Dec. 14, 1994,
Gov. Mike Lowry Presses For Innovative New Higher Education
Initiatives
The governor was very pleased that you and UW President Bill Gerberding
came to Olympia Tuesday to witness and comment on his new higher
education initiatives as part of an hour-long press conference.
- Lowry Sponsors Higher Education Business and Occupation
Tax Credit
Firms which donate to state financial aid programs at WSU and
other public institutions will be eligible for business and occupation
tax credits under a proposal unveiled by the governor to the capitol
press corps.
The governor said he will propose that up to $20 million in dollar-for-dollar
tax credits be available for firms that contribute to Washington
State University student financial aid.
The university is delighted that the governor linked a tax credit
to higher education improvements rather than a tax increase for
higher education improvements. But we have serious concerns about
details of the proposal which use private donations to offset
public funding of state need grant programs. We will work with
the governor and the Legislature to make sure a proposal that
is more appealing to donors and doesn't disrupt WSU fundraising
efforts can be developed.
- Governor Supports WSU Setting Tuition Rates
Lowry's proposal will give the WSU Board of Regents the authority
to raise tuition by no more than six percent for resident undergraduates
and 10 percent for other students. "This proposal will give
school officials more flexibility in managing their institutions
which they greatly need during these tough budget times,"
Lowry said.
This could be a valuable tool which might allow us to keep tuition
lower than some other institutions. But this flexibility is helpful
only if the Legislature and governor abandon their practice of
"offsetting" any tuition increase with a deduction in
the university's general fund appropriation. That results
in students paying more money for less programs. WSU still believes
the best financial aid is low tuition.
- Governor to Create Higher Education Task Force to Tackle
Student Access Issues
The governor distributed copies of charts which showed that the
college age population is growing dramatically and said he will
convene a task force to study these "long-term" problems.
His numbers point to a 50 percent increase in the high school
graduating class by 2010. WSU is already experiencing the arrival
of these students in larger freshman classes. Pullman is already
over-enrolled by about 600 students for a total of 16,583. Even
if our freshman classes are no larger than 1994, our enrollment
will increase approximately 900 next biennium because of smaller
WSU graduating classes.
- Executive Budget Out Monday; Cuts to be Consistent with
Legislative Proposals
Despite a summer of requiring WSU to do 5 percent and 10 percent
cut exercises, Lowry announced Tuesday that he will propose cuts
to the university that are consistent with the 2.4 percent or
lower cut levels that have been discussed by legislative leaders.
