FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - SEPT. 23, 2009

HECB to review proposed tuition alternatives at Sept. 29 meeting  

     OLYMPIA—A preliminary draft report and recommendations on Washington tuition policy by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) urges the state to adopt a new cost-sharing policy for higher education to help keep tuition moderate, ensure broad student access, and meet master plan goals for increased degree attainment.

     The draft report is being developed collaboratively with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC), the public baccalaureate institutions, the Council of Presidents (COP), and the Washington Student Association (WSA).

     The report, authorized by the 2009 Legislature, will be reviewed at the regular meeting of the Board from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29, at Seattle University Student Center 160.  Prior to this, the Board will meet with its Advisory Council from 8 a.m. to noon in the Student Center.

     The proposed policy would require the state to fund no less than 55 percent of undergraduate instructional costs at the six baccalaureate institutions. Further, it would limit the amount of instructional costs provided by tuition to 45 percent.   

     Following the most recent round of cuts to public higher education, implemented this year, four of Washington’s six baccalaureate institutions now receive less than 50 percent of their instructional costs in the form of state appropriations. Tuition increases of 14 percent per year were approved for the six baccalaureate institutions.

     The report shows that in times of economic recession, Washington’s tuition rates tend to rise sharply in response to state budget shortfalls. These tuition increases are largely unpredictable and play havoc with families budgeting for college expenses, with financial aid programs, and with the state’s Guaranteed Education Tuition (GET) plan – a 529 college savings program.

     Avoiding sharp tuition increases is necessary to ensure broad-based access to the state’s higher education system, HECB Executive Director Ann Daley said.  A full copy of the draft report can be found here.

     During the morning meeting with its Advisory Council, the Board will hear and discuss reports from three national experts on tuition, financial aid and higher education financing. These presentations and discussions will help provide additional perspective for the afternoon discussion of the tuition report.

     Donald E. Heller of The Center for Study of Higher Education, The Pennsylvania State University, will discuss the interplay of tuition and financial aid policies and their impact on college participation. Heller will discuss some of the options considered in the report and present important questions for consideration.

     Dennis Jones, president of the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) and Jane V. Wellman, executive director, Delta Cost project, will provide an overview of the educational attainment goals in Washington’s Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education, and the type of investment it will take to reach those goals.

     Their presentation compares Washington’s educational attainment goals with national goals established by the Obama administration, and proposes a multi-faceted approach to achieving them, including strategies to close the achievement gap in the K-12 system, efforts to reach adult, non-degree completers, and increased rates of degree production.

     At the morning meeting, the Board and Advisory Council also will hear a status report on the System Design Plan, the most comprehensive review of the state’s higher education delivery system in 30 years.  

     Arun Raha, Executive Director, the Washington Economic & Revenue Forecast Council, will begin the Board’s regular meeting at 1 p.m. with a summary of the most recent revenue predictions.

Briefing materials for the meeting are available at:     www.hecb.wa.gov/boardmtgs/boardschedule/Sept2009.asp

Who:  Higher Education Coordinating Board

What:  Advisory Council Meeting & Sept. Regular Meeting

Where:  Seattle University Student Center 160

               901 12th Avenue, Seattle

When:  Tuesday, September 29, 2009 @ 8 am – 3:30 pm

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For more information: Gary Larson

(360) 753-7817 or garyl@hecb.wa.gov