ICW's public policy agenda includes state and federal higher education policy. It centers on creating a higher education network that ensures students can attend the high-quality college that best serves their interests, needs, and aspirations.
Independent Colleges provide educational opportunity, choice, and success for students.
Opportunity
Nearly 40,000 students attend our 10 colleges, which confer 1 in 5 baccalaureate and advanced degrees earned in Washington each year,
while our students receive less than 2% of the state's higher education budget, in the form of financial aid.
Choice
Independent colleges offer students a broad
range of programs grounded in the liberal arts with 29 locations, urban and rural, across the state. We are diverse; 28% of our students are low-income, 28% first-generation, and 23% students of color.
Success:
Attention to the individual student leads
to student success. The student- faculty ratio is 12 to 1.
80% of graduates finish within four years. ICW colleges
award over 1 in 3 nursing degrees (baccalaureate and
advanced), 1 in 5 engineering degrees, and 36% of the
math degrees earned in Washington.
Affordable:
High-quality independent higher education is accessible for all. 90% of ICW students
receive grants from their college, averaging $13,900 per
year. Independent colleges invest nearly $10 for every
state dollar students receive.
Cost Effective Access:
The state spends 87%
more to serve a low income student at a public research
university compared to ICW colleges.
Economic impact:
Independent colleges are the 13th largest non-governmental employer, employ 7,000
Washingtonians, and contribute $2.5 billion to the
state's economy.
NAICU's Together We Can document is a quick and cogent explanation of our goals for this year.
State Public Policy Agenda
ICW represents 10 member colleges and universities in public policy matters and encourages legislation at the state and federal levels that supports students and recognizes independent colleges and universities as vital partners in higher education.
-
Continue to prioritize financial aid for needy students.
-
Maintain current funds for State Need Grant, which
is already $196 million underfunded, causing more than 25,000 eligible students go without grants,
requiring more debt.
-
Provide funding to continue the State Work-Study program, which helps students explore careers and help pay for college, while employers can identify potential future employees or provide social services efficiently.
Legislative Update
A special session of the Legislature, called by order of Gov. Chris Gregoire, began November 28th against a backdrop of the state’s continuing budget crisis.
The Legislature approved a two-year budget last May, which was designed to get the state through the ensuing two years in the black, with several hundred million dollars to spare. However, that 2011-13 budget was dependent upon collecting the amount of revenue that was anticipated in March.
--Legislative Update Continued--
How You Can Help
-
Become an Advocate and stay informed through our Legislative Action Center and sign up to receive Action Alerts. The center will keep you informed about issues before the legislature and about how you can make your voice heard on those issues.
-
Contact Legislators through the Action Center. During the 2011 session more than 2,000 messages were sent to legislators and the governor, helping ICW successfully make its case for student aid.
-
Become our friend:
-
Encourage others, including students, friends, and colleagues to support student aid. Widely share college updates, student profiles, and legislative alertsNeed help applying for financial aid? That’s just a part of the useful information now available on ICW’s new Web site, ProjectOpportunity.net.
For more information about ICW's public policy efforts contact:
Chris Thompson
Director of Government and Public Relations
Office: 206.623.4494
Cellular: 206.743.7577
Federal Public Policy
We realize that the federal budget is under great pressure; it is important to reduce the deficit and work toward lowing our national debt to provide a promising future for the next generation.
Part of ensuring our nation’s economic stability is creating an educated, skilled workforce for American jobs. The higher education programs – tax benefits and student aid – allow colleges and universities to serve more of those who want to help themselves and who then go on to contribute to society.
- Continue adequate funding for the Pell Grant in FY 2012. This is essential to keep low-income students in college, and out of unemployment lines
- Continue funding for the very cost-effective SEOG and LEAP These programs are focused on the lowest income students and are matched by state and local funds. Increasing the Pell Grant to make up for the loss of these two programs could cost more than $20 billion
- Make a permanent the education-related tax provisions recently extended: IRA charitable rollover, tuition deduction, American Opportunity Tax Credit, Section 127, student loan interest deduction, and Coverdell Education Savings Accounts
- In the Post-GI bill, strike the provision that makes the GI Bill the “last payer” of tuition and fee benefits, and provide a hold-harmless provision assuring that veterans currently in college don’t experience an abrupt drop in their benefits because of the move from state-based tuition and fee calculations to a national figure.
- We are concerned about two new Department of Education rules: the regulations on “state authorization” is unclear and has a potential negative impact on Washington state. And the federal definition of credit hour is inappropriate. Deciding how to award credit is a fundamental responsibility of each college according to its programs, and students
The Higher Education Opportunity Act passed Congress in 2008, making sweeping and complicated changes to the rules colleges must follow if their students receive federal aid. The National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) has developed a very helpful compliance guide (click on logo).
GI Bill: The 110th Congress approved legislation that will substantially increase the educational benefits available to our nation’s veterans. The provisions of the "Post-9/11 Veterans Education Assistance Act" were included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act (Public Law 110-252). The expanded benefits became available August 1, 2009 .
Click on the image to see vital information about implementing this program, including the Yellow Ribbon program for students attending private colleges.
For information about ICW's federal public policy, contact:
Violet Boyer
President and CEO
Office: 206.623.4494
Cellular: 206.714.2402
External Resources
UCAN Network provides vital information about private colleges in the country.
To see ICW members links go to http://www.icwashington.org/u-can.htm
The Student Aid Alliance is a coalition of associations who support federal funding for strong student aid programs.
ICW works closely with the National Association of State Executives and the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU) to formulate and advocate for supportive higher education public policy.
