We’ve all seen the ads, DeVry University, University of Phoenix, ITT Technical Institute… the list goes on and on. We know these schools are unique and different from a traditional 4 year university—many offer classes online, are shorter in duration and promise to help place you in your field of work after graduation. They benefit a growing population of low-income and working individuals who require the offered flexibility to further their education.

What also sets these universities a part from traditional colleges and universities is that they make a profit. All other schools, public or private, 2-year schools or 4-year schools, are non-profit organizations.

Recently, for-profit universities have come under heavy scrutiny from congress for abusing federal student aid funding. About 75% of for-profits’ school revenue comes from federal grants and loans.

What we’re seeing in the national trends among college-goers is a little alarming. Roughly 10% of people attending an institute of higher education go to for-profit colleges like DeVry. However, that 10% utilize 24% of the federal student aid. This 24% amounts to something close to $26 billion of tax payers monies that are going into the pockets of for-profit university entrepreneurs.

Frontline recently did a segment called College Inc. that interviewed “education entrepreneurs” to learn more about the world of for-profit education. It raises flags about universities’ recruitment tactics, the price of degrees and the promise of work after college.

If you are considering some form of post-secondary education, its worth your while to watch the Frontline segment! We’ll also be following and posting what congress has to say about the future of profit-generating universities so stay tuned.

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State lawmakers are considering budget cuts that will impact thousands of college and university students across the state. LEV, the Washington Student Association and the Washington Bus are working together to urge parents and students to contact their legislators.

Watch the video of two UW students, Ashwaq and Colette, as they share their struggles with college affordability and then contact your lawmakers to urge them to protect funding for higher education. Please tell them how you, your friends, your kids and your relatives rely on Washington’s State Need Grants and/or Work Study programs in order to attend and complete college.

You may have heard that tomorrow is a national day of action on college campuses across the country. Look for rallies on the UW, Western Washington, Evergreen State College, and Seattle Community college campuses!

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Washington State Legislature is in the final stretch! It’s been a tough session so far, with lots of proposed cuts to crucial education programs. It’s crunch time now, our legislators and leadership need to hear from us now more than ever.

About what, you say? State Need-Based Grants. thasswassup.

The House has proposed to cut Washington’s need-based grants by $6 million. The Senate has committed to keeping them, but has made funding for these grants contingent on Washington passing new sales taxes. These are small taxes on consumer goods which are likely to fail because they are unpopular. This is unacceptable. Washington’s legislators MUST prioritize funding for need-based grants. Here’s why:

-Washington State has over 73,000 college students receiving some form of need-based grant or work study money, which is roughly 2/3rds of all students across the state.
-34% of money awarded through state need-based grants are given to students of color.
-Without these crucial grants and low-interest loans, students will be forced to take on more debt from private banks, work more hours, or drop-out of college.

Washington Student Association cooked up a recipe that gives you all the facts on need-based grants. Study up on the ingredients, then e-mail your representatives today and tell them to FULLY FUND state need grants and support a budget this session that includes NEW REVENUE.

Here are your key representatives:

Speaker of the House:
Frank Chopp: chopp.frank@leg.wa.gov

Senate Ways and Means Committee Leadership (who delegate the ca$h)
Margarita Prentice: prentice.margarita@leg.wa.gov
Rodney Tom: tom.rodney@leg.wa.gov
Karen Fraser: fraser.karen@leg.wa.gov

House Ways and Means Committee Leadership
Kelli Linville: linville.kelli@leg.wa.gov
Mark Ericks: ericks.mark@leg.wa.gov
Pat Sullivan: sullivan.pat@leg.wa.gov

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If you missed this opinion editorial last Friday in the Tacoma News Tribune by President Ronald Thomas (University of Puget Sound) and President Loren Anderson (Pacific Lutheran University), check it out now!

Included in this piece is the answer to why Washington, even though we’re facing a 2.6 billion dollar deficit this session, can’t afford to cut need-based grants and work study programs.

Wait a second—everybody out there—I’m pretty sure young people have been saying this since day one? Shout out to university presidents for having our back!

What makes this opinion piece so compelling is that it frames this discussion of college affordability as an issue that impacts everyone, “What our legislators decide will affect not only these students, but ultimately the future prosperity of our state. It will affect us all.”

Presidents Thomas and Anderson also opted for a timeless sports metaphor in describing how state work-study programs benefit all of society, by naming the program “a true triple play.” It helps students make some extra income, it helps universities by filling necessary positions, and it benefits local businesses because students graduate with a lil something on their resume (making them more employable). Heck yes.

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