News
March 2, 2005
Contact: Suzy Ames, Director of Communications, SBCTC, 360-704-4310
Community and technical college board to discuss the impact of tuition changes, adult literacy and future budgets
OLYMPIA – Planning for next year’s budget, studying the impact of changes to tuition and setting goals for adult literacy programs will be the focus of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges when it meets Wednesday and Thursday, March 9 and 10, in Olympia.
While the Legislature and governor have not approved a final budget, the State Board will preview the approach to allocating funds to the local colleges for next fiscal year in preparation for future State Board action. The board will use Governor Locke’s budget proposal as a framework for discussion purposes, including cost of living salary increases, adult basic education funding, operation and maintenance of new facilities, funding for the Job skills Program and faculty increment payments.
“It is too soon to know the level at which programs will be funded through the state budget, but it is important to be prepared with strategies and procedures for allocations to the two-year college system,” said Earl Hale, the State Board’s executive director.
Last year, the State Board made changes to basic skills and apprenticeship course waivers. State Board staff members will summarize how the waiver changes have been implemented across the system, and implications for students and campuses.
In addition, State Board members will hear about how the move in 2002 to a per credit hour charge for part-time students affected changes in student mix, course and credit-taking behavior, college revenues and financial aid.
In 1999, the State Board approved a five-year plan for adult basic education as one way to work toward the board’s goal to improve the lives of students earning basic skills. Since that time, the system is more knowledgeable about what promotes and impedes student success, more colleges have hired adult literacy instructors with higher degrees on a more full-time basis, colleges have engaged in more collaboration and partnerships on campus and in the community, and public awareness has increased on the important role that basic skills plays in preparing people for the workforce. The State Board will consider launching a new five-year plan that will focus on training basic skills students for the workforce, continuing to increase community awareness about the role of basic skills, and exploring ways to secure additional resources for adult literacy education. The State Board will also hear a review of how integrated basic skills and workforce education are collaborating on some college campuses
A presentation will serve to update the State Board on the accountability report for WorkFirst Training programs and the outlook for the future.
In addition, the State Board will also be asked to approve the expenditure of local Spokane Community College student and activity fees to renovate the Lair Student Center.
The study session originally scheduled for the afternoon of March 9 has been cancelled. The board will conduct regular business Thursday from 8:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. The session will take place in Room 200-A, Building 22 at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Rd. SW, Olympia. The board has also scheduled a dinner meeting Wednesday with trustees and administrators from South Puget Sound Community College. All meetings 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/
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