News
October 18, 2004
Contact: Lorna Sutton, Director of Communications, SBCTC, 360-704-4310
Two-year college board to adopt legislative agenda
calling for increased funds, policies on tuition and financial aid
OLYMPIA – The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is slated to adopt its 2005 legislative request package for two-year colleges and hear about the distribution of nearly $8 million in workforce training funds when it meets in Spokane Wednesday and Thursday (Oct. 20-21).
The legislative request package includes $248 million in new funding for college operations, nearly $470 million for facilities, and policy statements emphasizing the importance of low tuition and adequate financial aid for two-year college students.
The operating and capital budget requests were approved in earlier meetings by the State Board, which oversees Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges. However, this is the first time the board will review the complete legislative agenda, including the policy statements.
The proposed tuition policy statement calls for “keeping tuition as low as possible” for two-year college students and advocates developing a comprehensive higher education funding policy that links the state’s share of higher education, the student’s share, and the availability of financial aid for students who otherwise would not be able to attend college.
The proposed financial aid policy statement supports the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s budget request for additional financial aid funding, particularly to expand the State Need Grant program to serve more students and to create a pilot program targeting financial assistance for adults who work full time and attend college part time and aren’t eligible for traditional financial aid programs.
“Sizeable tuition increases over the past several years have made it difficult for some people to attend community and technical colleges,” said Earl Hale, the State Board’s executive director.
“We think it’s important to go on record with our philosophy on tuition, and to advocate for a funding plan that considers all three components at the same time: the state’s share, the student’s share, and the level of financial aid required to provide opportunities for those who wouldn’t otherwise be able to participate in higher education,” Hale said.
The operating budget request, approved by the State Board in September, calls for a total of $1.3 billion for 2005-07. The $248 million in new funds would pay for 10,000 more full-time enrollment slots and other enhancements to expand access to higher education; a package of salary increases and compensation improvements for faculty and other college employees; and funds to maintain and operate buildings.
The $470 million capital budget, adopted by the State Board in June, would replace aging buildings; renovate space to accommodate science, health and technical training programs; make critical repairs; and provide for construction of new buildings at six colleges
Board members will also hear about the distribution of nearly $8 million in workforce funds to the colleges for 2004-05. Several new grants will be announced, along with continuation funds for projects started in 2003-04.
Among the new grants being awarded this year are five “center of excellence” grants. These centers serve as a “one-stop shop” for a particular industry, becoming a place that industry can rely on to understand their needs and interests, help solve their skill-related problems, and assist with their training needs, both for new workers and for updating skills of current employees.
New center-of-excellence grants are going to Bellevue Community College, Green River Community College, Pierce College District, Renton Technical College and Skagit Valley College.
New workforce development projects aimed at economic development are being awarded to Bellingham Technical College, Community Colleges of Spokane, Highline Community College, Olympic College, Peninsula College, Skagit Valley College, South Seattle Community College and Wenatchee Valley College.
Bellevue Community College, Lake Washington Technical College, Olympic College, Renton Technical College and Skagit Valley College are receiving new grants for programs that integrate job skills training with English as a second language instruction.
The board will meet in a study session Wednesday from 1:30 to 5 p.m. and in regular session Thursday from 8:15 to 11 a.m. at Spokane Community College, N 1810 Greene Street. The meetings will be in the Bigfoot/Sasquatch Rooms of the Lair-Student Center (Building 6). The board will also have a dinner meeting Wednesday evening with members of the Community Colleges of Spokane Board of Trustees. All sessions are open to the public.
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The meeting agenda and background materials are posted on the State Board Web site at: http://www.sbctc.ctc.edu/general/a_board/. View the chart showing new workforce grants to 13 community and technical colleges for 2004-05.
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