Legislative Story 3

As the economy continues to struggle the state of Washington is trying to reform higher education. House Bill 1795, the higher education opportunity act, is a reform bill that is currently being considered in Olympia.
This bill proposes that four-year institutions would have the power to set tuition rates for students with no caps. This would give the WSU Board of Regents control in raising tuition for the next four years here at WSU. The idea of no caps is concerning.
“There should be a cap to tuition rates,” said WSU senior hospitality and business major Meaghan Kessie. “Students are already being pushed away because of high tuition and if we continue to raise the price then we are going to push more and more qualified students away.”
WSU has increased in-state tuition 30 percent in the last 18 months. With steeper costs some wonder how this would affect future enrollment figures.
“It won’t hurt enrollment because people need to go to college anyways,” said WSU senior hospitality and business major Kevin Callahan. “As long as companies require degrees people will (pay).”
ASWSU is showing its support for the bill. Student leaders throughout the state worked with the bill’s sponsor Rep. Reuven Carlyle, (D) Legislative District 36, in creating the bill.
HB 1795 says half of tuition increases of more than 7 percent would go towards financial aid programs for middle class students. This includes students with incomes 125 percent or less of the median family income. The legislature would also guarantee funding for the State Need Grant.
If the bill passes tuition rates at four-year institutions throughout Washington could begin to see changes starting the 2011-12 academic year.
HB 1795 affects current college students throughout the state of Washington, parents that are paying for their students’ education, and those who have high school students that will be enrolling in four-year institutions in the next four years.
“I guess they do have to sustain the university to make up for cuts,” said Callahan. “But it sure does blow.”
With state support declining over the past 20 years an increase in tuition to higher education is to prevent taxpayers from having to pay more.
Rep. Christine Rolfes, (D) Legislative District 23, says the goal of the legislation is to help students in the future.
“(It’s) to make sure that we retain a solid higher education foundation in the face of declining state revenues so that future generations continue to have access to higher education opportunities,” Rolfes said.
With the state of Washington dealing with a $4.6 billion deficit changes and cuts are part of the reform process. Rolfes says the cuts have had a big impact on young children today.
“I have two younger children, who do not have the opportunities that kids in their schools had 10 years ago, due to extreme budget cuts this recession,” Rolfes said. “And for whom college will be only more expensive than it is today, due to less state subsidies.”
When it comes to whether students should support House Bill 1795, Rolfes encourages them to protect their own interests and consider those coming behind them. Parents also need to think the same way.

Sources:

Rep. Christine Rolfes christine.rolfes@leg.wa.gov 360-786-7842

Outline:
I: HB 1795
a.Purpose of bill
b.Tuition cap
II. WSU tuition and enrollment
a.Callahan quote
b.ASWSU
III. 1795 expanded
a.Those affected
b.State support
IV. Rep. Rolfes
a.Future effects
b.State deficit
c.Kids in the future