Compensation for faculty, staff and academic student employees highlighted brief WSU testimony this week as outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee’s operating budget proposal was heard in both the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
Lawmakers on both committees were urged to fully fund WSU’s number one request, which is cost-of-living adjustments for the upcoming two fiscal years for faculty and staff. The Legislature is further asked to fully fund the collective bargaining agreement that was negotiated with Academic Student Employees in January and excluded in the budget proposal. Also on WSU’s legislative agenda is funding to support accreditation efforts for the College of Medicine, which was not funded, and funding to sustain the university’s Native Coug Scholars program. You can read more information about WSU’s legislative priorities here.
The state is facing a budget deficit as growth of tax collections slows, demand for state services rises, and bills for previously planned expansions come due. You can read more information here on what was included in the Governor’s proposed budgets and view WSU’s testimony on it in the House hearing below.