UW seeks more state aid

The legislative session is still more than a week away, but the University of Washington has already been lobbying to close what it says is a $4,000-perstudent funding gap between it and its peer colleges.

Its Board of Regents approved a plan earlier this year to seek control of undergraduate tuition -- which the Legislature now oversees -- if lawmakers didn't step up funding.

Now the university is circulating a 72-page booklet that lays out its case for increasing state support. "Meeting the Global Challenge" has been sent to more than 4,000 legislators, opinion leaders and business leaders since last month.

The timing could be good for the UW.

Last month, Gov. Chris Gregoire released her Washington Learns Report, a study of the state's education system. It called for capping annual undergraduate tuition increases at 7 percent and increasing higher education funding to bring it in line with comparable universities.

She followed earlier this month with a budget that includes an additional $181 million for the UW's operating budget. That is made up of tuition, general fund appropriations and money from the Education Legacy Trust Account.

"I think this is across the board the strongest higher ed budget we've seen in a long time yet," said Randy Hodgins, director of the UW's office of state relations.

The university is requesting an operating budget increase of more than $161 million -- a 23 percent increase from its funding levels from the past two years -- and a capital budget of more than $198 million.

The UW is asking for additional funds to:

Increase the number of students studying math, science and engineering on the Seattle campus by 700 over the next two years.

Boost enrollment at its two branch campuses in Bothell and Tacoma by a total of 1,040 students.

Provide a 5 percent annual pay increase to faculty and staff.

Renovate several aging buildings on the Seattle campus.

Support research, such as the work being done at its newly formed Department of Global Health.

Expand medical and dental teaching in Eastern Washington at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University.

If the state is going to remain competitive, then its educational system has to compete with the best ones in the country, said UW President Mark Emmert.

University officials would like to close the funding gap between the UW and its peers in six years, he said.

Washington state spent $17,709 per student at the University of Washington in 2004-05. It would have to increase funding to $21,401 to reach target levels set by the governor's Washington Learns report, according to the UW.

Targets were based on the funding of "Global Challenge" states: California, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Emmert is hopeful that Washington is on its way.

If the governor's budget is approved and funding continues to increase at similar levels in the future, the UW estimates, its funding gap would meet targets within seven years.

The Legislature must still review the UW's budget requests and approve Gregoire's budget.

State Sen. Paull Shin, D-Lynnwood, who will chair the higher education committee, said it is important for the UW to remain globally competitive.

He wants Washington's colleges and universities to be affordable, inclusive and accountable. Shin said he hoped that the state would be able to provide funding to achieve those goals, but noted that he had to study the governor's budget request.

"I, for one, believe that education is an equalizer," he said.

Some legislators might look more favorably upon the UW this session.

The UW announced earlier this year that it would promise to cover the cost tuition and fees for low-income undergraduate students who are residents of Washington starting next fall.

The university touted its new "Husky Promise" as a way to make the UW accessible to all of the state's students.

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