ICW Advocacy Center

ICW is offering a Legislative Internship. Due date for applications is November 15th.

ICW Can
HECB Master Plan
Transfer Credits

ICW supports student financial aid

ICW’s top legislative priority each year is increasing the financial aid available to college students from Washington . We’ve been having great success in recent years; the state’s investment in its financial aid programs has increased by nearly $150 million over the last four years, and the eligibility limit for the State Need Grant Program has jumped from 55 percent of the state median family income in 2004 (just under $40,000 for a family of four) up to 70 percent (just over $50,000) today. As a result of ICW’s efforts, thousands more students are getting the help they need to pay for college. That money follows the student to the college of their choice, public or private.

In 2009 we’ll continue to try to push that eligibility limit up, to 100 percent of MFI, or $72,000 for a family of four. That's the main plank of our public policy agenda for next year, a $141 million plan that also includes increasing the size of the grants to ensure that college is affordable for students from all income levels. ICW has also created talking points for a more compact statement of our goals.

The 2007 legislature also created new scholarship programs for current and former foster youth, for students who score high in math and science, and a “college bound” scholarship to encourage and motivate students who might not otherwise consider college, because of cost.

Need help applying for financial aid? That’s just a part of the useful information now available on ICW’s new Web site, ProjectOpportunity.net.

ICW CAN

The ICW Board of Directors has created the ICW Campus Action Network, or ICW CAN. The network will have representatives on each member college campus in order to enlist greater participation from campus communities in ICW’s communication and advocacy efforts, and to capitalize more fully on the visibility, influence, and connections we share.

Watch this space for new and improved on-line advocacy tools before the 2009 legislative session.

HECB master plan approved

The legislature has approved the Higher Education Coordinating Board’s 10-year master plan for higher education in Washington . ICW supported the plan, which is comprehensive, ambitious, and inclusive. It aims to raise educational attainment, improve diversity, increase expectations of students, support lifelong learning, promote economic growth, fund higher education based on results, and, most importantly, make college more affordable. The latter is especially important because of its support for financial aid programs. We also appreciate HECB’s approach of using all of the state’s resources, including independent colleges, as we work toward effectively meeting the increased demand for higher education opportunities in Washington .

Transfer Credits

The legislature is considering the ease of transfer within the state. The Joint Access and Oversight Group (ICW is a member) has developed this background explanation of how transfers work in Washington state. All ICW colleges accept transfer students; in fact, about a quarter of new students each year are transfers. Most colleges are part of the “direct transfer agreement” that brings liberal arts students to the college as juniors with most prerequisites completed.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board is working on a proposal for a web-based advising system. Dubbed the “Academic GPS,” the system would help students determine which classes will transfer for credit at other colleges. ICW is working to make sure independent colleges are included in the system. The HEC Board is doing a cost study and will seek funding from the legislature in 2009.