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.
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
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.
Students and parents looking into financial aid for college are invited to Western Washington University for College Goal Sunday on Jan. 31.
The statewide event provides free information and help with filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, the document that helps determine how much federal, state and college-level financial aid a student can receive.
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.
Jamie Marine, the Associated Students legislative liason at Western Washington University, testified on Wednesday, Jan. 20, before the state Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee in Oympia regarding state funding for higher education.
A number of other students, along with the presidents of the state's other instututions of higher learning, also testified. To view the full video, click here.
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 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.
Western Washington University ranks among the top 100 public colleges and universities in the nation that “deliver strong academics at affordable prices,” according to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.
In its February 2010 issue, Kiplinger’s magazine ranks Western 54th on its list of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges in the United States for 2009-2010. The magazine ranked Western 56th in 2008-2009.
A Bellingham university is on a list of the best values in public colleges.
Western Washington University was ranked 54th on Kiplinger’s Top 100 list.
Tuition at Western is a little more than $15,000 or just over $8,000 after financial aid.
Three universities in the state of Washington have made the Kiplinger’s list of best values in public colleges.
Western Washington University in Bellingham ranked No. 54 on the list. WWU costs in-state residents $15,572, or $8,428 after aid. The school offers 88 percent of its students financial aid and its four-year graduation rate is 34 percent.
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.
Here's the question for the day, and probably the next few months: Which taxes will state Democratic lawmakers propose increasing, and by how much?
The governor released a budget Wednesday that closes a projected $2.6 billion budget shortfall without raising taxes, as required by state law.
