In the Media
After retiring briefly in my early 60s, I decided to resume teaching, this time at Western Washington University. It wasn't long before I was faced with an entirely different kind of role - that of caregiver.
When I began looking after my dying husband, I could not begin to understand the depth and breadth of what was before me, although I had raised six children. My life was no longer my own.
The state House has passed a 2011-13 biennial budget that calls for raising tuition by 11 to 13 percent at state-funded colleges and universities, meaning college students and their families will have to dig even deeper if they want to get a degree.
For a full-time, in-state Western Washington University undergraduate student, that increase is equal to an additional $263 per quarter during the 2011-12 school year.
The House budget proposal would raise tuition by 13 percent each year at WWU, University of Washington and Washington State University. Tuition would be increased by 11.5 percent each year at Eastern Washington University, Central Washington University and The Evergreen State College. Tuition would be increased by 11 percent each year at the two-year community and technical colleges.
Washington state Senators are planning to unveil their budget proposal for the state's next two-year budget Tuesday evening - the last piece of the puzzle as lawmakers head for tough negotiations on government spending.
It certainly looks like Washington State University will be setting down stakes in Everett.
Those pushing the last year to bring the Pullman-based research university to town face a final legislative hurdle in their quest -- and it's one they've scaled before.
In the coming days, state senators will be asked for a second time to approve a bill putting WSU in charge of the University Center of North Puget Sound based on the campus of Everett Community College.
Student loan debt outpaced credit card debt for the first time last year and is likely to top a trillion dollars this year as more students go to college and a growing share borrow money to do so.
Washington's community-college students are transferring to four-year colleges and universities in record numbers, but increasingly they are turning to private, for-profit schools to earn their bachelor's degrees.
The trend highlights the growing difficulty of transferring to a state-supported four-year college or university, according to the state Higher Education Coordinating Board, which reported the results in a study released Monday.
Western Washington University's Dylan Goodwin was in a three-way tie for sixth in medalist play and the Vikings were eighth in the team standings following two rounds on Monday, April 11, at the Cal State Stanislaus Men's Golf Invitational Tournament at the Turlock Golf and Country Club.
The Western Washington University women's golf team finished Monday's first-day action at the Tarleton State University Women's Golf Invitational Tournament at Harbor Lakes Golf Club in a three-way tie for 10th place.
Community members are invited to Western Washington University's campus for a gathering to support Japan Monday, April 11.
The gathering will take place at 4:30 p.m. near the "Skyviewing Sculpture" by Isamu Noguchi in Red Square.
House lawmakers on Saturday approved their version of the next two-year state budget, voting 53-43 in favor of a proposal that would slash $4.4 billion in spending.
With two weeks left in the 2011 legislative session, Saturday's vote moves lawmakers one step closer toward filling a projected $5.1 billion deficit in the state budget. The Senate is expected to release its proposed budget Tuesday.