December 20, 1995 - LOWRY RECOMMENDS 588 MORE STUDENTS FOR
WSU
Enrollment at Washington State University will increase 588 students
under a budget proposed this week by Gov. Mike Lowry. Lowry`s
budget, which will now be considered by the Legislature convening
in January, provided $4.88 million in new WSU enrollment funding
(13.1 million for all four-year institutions), boosting the university`s
contracted enrollment number to 18,873 students. The new enrollments
are fully funded. The governor`s plan adds 413 students for Pullman,
141 for the extended degree program, 24 in Spokane, and 10 in
Tri-Cities. Lowry`s proposal represents about half of the 1,210
students requested by WSU. The budget was better for higher education
than many were expecting and has been praised by WSU and others
in the higher education community.
Other highlights of the governor`s $5.99 million WSU supplemental
operating budget:
- Competitive Faculty Salary Package Recommended. The
governor also recommended $750,000 to WSU in an attempt to keep
faculty salaries competitive with other institutions.
- Cooperative Library Project. The governor provided
$392,000 to WSU to link with other four-year institutions libraries.
WSU and Eastern Washington University students currently can retrieve
materials from each other`s libraries. This proposal will link
all of the state`s four-year institutions.
- Washington Higher Education Network (WHEN). As
described in the earlier fax, the governor provided WSU $194,000
in operating money toward building a $32.4 million expansion of
the Washington Higher Education Telecommunications System (WHETS)
to connect with 14 new sites, including all five other four-year
institutions. The operating funding was about 25 percent of the
amount requested.
- Transfer of the Washington State Energy Office.
The governor`s budget closes the Washington State Energy office,
eliminating half of the current employees, but transferring 40
or more employees to Washington State University Cooperative Extension
program. Most of the employees, who will probably be continued
to be located here in Olympia, will be supported by grants and
contracts, although the budget appropriated $25,000 in general
fund state monies toward the transfer.
- No funding for Pesticide and Wine Grape Research. The
governor did not restore $1.525 million in funding for new mandated
research programs. Lowry indicated it is an issue the Legislature
must deal with.
- No funding for Librarians, Counselors and Professionals
Salary Adjustments. WSU had sought a salary increase
for exempt employees totaling $1.236 million. This would
give WSU employees a salary increase similar to that which the
Legislature awarded to the same categories of employees at the
University of Washington.
- Slight Pay Increase for All State Employees (0.6 percent).
$903,000 to WSU.
This update is shared by broadcast fax and electronic mail
to friends of Washington State University as state government
developments occur. Contact Karen Fischer, WSU State-wide Affairs,
509/335-6665. Larry Ganders is at 360/438-7552; Fax: 360/438-8104.
Internet address is ganders@wsunix.wsu.edu.
