Message from the Dean

Dear iSchool students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends,

This has been a very challenging spring for the UW iSchool and the University of Washington as a whole. The current financial crisis and state budget deficit resulted in an initial proposal to reduce state higher-education funding by as much as 31 percent. Negotiations have resulted in proposed cuts that are not as deep, but that nonetheless will impact our University significantly.

The finalized state budget will result in a 12 percent reduction in state and local funding to the iSchool. This is in addition to cuts that were necessary due to the declining value of the endowments on a University-wide level. The Provost has supplied some additional funding on a one-time basis that will help us manage this reduction.

Here at the iSchool, we have responded to this crisis using our strength — our community. Other units whose funding comes more directly from state and local funds have had to lay off staff and, in some instances, faculty. Needless to say these personnel cuts have a direct impact on the educational mission of every unit on campus. One result of this reduction in funding is that the plans to renovate Lewis Hall as part of the University's Restore the Core initiative have been put on hold temporarily. However, we remain optimistic that the Lewis Hall project will resume once the economic climate becomes less precarious.

The iSchool administration and leadership have worked with every program within the iSchool to ensure budget cuts will not impact the experience of our students. Having done much of the work to prioritize our future plans in our strategic plan, Vision in Action 2007-2012, and identified ways to provide for a rich, diverse and challenging educational experience for our students and strong support for our research activity, we were able to make budget reductions in lower priority areas. We have worked to accomplish this as a community, and we remain committed to being a "School of One" as we weather these difficult times.

In this economic climate, your contributions to the iSchool, either through your participation in our community or through direct financial support, become even more important. We recognize that the current financial environment is difficult for everyone; however, your continued support of our School is even more important now. Please consider supporting the iSchool in whatever way you can, in particular by contributing to the iSchool’s Fund for Excellence, our most flexible fund, which allows me to put resources toward the School's greatest needs and priorities. The activities of our community, like those found in our most recent iNews e-newsletter, are made possible by your support.

Best wishes and warm regards,

Harry Bruce
Professor and Dean
The Information School