Wondering what all this talk of tuition-setting authority means in terms of the price tag on education?
Senate Committee Services released a report Monday that lays out possible future tuition rates under the maximum-limit provisions of SB 6562.
The measure seeks to grant University of Washington, Washington State University and Western Washington University the authority to set resident undergraduate tuition -- without approval from the Legislature -- for the academic years 2011-2012 through 2017-2018.
Western Washington University students Jessica Schubert, left, Blair Kaufer and Amanda Leonti write letters to their state legislators and the governor urging them to support higher education at a rally put on by the Associated Students and the Western Votes organization at WWU Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. Students could also register to vote and make phone calls to their state legislators.
Hundreds of University of Washington students gathered at noon Friday on the Capitol steps to voice their displeasure over increased tuition and proposed cuts to financial aid and the school's budget.
A state trooper estimated the crowd at 300 to 350 people. About the same time, students at Western Washington University, The Evergreen State College and Central Washington University staged walkouts. About 500 Eastern Washington University and 150 Washington State University students also held walkouts recently, media reports say.
For Madeline Corrado-Din and Trina Griffis, the debate over higher education funding in the Washington Legislature is far from academic.
Madeline is the first in her family to attend college. Trina is a single mom, balancing parenthood, work and school. Both came to The Evergreen State College to earn a bachelor’s degree so they can compete for higher-paying jobs today and in the future and give something back to their state and their community. For them, access to a baccalaureate education is critical.
But that access is at risk.
When University of Washington junior Janel Brown talks to younger students about college, she tells them that if they do their part in the classroom, the rest will take care of itself.
The same assurances were made to Brown while she attended Franklin High School in inner-city Seattle.
Western Votes and the Associated Students of Western Washington University are planning a holding a walk-out and rally until 1:30 p.m. today, Feb. 5, in the Performing Arts Center Plaza on campus.
”In this rally it is our goal to educate the public about what it would mean to have the state's budget for higher education cut and inspire the student body into taking action to inform their legislators that they do not agree with the governor's new budget and proposed cuts to higher education,” said Western Votes member Heather Siddiqui.
Students from the University of Washington planned a noon rally Friday at the state Capitol to present petitions calling for lawmakers to protect funding for higher education.
After a bipartisan makeover, legislation to grant universities temporary tuition-setting authority appears to be making headway in the state Senate.
The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 6562 on Wednesday with amendments that cap tuition increases and help safeguard students and their families from growing out-of pocket expenses.
The bill applies to the University of Washington, Western Washington University and Washington State University, allowing them to set resident undergraduate tuition rates from 2011 to 2018 without the Legislat
Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard sent the following notice to the WWU community on Thursday, Jan. 28, regarding the budget situation:
Colleagues:
I know these are very stressful times for us all as Washington struggles with extraordinarily serious revenue shortfalls. Uncertainty greatly intensifies the stress. I wish there was clarity. There is not.
This week, the Senate has scheduled a hearing on a bill to crack down on what some see as a big problem in higher education – students who hang around too long.
Senate Bill 6358 would force students who take too long to graduate to start paying the unsubsidized tuition out-of-state students pay.
It’s not that “professional” students who take space that other students could use aren’t an irritation.
They leafed through their textbooks, whispered, ate lunch, tapped on their laptops, played Sudoku. More than 500 students packed the main theater of Kane Hall at the University of Washington recently, waiting for class to begin. Nearly 200 more filled the balcony section.
That's 700 students in all in this introductory biology class — more students than attended freshman Meagan Evans' entire high school last year, back in Wisconsin.
"Take out your clickers and put away your cellphones, please," said the lone figure on stage, professor Toby Bradshaw. Biology 180 was under way.
The Legislature moved ahead Friday in taking some early steps to save money as lawmakers continue grappling with a $2.6 billion budget deficit.
The Senate approved a measure that directs agencies to trim about $70 million in payroll costs through furloughs and other steps. The measure passed on a 27-17 vote and now heads to the House for further consideration.
Under the measure, if the agencies don't present a plan on how they'll make the cuts, they will have to shut down for one day a month for 13 months starting in June.
Lawmakers can remedy the shortsighted way higher education is funded this session. Not an easy task when being steamrollered by a $2.6 billion budget shortfall. But it can be done.
Bruce Shepard, president of Western Washington University, testified before the state Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee on Wednesday, Jan. 20, regarding state funding for higher education.
Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday proposed adding $779 million in programs back into the state budget, including the state's health care plan for the needy and tuition assistance for students.
Speaking before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Gregoire said her revised budget would still cut about $433 million in human services, including class size enhancements for kindergarten through fourth grade and some funding for two- and four-year universities.
A proposal to allow the state's public universities to raise tuition without the Legislature's approval is gaining momentum in Olympia.
The University of Washington and Washington State University, in particular, long have wanted to set their undergraduate tuition rates but have been rebuffed by lawmakers who've wanted to retain that power and keep the cost of college in check.
However, the $2.6 billion state budget shortfall — on the heels of last year's big cuts to higher education — has prompted lawmakers to look again at the idea as a way to let the universities raise more money.
In her
Washington's 147 state lawmakers returned Monday to Olympia, and the Democrat-controlled House and Senate were quickly greeted at the Capitol by conflicting messages about taxation and spending.
Anti-tax crusader Tim Eyman filed another initiative – seeking to re-enact a two-thirds vote requirement for tax increases that voters last approved in 2007. Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, have signaled they intend to temporarily suspend or alter I-960 to allow easier action on revenue increases in the face of a projected $2.6 billion budget shortfall.
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire plans to present her State of the State address today. In the speech, the governor will present her agenda for the 60-day state legislative session, which began Monday.
Gregoire will give the speech at noon Tuesday before a joint session of the House and Senate. Afterward, she will present her proposed budget plan to the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Lawmakers are attempting to determine how to plug the $2.6 billion budget deficit.
As the Legislature starts work today to close a $2.6 billion budget gap, key lawmakers say tax increases may be inevitable.
To clear the way, top Democrats have indicated they'll suspend or modify Initiative 960, which requires a two-thirds legislative majority or voter approval for tax increases.
But which taxes would be raised and who would pay them is far from clear.
