Higher Education Funding in Washington

Patrick asked me to post this to the blog:

Tell the Washington State legislature not to gut the state’s excellent higher education system! The 23-31% cuts to higher education currently being considered by the state legislature are more severe than the ones faced by any other state around the nation. We have always provided a highly cost-effective and high-quality education that is especially accessible to Washington state residents; if the proposed cuts are implemented, we will simply no longer be able to offer the same level of quality to the same numbers of students. Try as we might, we won’t be able to teach as many or as well. Instead of taking such dramatic cuts from higher education, please consider some of the following alternatives:

1. Increase the General Fund support for the university sector, and invest more of the Federal funding into the community colleges, where student demand is more counter-cyclical;

2. Give universities the authority to raise tuition. Even if we were to raise tuition at the University of Washington by 28%, we would still be providing a more cost-effective education than any of our peer institutions around the nation;

3. Leave a lower balance in the budget. We have been saving for a rainy day but it’s time to pick up the pieces from the hurricane;

4. Raise revenues by instituting a state income tax, and placing a larger proportion of the tax burden on the very wealthy.

I have been teaching at the University of Washington for 23 years and have been proud to be associated with this fine group of faculty, staff and students. While we have never enjoyed the level of resources as many of our peer universities around the country, we have made do with less. However, no educational system could take the level of cuts that are currently being proposed without devastating, and probably irreparable, consequences.

Now is the time to stand up for Washington’s excellent college and university system! Contact Governor Chris Gregoire and your Washington State legislators now!

http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature

http://www.governor.wa.gov/contact/default.asp