It’s a Wrap: 2024 Session

The 2024 legislative session concluded on March 7 with key investments for the UW and higher education. Among the support that alumni advocates like you helped secure:

• $60M for UW Medicine (UW Medical Center, Harborview) to address the rising costs of healthcare and to continue its teaching mission
• $330K ($459K ongoing) for the Allen Scholars program at Computer Science and Engineering, which prepares underserved students (first-gen, low income, etc.) for the rigors of CSE
• $5M for modernization/renovation of Bagley Hall and Chemical Sciences, to serve the thousands of students in STEM-based degrees which require classes here.
• $2.5M for Regional Initiatives in Dentistry Education (RIDE), to expand the Spokane-based program which trains rural dentists
• $38M for energy renewal and decarbonization projects at UW Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma.

In addition, the Legislature’s initial budget proposals did not include adequate funding for College in the High School, a statewide program with many participating high schools and higher education institutions. Thanks in part to our advocacy, funding was restored for FY24. We’ll be keeping our eye on FY25 funding, which has yet to be restored to meet the increased demand for the program.

Thank you, advocates, for another active and fruitful session. You made a difference for UW students, faculty, and staff and for the many patients of UW Medicine. We turn our attention now to this important election year – look for our higher education candidate survey in September!