Olympia to Zambia - Students are EngagedThe vast majority of students at our independent colleges participate in community service projects. By last count, our colleges contributed over 500,000 hours of community service just in Washington; But service to others is readily extended to those outside our region and nation. A few examples of our colleges’ universal focus include: Zambia
|
Notes from the capital
The two chambers have never formally reconciled the differences between their budgets. The bigger problem is that they have not come to agreement on how to pay for restoring financial aid and other cuts proposed by the governor in a “scorched earth” budget in December. The challenge, as lawmakers sought to bridge a $2.8 billion budget deficit, forced them into a special legislative session that began March 15. There has been little sign of progress until the last couple of days, when some indications finally began to emerge that an agreement was at hand and the legislature might finally wrap up its business by the end of next week.
Students share positive messages to policymakers in OlympiaThis year more than ever, students engaged in the legislative process - gaining a terrific civics education. Students from Pacific Lutheran University, St. Martin's University, Seattle Pacific University, and Seattle University visited legislators in Olympia and shared personal stories about the impact of student aid to legislators and policy makers. While protests raged outside the capitol building, ICW students delivered Valentines Day cards and stories of hope.
In three compelling minutes, you can watch students from Pacific Lutheran University, Walla Walla University, Whitman College, and Whitworth University, as they share personal stories of success.
|
In-Kind Giving Helps Students Too!Each year, our member colleges and universities receive over $1 million from many generous corporations and businesses who support ICW in two ways – cash gifts for scholarships and other programmatic support and in-kind gifts of equipment, travel vouchers, hotel rooms, printing, and other important services. In-kind gifts are donated goods and services that help all 10 of our member colleges meet their annual operating expenses. Contributions of lab and other scientific equipment, for example, can help an already tight budget by providing state-of-the-art equipment to students; as can the availability of used equipment and supplies that are essential for maintaining a campus with many buildings, students, and staff. Donated travel vouchers and hotel rooms for staff to attend conferences and meetings or to bring people from out of town to campus for events and lectures enhances the overall academic experience for students. Our gratitude to these ICW in-kind supporters:
Scholarships for service'Volunteering is essential because it builds community and gives everyone the chance to succeed’, writes a student who is applying for one of ICW’s endowed scholarship funds, the Stanley O. McNaughton Community Service Award. This scholarship is given to two students who demonstrate a commitment to community service both in high school and college. It also exemplifies the spirit and a core value of independent colleges – a commitment to community service. Students can learn about hundreds of Washington-specific scholarships at:
Washington College Access Network launched, ICW is on boardOn March 9th, the Washington College Access Network (WCAN) held its inaugural conference in Seattle, with over 280 attendees from across Washington. Financial aid and admissions representatives from Gonzaga University, Pacific Lutheran University, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University, University of Puget Sound, Independent Colleges of Washington and a host of other institutions participated in a full day of workshops on supporting and motivating academically-capable, but financially challenged students. WCAN works with organizations across the state, and will be a great networking resource for our member colleges. The keynote panel on best practices and innovation included Minerva Morales M.Ed, incoming superintendent of the Mabton School District and graduate of Heritage University baccalaureate and masters programs, Dr. Deborah Wilds, President and COO of the College Success Foundation, and Dr. Sheila Edwards Lange, Vice President for Minority Affairs and Vice Provost for Diversity at UW. Co-principals of Lincoln Center in Tacoma presented compelling evidence for the extended –day enrichment program they piloted at underperforming Lincoln High School. They noted the vital contribution of work study students and volunteers from Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound in helping at-risk high school students who voluntarily attended an additional 540 hours of school each year! The participation of ICW and our member colleges in WCAN will benefit tens of thousands of students, in all parts of the state, in understanding the value of an academically rigorous, independent, liberal arts education; and it will connect ICW and our member institutions with the numerous organizations and agencies also working towards student success. |
Thank you for your support of students, our member colleges, and higher education in Washington. |
Members of the Whitman College community – students, faculty and staff – 
Students from Seattle Pacific University volunteered at CamdenForward School, Urban Promise’s private inner-city school for grades K-8 in Camden, New Jersey, where they assisted in the classroom and worked on projects with the students after class. Their trip was organized by SPU’s 
In our February newsletter, we reported on the governor’s budget proposal for state financial aid programs. Since then, the State House and State Senate have made their own proposals, both of which protect funding for the State Need Grant Program while making some cuts in State Work Study. 
