The supplemental budget proposal submitted by Washington Governor Christine Gregoire today includes cuts in higher education funding and the suspension of the State Work Study Program for college and university students.
The suspension of the state aid program would save $8.1 million in the Washington state budget. It would also cut off state aid to 7,600 students at public and private colleges and universities.
For Washington State University President Elson Floyd, it’s a question of access and affordability:
“For Washington State University, that would mean six hundred students would no longer have access to a WSU education. Again, not consistent with our core values," Floyd says.
That is Floyd speaking to the WSU Board of Regents on Friday.
The Governor’s supplemental budget cuts funding to higher education by about $160 million, although the Governor proposes to prevent that cut if new revenue is approved.
The Governor is also proposing to spend $7.6 million to enroll more engineering students at the University of Washington and Washington State University to help meet industry demand.
