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The House and Senate both advanced legislation yesterday to provide access to the state’s Opportunity Scholarship and College Bound Scholarship for low-income Washington residents regardless of their immigration status. The Legislature is also considering a bill this session to expand eligibility to the State Need Grant, the Washington’s largest need-based financial aid program. For additional…

The Legislature passed the state’s capital budget and bond funding bill last night after not approving the budget last year due to a dispute over water rights. Approval of the capital budget is a breakthrough that has positive impacts for Western and other colleges and universities throughout the state. Click here for additional information about…

Yesterday in Olympia, Dr. Laurie Trautman, Director of Western’s Border Policy Research Institute (BPRI) presented during a work session about sovereignty and trade in the Senate Economic Development and International Trade Committee. WWU’s BPRI is a multi-disciplinary institute that undertakes research that informs policy-makers on matters related to the Canada – U.S. border, particularly in…

The 2018 Legislative Session kicked off in Olympia today and is scheduled to end March 8. During the next sixty days, the Legislature will consider various policy proposals, adopt the state’s biennial capital budget, and make supplemental changes to the state’s biennial operating budget. You can find additional information about this year’s session, including WWU’s…

Yesterday in Mount Vernon, the House Education Committee met with members of the WWU’s Woodring College of Education, the Mount Vernon School District, and Skagit Valley Community College to learn more about effective partnerships around teacher preparation. Through programs and partnerships in multiple locations, Woodring produces 300-350 graduates each year and is a leader in…

The Legislature adjourned on July 20th without passing a 2017-19 capital budget. The Legislature concluded the 2017 Legislative Session after a 105-day regular session and three 30-day special sessions. Earlier this month, the Senate and House each released capital budget proposals, but it is unclear when a new state capital budget will be approved by…

The State’s 2017-19 Operating Budget passed the Legislature and was signed into law by the governor on June 30th.  Despite the Legislature’s major focus on K-12 funding this session, higher education organizations and Western were successful in achieving some of their legislative objectives.  Click here to read a full budget briefing from WWU’s Office of…

One of the many things that makes the Western experience unique (and makes WWU one of the highest rated public universities of its kind in the West) is the University’s focus on undergraduate student research.  This week is Scholars Week at Western, where student researchers have an opportunity to showcase their undergraduate research projects to…

Earlier this month, students from public and private higher education institutions across the state convened in Olympia to advocate for increased funding for the State Need Grant, a need-based state financial aid program that provides tuition assistance to low-income resident Washington students. Click here to read an op-ed in today’s Seattle Times about the importance…