March 27, 2001

Contact: Linda Schactler, interim CWU director of government relations (360-790-4357/email lschactler@home.com)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Washington state House of Representatives today (TUESDAY, MARCH 27) proposed a 2001 supplemental state budget that includes $300,000 for enrollment improvement initiatives at Central Washington University. If the full House approves the proposal it will move to the state Senate for consideration.

In a year when an earthquake, skyrocketing energy costs, new spending initiatives and a downturn in the economy have exhausted state financial resources, CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre says she is pleased by the proposed budget allocation.

"It would not have been possible without significant effort, involving teamwork among alumni, current students, university faculty, administration and staff, and legislative leaders," McIntyre adds. "It's crucial that we receive these funds now, or we will not be able to recruit students for next fall."

When the legislature prepared the current biennial budget, CWU anticipated enrolling 224 additional full-time equivalent (FTE) students each year. In addition, the legislature agreed to a proviso to fund up to 197 additional FTEs this fiscal year, if CWU exceeded its regularly budgeted enrollments.

However, based on a variety of factors - including a larger than usual graduating class last year and a decline in the number of transfer and graduate students - CWU will end this year with an enrollment about 170 students below last year's total and 378 short of state budget targets.

If approved, the money will allow CWU to augment publications targeted particularly toward transfer students, expand evening information programs at partner community colleges in western Washington and to hire temporary recruiters to visit high schools, "particularly, smaller schools in eastern Washington who we believe will have an affinity with Central," CWU Admissions Director Mike Reilly says.

The nearly $200 million House supplemental budget would fund unanticipated costs arising during the regular biennial budget period, from health care inflation to wildfires.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The web site containing the House supplemental budget proposal is http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/opr/app/01/BudgRpt.htm. Within "Bill Text (PSSB 1314)" the CWU section begins on page 125 and the appropriation proviso is on page 126.