Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Financial Aid topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students urge WSU regents to oppose bill that would shrink Washington College Grant eligibility and allow tuition hikes
Summary
Two student representatives told the Board of Regents that Senate Bill 5785 would reduce access to the Washington College Grant and allow larger tuition increases, and asked the board to publicly oppose the bill and advocate for full funding of the grant.
Isabella Bonilla, director of legislative affairs for ASWSU‑Vancouver, and Colin Banister, the Associated Students of WSU director of legislative affairs, told the Board of Regents during public comment that they and their peers face a potential loss of aid if state lawmakers approve Senate Bill 5785.
“SB 5785 would allow institutions to raise tuition by an additional 5% while gutting the Washington College Grant,” Bonilla told regents, urging the board to oppose further tuition increases and to advocate for full funding of the Washington College Grant.
Why it matters: Both students said the Washington College Grant makes college possible for hundreds of thousands of students across Washington and that the bill would narrow eligibility and increase household costs for lower‑income students. Their remarks asked the board to use its influence with lawmakers and to publicly oppose cuts that, they said, would force students to drop out or take on greater debt.
What the students said: Bonilla said that at WSU Vancouver roughly 50% of students rely on financial aid and that changes proposed in the bill would “slam the door on low‑income students who are already struggling to afford college.”
Banister said the bill would lower eligibility for a full Washington College Grant from households at about 65% of the state median family income to about 25% of median family income, and that the change could affect tens of thousands of students statewide. He told regents the university has raised tuition about 25% cumulatively over the last decade and urged WSU leadership to prioritize affordability and accessibility as a land‑grant university.
Board response and context: Chair Lisa Schauer thanked the speakers for being clear about what they were asking and noted the board would not debate public comments at length during the meeting but would follow up later as appropriate. Student commentators asked the board to publicly oppose SB 5785 and resist additional tuition increases; regents said they would review and consider the students’ concerns during the legislative session and budget work.
Ending note: Both student speakers said their personal experiences hinged on the Washington College Grant; they urged regents to defend the program to preserve access to higher education for low‑income, first‑generation and other financially vulnerable students.
