Education likely will be a hot topic both nationally and in Whatcom County in 2010, due to budget constraints, new tests and potential for changes to federal education rules.
Federal officials are pushing for education reform, dangling a $4 billion pot of money in front of states to urge them to reexamine their education laws.
Local legislators have had about a week to digest Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed supplemental budget, and none of them are completely happy with her plan.
The supplemental budget, which would balance a $2.6 billion shortfall for the 2009-11 biennium, outlines heavy cuts in health, human services and education — and that doesn’t sit well with 26th District state Reps. Jan Angel, Larry Seaquist or Sen. Derek Kilmer.
Angel, R-Port Orchard, said Gregoire’s proposed budget is setting the stage for increased taxes and fees to plug the hole.
Even though Gov. Chris Gregoire has said she will be submitting another supplemental budget with new revenue sources in January, people in higher education are worried about another round of deep funding cuts.
But the Western Washington University Board of Trustees has indicated they won't take cuts without a fight.
It's possible Western Washington University will have to cut nearly $4 million from the 2010-11 operating budget under a newly proposed supplemental budget from Gov. Chris Gregoire.
But that number could be reduced in the next month as Gregoire creates a new proposal. Under state law, she was required to submit a balanced budget proposal that closed the projected $2.6 billion state shortfall without adding new revenue.
Western Washington University officials today expressed concerns about the effects of substantial cuts proposed for public higher education in the state in Gov. Chris Gregoire’s 2009-11 supplemental budget.
Western officials fear that additional cuts to higher education at the level proposed in the Governor’s budget will lead to significant reductions in access to higher education by Washington state citizens, will make a college education more expensive, and will lengthen the time it takes to complete a degree, as fewer course sections will be available.
Confronted with a shrinking state budget and a stalled economy, Western Washington University is scaling back its immediate plans for new buildings on the waterfront.
At a Tuesday, Dec. 1, meeting with Port of Bellingham officials, university vice president Steve Swan stressed that the university is not abandoning its previous visions of major waterfront facilities, such as a new home for Huxley College of the Environment. But the financial outlook makes it impossible to move ahead with projects of that scale in the next few years, even in partnership with private investors.
Buff Schoenfeld (President's Office) wrote "A Career as a Presidential Assistant," a chapter in the recently published book "Other Duties as Assigned: Presidential Assistants In Higher Education," published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishing in partnership with the American Council on Education.
On Sept. 28, as reported in this newspaper, Gov. Chris Gregoire and 100 business and civic leaders marked an important milestone: dedication of the 10,000 square-foot Technology Development Center located at the Port of Bellingham's Innovation Partnership Zone.
This exciting partnership, involving the port, Western Washington University, Bellingham Technical College and industry, is already working with local boat builder All American Marine to develop a low-wake ferry using advanced composite materials.
Many public universities have been hit hard by the recession, and Western Washington University is no exception. Bruce Shepard, the universitys president since September 2008, describes some of the tough choiceslike eliminating the football programthat he had to make in his first year on the job.
Elizabeth “Buff” Schoenfeld, Executive Assistant to the President, will be leaving Western in November to take a position as Assistant Vice President and Secretary to the Board of Trustees at the Keck Graduate Institute of Applied Life Sciences, the newest of the seven Claremont Colleges in Claremont, Calif.
The President's Office and Human Resources at Western Washington University have submitted for 30-day campus review policies regarding developing and maintaining policies and employing family members and significant others. The policies were posted on Oct. 1, and comments no longer will be taken on these policies after Friday, OCt. 30.
President's Office proposed policy:
POL-U1000.10 Developing and Maintaining University Policies
What does the future hold for Western Washington University, and how does the public view the role of public universities like WWU? To get feedback on those and related questions, Western has begun an effort titled “100 Community Conversations.”
Residents will host a meeting of the Citizens' Forum to discuss how the city can manage infill development without harming the character of neighborhoods.
The newly formed group invites people to attend to discuss various topics, including everything from whether the city's zoning is adequate and enforced to how much growth can occur in neighborhoods without affecting quality of life.
It'll also cover the prospect of licensing of rental properties and responsibilities Western Washington University has to neighborhoods in which students live.
Eileen Coughlin, vice president for Student Affairs and Academic Support Services, has announced a restructuring within her division as a result of the resignation of Director of Student Outreach Services Tom Nerini. He has accepted a great opportunity in Sedona, Ariz., as the admissions director for an exclusive high school. Nerini has been with Western for the nearly nine years, both in Admissions and in Student Outreach Services.
Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard gave testimony Friday morning, Oct. 2, before the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee in Olympia.
Click here to view a live feed of Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard's testimony before the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee.
Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard is scheduled to speak before the Washington state Senate Friday morning. The session will air live on TVW, the Washington state public affairs television network, beginning at 8 a.m.
Presidents of other four-year institutions of higher education in Washington also are scheduled to speak.
The President's Office and Human Resources at Western Washington University have submitted for 30-day campus review policies regarding developing and maintaining policies and employing family members and significant others.
President's Office proposed policy:
POL-U1000.10 Developing and Maintaining University Policies
A proposal by the Higher Education Coordinating Board on how the state and its universities should share costs for undergraduate education did not get a warm welcome from those institutions at the board’s Tuesday meeting.
The draft policy calls for the state to pay 55 percent of the cost to educate undergraduates and the universities to pay 45 percent.
The state currently pays less than half the cost of undergraduate education at four of the state’s six four-year public universities.
he Campus Community Coalition, a diverse partnership involving Western Washington University, the City of Bellingham and a number of community partners, will celebrate the coalition’s 10-year anniversary in a recognition ceremony 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 29 at Bellingham City Hall.
