State's higher education budgets to absorb big cuts

Economic woes aren't just for businesses anymore: higher education in Washington may be targeted for double-digit budget cuts.

The state's public universities and community colleges are being asked to wield large axes to their budgets.

Although no directives have been made, the state's Office of Financial Management has indicated that campuses should gird themselves to reduce their budgets by 20 percent.

"That's devastating," said Linda Kaminski, president of Yakima Valley Community College.

"Shocking," said Ellen Hall, interim vice president for university relations at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.

Even though no official word has reached schools, administrators at the two local public institutions are already dreading any news.

As much as $600 million may have to be slashed from universities and community colleges across the state over the next two years.

"A cut of this magnitude would really transform the university," lamented Hall. The school's full-time enrollment this fall was 9,600.

Kaminski agreed. Noting that YVCC, which enrolled 5,859 students this fall, had already endured a $529,000 budget reduction this year, she said, "Another cut would be really tough. I'm not sure it's possible."

The YVCC leader said the school would have to analyze everything -- courses, programs, staff -- to find reductions. There would be no sacred cows, she said.

Saying that it's too early to name specific areas for trimming, Hall noted, "We don't want classes to suffer in any way."

Kaminski pointed to a smaller faculty, larger classes, fewer sections, and less access to services as probable ramifications.

Neither woman would speculate if tuition hikes, which emanate from the Legislature, would be forthcoming.

Since community colleges operate under an "open door" policy, with virtually all applicants admitted, Kaminski said that YVCC won't be turning students away.

But that means more students and fewer services, she said.

That's because, during economic downturns, enrollments at community colleges tend to rise, with more students staying closer to home to save money and older students coming for retraining as jobs disappear.

So economic cuts to YVCC couldn't come at a worse time, Kaminski said.

An opposite scenario could play out in Ellensburg, Hall predicted.

Because so many CWU students depend on financial aid, which would presumably shrink with budget trims, enrollment could conceivably drop.

"These cuts would come on the backs of our students, and we don't want that," Hall said. "We believe that young people are part of the solution to economic problems, which makes it important to invest in higher education."

Both leaders predicted long-term ramifications to their schools from a 20 percent cut.

"It will take years and years to recover," said Hall.

* Information from The Seattle Times contributed to this story.

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