Legislation to grant universities temporary tuition-setting authority appears to be making headway in the Washington state Senate.
The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee unanimously passed a measure this week with amendments that cap tuition increases and help safeguard students and their families from growing out-of pocket expenses.
The bill applies to the Washington State University, University of Washington, and Western Washington University, allowing them to set resident undergraduate tuition rates from 2011 to 2018 without the Legislature’s approval.
The measure would permit the schools to raise tuition at an average annual compounded rate that may not exceed 9 percent over six years or 14 percent in any one year.
For the schools to get and maintain tuition-setting authority, an amendment requires the institutions to enter into performance agreements, which lawmakers hope will hold them accountable to the state and students.
Another amendment stipulates that as tuition rises as a percentage of the state’s median family income, the universities would have to waive tuition for more and more students.
Gov. Christine Gregoire’s December budget included $90 million in cuts from colleges and would keep 12,300 low-income students out of school. Lawmakers are helping to also address middle-income concerns.
The measure is now before the Ways and Means Committee. (Seattle Times)
