budget includes $51 million for construction of the Electrical Engineering and Computer Science building—WWU’s top capital budget request for the biennium—as well as $4.9 million for design and construction of a…

Governor Inslee released his proposed operating budget yesterday, marking the first step in the 2021-23 biennial budgeting process.  The governor’s operating proposal includes $3.4 million for Western’s “Advancing Inclusive Success” proposal aimed at addressing equity issues in higher education to ensure underrepresented students receive the same opportunities for success as their peers.  The governor’s budget…

The state’s quarterly revenue forecast adopted by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council on November 18th projects a $634 million increase in state revenues for the 2019- 21 biennium and a $328 million increase for the 2021-23 biennium compared to the September 2020 forecast. Despite the improvement, state revenues are still projected to be…

This week the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council announced estimates for state revenue collections have increased by $2.2 billion for the current 2019-21 biennial budget, leaving a $760 million surplus, including reserves, at the end of the budget cycle.  Revenue projections have also increased by more than $2.4 billion for the upcoming 2021-23…

WWU received $886,000 per year in new state funding during the 2020 legislative session to reduce tuition rates for Western on the Peninsulas degree programs that are currently above state-funded resident undergraduate tuition rates.  Last week, Western announced tuition rates for students attending Western on the Peninsulas degree programs in business administration, environmental science and…

This week the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council announced estimates for state revenue collections have decreased by $4.5 billion for the current 2019-21 biennial budget that began on July 1, 2019.  After accounting for reserves, the state faces a net $1.4 billion shortfall at the end of the current biennium.  Revenue projections have…

The 2020 legislative session ended in mid-March, and earlier this month, Governor Inslee finished signing bills into law, including the 2020 supplemental operating budget. Key outcomes for WWU from the 2020 session include: $886,000 per year in new funding for the reduction of tuition rates for four-year degree programs offered at WWU on the Peninsulas;…

Yesterday the Washington State Legislature wrapped-up the 60-day 2020 legislative session in Olympia.  Highlights of the session for WWU include: $886,000 per year to reduce tuition rates for Western on the Peninsulas degree programs that are currently above state-funded resident undergraduate tuition rates; $215,000 per year for WWU to begin offering courses in American Sign…

The House and Senate released each chamber’s supplemental operating and capital budget proposals this week.  The Senate operating proposal includes $1.8 million per biennium to transition Western on the Peninsulas degree programs from a self-supported funding model to a state-funded model.  This funding would align tuition rates for students attending WWU on the Peninsulas with…

This weekend 15 WWU students majoring in political science traveled to Olympia for a firsthand look at state government in action during the Ralph Munro Institute for Civic Education “Day on the Hill.”  The students, along with the Institute’s Director, Dr. Vernon Johnson, and Dr. Kate Destler, Assistant Professor of Political Science, joined Former Secretary of State…