GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED OPERATING BUDGET PROVIDES $17.2 MILLION MORE FOR WSU.
The first hearing on Gov. Gary Locke's proposed operating budget for Washington State University was held today by the House Higher Education Committee. Here are the highlights of the governor's budget as it impacts the university:
Salaries:
-- 2 % salary increases each year for all employees. The university had sought funding to raise salaries by 4.5 percent per year.
-- $1.15 million for "retention funding" to increase salaries selectively for employees we are most at risk of losing. The funding requires the university to reduce its budget or raise tuition to match the state funds with another $1.15 million for a total of $2.3 million.
Technology:
-- $3.4 million to accelerate the use of technology-based, cutting edge teaching strategies for learning, both on-campus and off-campus including conversion of up to 200 traditional courses to multi-media or distance learning strategies.
-- $1.5 million was provided for establishment of a state-wide "on-line college." WSU was pleased to be designated as the state-wide fiscal agent and lead agency for an on-line catalog, student services support and other assistance for distance learning.
Access:
-- $2.1 million was provided for establishment of a state-wide "Health Sciences Consortium" in Spokane.
-- $3 million was provided to establish new Spokane Health Sciences Programs and to expand enrollment in existing programs.
-- The governor recommended 159 of 205 FTEs in Spokane sought by WSU.
-- The governor recommended $1.1 million to expand the Extended Degree Program at WSU, adding 151 of the 200 students requested by WSU.
-- The governor recommended 120 of the 150 additional students requested by WSU for Vancouver.
-- The governor recommended 226 of the 300 FTE sought for the Pullman campus to total about $1 million, however these were funded marginally, more than $1,500 below cost.
Research:
The $7.5 million "Safe Food Initiative" program proposed by WSU was endorsed by the governor to boost the Washington agricultural industry, protect food crops from devastating pests, and enhance consumer confidence in its food supplies. This is the first major state research funding recommended by a governor in this decade. The governor's budget will begin funding of the program in July, 2000, and it eventually will provide $4.7 million per biennium of the $7.5 million requested. Of the difference, WSU is expected to reallocate $1.4 million per biennium and private industry is expected to provide $1.4 million.
Tuition:
The governor provides the authority, within limits for institutions to set their own tuition rates. Institutions have the option to raise tuition up to 5 percent for resident undergraduates. However, a portion of the tuition must go to financial aid.
WSU's Reaction to the Executive Budget:
1. The governor's budget gave a priority to higher education, protecting it from cuts.
2. It addressed each of the major areas of funding sought by Washington State University.
3. The governor's recommendations on salaries, while helpful, means the salary gap between WSU and its competing institutions will continue to widen. WSU understands that it is difficult to earmark large percentage salary increases this year, but suggest that putting more funding into a retention pool might be one way to give assistance. While there are many issues in the budget, the ability of WSU to compete on salaries will define the quality of our programs across the curriculum. No budget issue facing higher education is more important. Of the 22 national competing land grant institutions with Colleges of Veterinary Medicine, only three institutions pay less on the average than WSU.
4. Funding was marginal for new enrollments in Pullman, setting a dangerous precedent that will impact the quality of education.
5. While funding for the Safe Food Initiative was a tremendous breakthrough, there was no funding provided for the Advanced Technology Initiative.
6. The governor made a serious commitment to distance education and technology. He attends the Western Governor's University meeting with President Smith today, which is still more evidence of the governor's commitment to these issues.
7. WSU is pleased that more financial aid was provided for needy students and also with the governor's commitment to make "Washington Promise" scholarships available to 7,000 of the state's top high school graduates. Students with excellent grades, but lacking the resources to go to college, often fall between the cracks in our education system.
