While higher education saw some advances in the last legislative session, UW officials also saw signs that access to a college education may be shrinking, says UW Government Relations Director Sheral Burkey.
“The debate in Olympia is being driven by dollar constraints,” she warns. “I’m not convinced that the Legislature will have the resources to adequately fund public higher education in this state.”
The Legislature held a “short” session that adjourned in March after writing a supplemental package to the state’s two-year budget. The lawmakers’ goal, Burkey says, was to avoid spending any additional money. As a result, the Legislature rejected the UW’s request for 400 new enrollment slots for the Seattle campus.
Due to the baby boom “echo” and changes in the UW admissions process, 4,505 new freshmen—the largest class in UW history-enrolled last fall. Since this was about 400 more than expected, officials asked for extra money to fund additional spots for this fall.
Director of Admissions W.W. “Tim” Washburn says the UW has about 900 more applications from residents this year, but about 300 fewer places for freshmen and 100 fewer slots for transfer students.
Lacking additional enrollments, the UW must use higher test scores and grade point averages when assessing applications. Some students are being turned away this year, when the same scores would have opened the doors last year. “This year is significantly more competitive. It’s going to be a lot harder to get in for everybody,” Washburn says.
Lawmakers turned down requests for more enrollments at other state institutions too, noted Vice President for University Relations Bob Edie, while at the same time taking back funds from “underenrolled” institutions such as WSU. “They made a policy decision not to address enrollment in this session,” he says. “They will take up enrollment again next year in the major budget writing session.”
The Legislature did make progress on some higher education issues, notably creating a permanent source for funding distinguished professorships and graduate fellowships. This program matches private dollars with state funds to create endowed positions for top faculty and graduate students.
Sen. James West (R-Spokane) authored the plan, which dedicates a portion of the money saved by state agencies into professorships and scholarships. Based on performance from past years, the UW would get about $1.6 million in 1998, enough to fund five distinguished professorships and 17 graduate fellowships.
Government Relations Associate Director Kevin Evanto says there are other quality enhancements that were funded in this session. Lawmakers provided $3 million to build an lnternet-2 hub at the UW, a high-speed, next generation Internet connection. The Legislature also funded the award-winning “DO-IT” program, which helps high school students with disabilities pursue careers in science, engineering and math through an electronic community.
Facing 29 years of demands for a student regent, the Legislature finally passed a bill allowing one student with voting powers to join governing boards at state colleges and universities. At the UW, the ASUW and GPSS will submit three to five names to Gov. Gary Locke, who will make his appointment from that list. Student regents and trustees will serve for one year.
Looking ahead to the fall, UW officials see a decisive election in November. Huskies for Higher Education, an alumni group that promotes higher education issues in the state, will hold informational meetings with candidates this summer across Washington.