Vol. 6 No. 3.2
March 15, 2010
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CWU Board of Trustees Approves 14 Percent Tuition Increase
Under the Dome
Linda Schactler A Legislative Update by Linda Schactler

   Disagreements over taxes, cuts to programs, and K-12 education reform are keeping the state legislature in Olympia for a few days beyond the regular sixty-day session. Statute sets the length of special sessions at thirty days, but legislative leaders are hoping it will only take a few days to settle differences.
   At stake for CWU is capital budget funding to finish the remodel of Hogue Hall and general state support. All three proposed operating budgets reduce state funding for CWU by $5 million to $6 million on top of the $33 million reduction last spring.
   None of the bills revising tuition policy survived the session. However, between now and the next legislative session, the legislative auditor will conduct a study that likely will inform all kinds of fiscal decisions about public universities. The study's charge is to identify a transparent link between revenues, expenditures, and performance outcomes.
   Two bills that have survived the legislative process so far are:
   SB 6355, the so-called "system change" bill, which attempts to bring order to the expansion of higher education institutions and programs by requiring growth to be driven by demand; and
   SB 6696, intended to position Washington to compete for federal "Race to the Top" funds.
   In a seven-to-one vote, the Central Washington University Board of Trustees approved a one-year, 14 percent increase in tuition for in-state undergraduate students. Tuition at CWU will rise to nearly $5,600 for the 2010-11 school year. Student trustee Brent Weisel was the lone dissenting vote.
   The Washington State legislature's cuts to CWU left trustees with little choice but to approve the two 14 percent tuition increases that are assumed in the state biennial budget. CWU made the first 14 percent increase in spring of 2009. Even with additional tuition revenue, CWU may still have to cut its operating budget, said President James L. Gaudino, noting that the state is proposing cuts in addition to the 30 percent reduction in state subsidies approved last year.
   "We're caught in a vise," Gaudino said. "I oppose shifting the cost of higher education from the state to the student. It not only burdens the students, it hurts the local economy. We need to mobilize citizens and get them to join students, faculty, and staff in reversing this trend."
   The trend Gaudino notes is a thirty-five year 		erosion in state support for public higher education. In 1975, the state paid 75 percent of the cost of a baccalaureate education and students paid 25 percent in tuition. Now students are paying nearly 55 percent. Tuition has more than doubled over the last ten years.
   At the end of the state legislative session, Central Washington University expects a budget cut of between $5 and $6 million. Without the additional 14 percent increase, Central’s operating budget would be even further impacted.
   Keith James, Associated Students of Central Washington University Board of Directors student body president, said he too was disappointed by the increase and fears it will discourage students from considering college. The increase translates to about $685 more per year.
   "CWU needs to maintain its diverse population of students, and, with these cuts, it simply won't be able to. First-generation and low-income students may disappear, and that's extremely unfortunate."
   The full impact of this decision won't be known until the governor signs the supplemental budget.



LaFleur is February Employee of the Month
   Lori LaFleur, Student Financial Services, Cashier 2, is a real treasure, according to her colleagues.
   "It is hard to know where to begin when trying to highlight Lori and her contributions to the office," reported her nominators. "Lori always has a smile for everyone. Whether it is for her coworkers, students, parents, or colleagues on campus, you see it on her face and hear it in her voice. This is especially important because of the high percentage of time that she spends on the phone with students and parents. She is readily available to answer questions and if she doesn't know an answer she knows where to find it.
   "Many times I have heard Lori working with an irate student or parent and I am truly amazed at her calm exterior and helpfulness. She listens thoroughly . . . and does whatever is in her power to resolve the situation. Lori excels at customer service.
   "She is always looking for ways to make our office more efficient and has voluntarily taken on 		Employee of the Month Lori LaFleur additional duties and projects. She is cheerful, efficient and quickly fulfills her duties, which include customer service and receiving payments on SAFARI from individuals in person as well as on the phone. She is also responsible for bimonthly receipts of Perkins loan payments and distributes payroll and student refund checks.
   "She has an amazing sense of humor which helps keep our office a friendly and fun place to work."
   As an EOM awardee, she is a contender for Employee of the Year award. To nominate a CWU civil service employee for the EOM award, go to www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/eotmnominate.html.

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