The Olympian newspaper, in an editorial, calls for giving the state’s universities the flexibility to make up budget shortfalls with higher tuition. The editorial points out that current proposals, if enacted, could mean that state funding of the UW has been cut by half in just three years.
News & Updates
UW describes potential effects of large budget cuts
In response to a request from legislative leaders, Interim President Phyllis Wise outlined the effect of budget cuts that were at the level of the governor’s proposed cuts (about $189 million) plus 15 or 30 percent. Those effects could include:
- Up to 500 fewer Washington residents in the freshman class
- Loss of up to 1,800 jobs on campus
- Potential consolidation of two schools, as well as the loss of other degree programs
- Annual tuition increases of 23 to 30 percent
- Increased time-to-degree of as much as three academic quarters, increasing a student’s tuition needs by $8,700
The Olympian described the potential effects as “troubling.” The Seattle Times called the scenario of cuts at the UW and elsewhere in higher education as “grim.”
Read Wise’s letter to the legislators here.
Tuition-setting bill passes out of House Higher Education Committee
A bill sponsored by Rep. Reuven Carlyle, which would give four-year colleges and universities full tuition setting authority for four years and set up a new middle class financial aid program, has passed by a vote of 10-5 from the House Higher Education Committee.
Represent
Bill would give universities unlimited tuition authority for four years
The state’s colleges and universities would have four years of unlimited tuition-setting authority to establish a new baseline for tuition under a bill introduced Tuesday.
State’s prepaid college tuition program may face overhaul
With tuition rising rapidly at the state’s public colleges and universities, some legislators believe the popular Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) program may need to be restructured.
New coalition to advocate for higher education in Olympia
The formation of the College Promise Coalition was announced yesterday. It brings together students, parents, faculty, alumni, labor and business leaders, and education advocates in order to urge the legislature to make higher education a top priority.
Briefing on week three of legislative session
Margaret Shepherd, director of state relations, conducted a briefing via Skype at the beginning of the third week of the legislative session.
Faced with cuts, universities may look to nonresident tuition
Faced with the third year in a row of big budget cuts, Washington’s higher education institutions could start admitting fewer state residents, according to testimony at the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee on Jan. 19. Read the entire post from the Tacoma News Tribune.
Seattle Times writes about higher ed and jobs
Got jobs? Today, the Seattle Times ran a story about the effects of state budget cuts in higher education– and how these cuts are impacting jobs. The UW College of Engineering is profiled. Check it our here.