Associated Students of the University of Washington
Student Senate
Session 16
 

A Resolution Calling for the Preservation of Financial Aid

WHEREAS an approximate $274 million was distributed in financial aid for the 2009-2010 school year, of which:

1. 14% or $39 million is in scholarships

2. 40% or $100 million is in grants

3. 45% or $123 million is in loans

4. 1% is in work study; and

WHEREAS an overall 62% of the undergraduate student population is currently on financial aid; and

WHEREAS the Associated Students of the University of Washington submitted a Legislative Agenda in which it advocates for “retaining and expanding the diversity of the student body, faculty, and staff”; and

WHEREAS for the 2010-2011 school year additional budget cuts are projected which will affect the availability of financial aid;

WHEREAS according to a recent survey taken by 2494 undergraduate students, “many students from middle-income families are worried about the mounting debt and financial uncertainty for the future”; and

WHEREAS should there be a considerable increase in tuition, “students would be forced to take out additional loans” while some would “consider dropping out”; and

WHEREAS “TAs and RAs are particularly likely to withdraw from school if they cannot find alternative funding”; and

WHEREAS the Husky Promise is the University of Washington’s “guarantee to Washington state students” that the university will not “let financial challenges stand in the way of” students “discovering their potential or achieving a UW degree”; and

WHEREAS there are approximately 7000 undergraduate students participating in the Husky Promise program for the 2009-2010 school year; and

WHEREAS the University of Washington believes that “students from all economic backgrounds should have the opportunity to attend the UW”; and

WHEREAS one of the six values of the University of Washington’s “UW Visions and Values” is diversity; and

WHEREAS within the 62% of the undergraduate students who are on financial aid;

1. 87% of the African American undergraduate student population;

2. 79% of the Native American undergraduate student population;

3. 76% of the Hispanic undergraduate student population;

4. 60% of the Asian undergraduate student population;

5. 80% of the Hawaiian or Pacific Islander undergraduate student population;

6. 59% of the Non-Minority undergraduate student population is on financial aid; and

WHEREAS the projected cuts in the University of Washington’s budget including financial aid would undermine the existence of the Husky Promise; and

WHEREAS the elimination of the Husky Promise due to budget cuts would undermine the ability of the aforementioned diversity of the university to be maintained;

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON:

THAT the ASUW upholds the University of Washington’s core value of diversity; and

THAT the ASUW adamantly advocates for maintaining the Husky Promise program and the University of Washington’s guarantee for students to discover their potential and achieve a UW degree; and

THAT the ASUW supports the preservation of financial aid by minimizing the impacts of the projected budget cuts on financial aid; and

THAT the ASUW supports the increase in communication between administrators and students for the predictability and transparency of student finances; and

THAT a copy of this resolution be forwarded to President Mark Emmert, Provost Phyllis Wise, Dr Sheila Edwards Lange; Vice President of the Office of Minority Affairs and Diversity, Office of Financial Aid Director Kay Lewis, and […].

History of Legislation

02/19/2010: Submitted for consideration
02/23/2010: Referred to the Academic Affairs Committee
03/02/2010: Reported Favorably by the Academic Affairs Committee
02/23/2010: Placed on First Reading
03/09/2010: Placed on Second Reading
03/09/2010: Passed by the Senate

Legislation ID:
R-16-19

Date Submitted:
02/19/2010

Sponsor:
Miklos Csibrany

Cosponsor(s):
Igor Cherny
Annie Saurwein
Hai Quan Ngoc Truong
Andrea Roma