Supporters of the proposal say that giving universities the option to boost tuition that much is crucial in view of the budget constraints in Olympia. Without that authority, they add, quality would inevitably decline. We can't support higher education in the style to which we've become accustomed. But students, who are accustomed to far lower tuition increases, argue that the contemplated tuition increases unfairly push more of the cost of public higher education onto them and their parents. That means that a degree in electrical engineering could cost a lot more than one in history, because of the market value of the degree and the costs of providing the education, such as if labs are needed.
Students adamantly oppose the idea.
The administration at the UW is supporting the governor's proposed tuition increases, but there is concern about a stipulation in the bill that universities use some of their revenues to pay for increased financial aid. It's too early in the budget-writing process in Olympia to predict the prospects for the governor's tuition proposal, and elements of it may well fall by the wayside. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, chairwoman of the Senate Higher Education committee, said she is concerned that the 10 percent annual cap is too high, and she worries that the state won't come through with the financial aid to make sure poorer students can still go to college. Some students, however, can afford to pay more.