Legislative Session at a Glance
 The 2011 session of the Washington State Legislature is under way. As always, the top legislative priority for Independent Colleges of Washington is financial aid.
Protecting student aid will be more difficult than ever given the state’s economic condition and a looming budget shortfall in the neighborhood of $5 billion.
Governor Chris Gregoire made the first concrete budget proposal, submitting her budget to the Legislature in December. It was mostly good for financial aid. While the governor proposed a cut in the State Work Study program, and suspension of most other aid programs, she proposed a $92 million increase in the State Need Grant program. That will help the grants keep up with rising tuition.
While we will continue to advocate for funding for State Work-Study, we also recognize the dire budget situation, and feel the governor’s approach of giving strong support to the state’s bread-and-butter need-based aid program may be the best approach under the circumstances.
To keep up to date on the activities in Olympia, sign up for our Legislative Action Center. You will receive information about budget negotiations and calls to action when your notes to the governor and legislators will have the most influence to help bring about positive outcomes. Also follow the news on our blog and our Facebook page.
Challenge Grant Launches Fundraising Effort for Matched College Savings Program
 In late 2010, Independent Colleges of Washington launched the Matched College Savings Program, designed to reward the personal savings habits of very low income students attending an ICW member college. The program is aimed toward students who are at or below 200% of poverty level. Because these students are at the highest risk of dropping out of college, this program helps provide financial incentive to encourage them to stay in school and complete their college education.
In December 2010, ICW received a $40,000 challenge grant from the Foundation for Independent Higher Education (FIHE) to help fund the private dollar match requirement to access federal funding. ICW must now raise another $40,000 to meet the FIHE match requirement by June 30, 2011.
How this program works:
- Students are enrolled in the program for no more than 3 years
- Students must save a minimum of $44/month for 6 months before requesting funds
- Students must attend a 10 hour financial education/literacy course before withdrawing funds
- Student savings accounts are matched by both federal and private dollars at a rate of 5:1
For more information about this innovative program or to discuss ways in which you, your company, or foundation can contribute to this exciting new program to help low income students complete their college education, please contact Anne Cassidy: Anne@ICWashington.org, 206.623.4494.
Introducing the
2011
ICW Student Aid All-Stars Lineup
State financial aid is often discussed in multi-million dollar increments. While figures and facts can illustrate the importance of these programs in increasing access, affordability, and capacity to higher education in Washington, individual students can better relate their personal success and hope for the future. Below are All-Stars representing each ICW member college. More than100 additional Student Aid All-Stars can be viewed on our website.
All-stars presented in order of first name:
Also in this issue, a profile of Jonathan Sprouffske, St. Martin's and Seattle U. Law graduate and the first HECB student representative from an independent college.
Financial Aid 101:
Why the State Supports Students at Independent Colleges
Investing in higher education is
an investment in Washington's future: A prepared and flexible
workforce, increased tax revenues, and a healthier, wealthier, and wiser citizenry.
Why Does the State Support Students at Independent Colleges?
Washington legislators and policy makers recognize the importance of investing in students attending independent institutions through support of financial aid programs, such as the State Need Grant.
- Less than 2% of the higher education budget is awarded to our students each year, all in the form of student aid, and our colleges graduate about 25% of the baccalaureate and higher degrees in the state.
- Students choosing an independent college save the state over $330 million in equivalent enrollment and operations subsidies at our state's public universities.
- Financial aid to independent colleges unlocks capacity by providing access to nearly 40,000 students without additional capital expenditures.
- Students at independent colleges graduate faster and at a significantly higher rate than students in all other educational sectors, and within under-represented minority groups.
The colleges themselves invest heavily in their students, awarding $10 in aid for every state or federal aid dollar and ensuring that students from all economic backgrounds have access to an academically rigorous, independent higher education.
Who receives the State Need Grant at ICW colleges?
At ICW member colleges, all are low-income, all are Washington residents. 86% are first-generation, non-white, over 24 years old, or transfer students. They make up 20% of the undergraduate student body at ICW institutions.
All are an investment in Washington's future.
Student Aid Hall of Fame:
Jonathan Sprouffske
 Growing up on a Christmas tree farm in Rainier, Washington, Jonathan Sprouffske understood the importance of hard work, diligent study, and community involvement from a young age. And the loss of his father during high school and mother during college presented emotional and practical challenges that tested his perseverance and strength.
Though neither his mother or father obtained more than a few community college credits, both were adamant that Jonathan leave Rainier - at least for four years - to get a college degree. As a volunteer firefighter and EMT, his mentors at SE Thurston Fire and EMS further motivated him to go to college.
Jonathan applied to a half-dozen colleges and universities in Washington, mostly public, but some private. Though finances were slim after the passing of his father, Jonathan's mother, a state employee for 35 years, helped proofread his scholarship and admissions essays. "She supported me with the gift of time, which was priceless," Jonathan recalls.
They both waited for acceptance and award letters on pins and pine needles, hoping for the delivery of fat envelopes to the farm. And they came in, and choices needed to be made. "Saint Martin's University financial aid was by far the best, and it was actually less expensive on all accounts." Jonathan recieved State Work-Study, WAVE, and Washington Promise, as well as financial aid from the federal government, Saint Martin's University, and private scholarships.
Jonathan left Rainier for Lacey, and immersed himself in college life. "There wasn't an area on campus that didn't impact or change my life. I was an RA, in student government and athletics, and a student rep on the board of trustees. A smaller university made it easier to make connections, and the Benedictine traditions, especially hospitality, were evident at every point."
Jonathan became an insider to public policy and higher ed administration with his appointment by Governor Gregoire to the Higher Education Coordinating Board the student representative for the state in 2006-2007. "I got an unbiased view of how higher education and funding for state programs worked. I was never familiar with the back end, how budgeting for programs and capital expenses really worked. It was eye-opening."
The civic experience reinforced his goal to attend law school after completing his bachelor's degree. When his mother passed away in 2004, just months before graduation, life became more difficult, taking on responsibilities at home and outside of
college.
But Jonathan continued through to become the first in his family to graduate college, with a degree in business administration and theater arts, and debt-free.
He had 20 hours per week of work-study, multiple jobs each summer, and lived frugally 'like a college student.' Financial aid from the college, state, and federal government, made college possible; his work ethic adjusted the equation to minimize the personal financial impact and allow for continued study at Seattle University School of Law.
"Seattle U seemed
huge compared to Saint Martin's [7,200 total students at SU, 1,800 at Saint Martin's], it was in the city, but there were micro-communities and I soon felt at home." The firm foundation from St. Martin's, of academic rigor, service, community building and hard work prepared Jonathan well for Seattle University. He embraced the community, as he commuted daily from the farm in Rainier.
Upon receiving his J.D., Jonathan used his experience gleaned from work-study positions in law school and internships to
become an attorney at Connolly Tacon & Meserve in Olympia, where he currently practices.
When asked how he might prioritize higher education, in light of the budget crunch in Olympia, he mulled over the question. "It is about the long term. Focus on continuity, and not the programs: What will prepare students for college, what will keep them in college through graduation, what will prepare them for the job market...and what will keep them in Washington. We lose too many at each juncture." We must continue what we started, and to look towards the future.
Washington invested in Jonathan Sprouffske. He graduated from two independent colleges at little cost to the state. He is a full-time lawyer, Thurston County Fire Commissioner, and former HECB appointee. He volunteers for Relay for Life raising funds for cancer research, and is the owner of the family Christmas tree farm in Rainier. And most important, a devoted husband and father. Jonathan Sprouffske exemplifies Washington's return on investment.
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