Central Washington University asks Legislature for permanent increases in tuition waiver authority

OLYMPIA – Concerned about the number of Central Washington University (CWU) students that can’t afford rising college tuition costs, Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, is sponsoring Senate Bill 5466 that would permanently increase CWU’s state-funded tuition waiver authority from 8 percent to 11 percent.

“This is about equity,” said Shin, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee. “Other regional universities have received much more state support to waive student tuition. This is unfair. There are a number of students in this largely rural area that want to attend the university but can’t afford it.”

Tuition waivers are designed to increase campus diversity and allow more students an opportunity to attend college or university. Shin’s bill would increase the total percentage of operating fees that can be waived by CWU from 8 percent to 11 percent. “Tuition fees” include both operating and building fees. Building fees are used to pay for buildings, equipment and maintenance.

In 1992, the Legislature decided to allow institutions of higher learning to keep tuition funds instead of being deposited in the state general fund. The Legislature then reimbursed universities for whatever amount of tuition each happened to be granting at the time. As a result, some schools received far more state funding for waivers than others. In 2006 the Legislature approved an increase in state funded tuition waivers for CWU in the supplemental budget, to a level similar to that of other regional universities. That increase, however, was vetoed by the governor.

Steve DuPont, vice president for Political Affairs of the Associated Students of CWU testified before the committee and said that giving CWU students the same shot at tuition waivers as students at other schools have is a top priority for students.

“With interest rates on student loans rising and decreasing amounts of state support relative to tuition, measures like this are of utmost importance,” DuPont said.

CWU-Lynnwood, located in Shin’s district, has approximately 600 students. If the bill passed, the tuition waiver authority would also extend to these students.

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