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Associated Students of the University of Washington |
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2001-2002 Legislative Agenda WHEREAS This document is the policy that the ASUW lobbyist will follow when lobbying on behalf of the students of the University of Washington. BE IT RECOMMENDED BY THE ASSOCIATED STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON STUDENT SENATE: THAT The State Legislative Agenda be approved as follows: I. FIRST TIER A. TUITION AND STATE FUNDING - The ASUW advocates a tuition policy that provides for affordable, stable, and predictable tuition. We will oppose any tuition proposal that allows tuition to rise faster than Washington State median family income. - The ASUW advocates for full legislative tuition setting authority and for uniform tuition levels for the stateās research institutions. - The ASUW opposes any tuition increase that raises the percentage of the total cost of education borne by students. - The ASUW opposes the charging of any mandatory fees beyond those currently provided for in the law. - The ASUW is opposed to differential tuition increases for nonresidential students, for graduate and professional students, or to variance within tuition classifications based on department or field of study. B. FINANCIAL AID - The ASUW supports full funding of the Washington State Need Grant, Promise Scholarships, the continuation of the Guaranteed Education Tuition Program, and the creation of the Loan Repayment Assistance Program, and other scholarships, grants and financial aid÷with preference given to grants over loans. C. MAINTAINING AND EXPANDING DIVERSITY - The ASUW believes that a diverse student body, faculty, and staff is vital to ensuring social justice and excellence in education at the University of Washington. The ASUW believes that all state policies concerning higher education should be made with the goal of increasing accessibility for women, people of color, the disabled, sexual minorities, Gay, Bisexual, Lesbian, Transgendered people, the economically and educationally disadvantaged, and other underrepresented groups. - The ASUW supports the allocation of state funds to sustain and create outreach, recruitment, and retention programs targeted at underrepresented and/or disadvantaged youth and adults in Washington State. The ASUW believes such funding should be available to fund centralized efforts through the Office of Minority Affairs, departmental efforts, and student initiatives. The ASUW supports funding to allow increased efforts to recruit and retain a more diverse faculty and staff. II. SECOND TIER A. Salaries and Benefits: The ASUW supports raising faculty salaries and benefits to comparable levels of peer institutions B. The ASUW supports raising Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, and Staff Assistant salaries to comparable levels of peer institutions, as well as the restoration of benefits to the highest level previously provided C. Transportation: The ASUW supports funding for increased transit services for students, faculty, and staff. D. Child Care: The ASUW supports state funding for the construction of student-centered on-site child care facilities and the expansion of child care services on campus. E. Bargaining Rights: The ASUW supports the right of any academic employee to unionize. F. Student Fees: The ASUW supports student control of student fees. G. Domestic Partnership Equality: The ASUW supports the continued recognition of domestic partnerships. H. Capital Projects: The ASUW supports the funding of capital projects to maintain and expand the quality of education at the University of Washington. III. POSITION STATEMENTS A. Campus Safety: The ASUW supports legislation to provide for increased campus safety. B. Student Rights: The ASUW opposes any effort to limit the civil rights of students based on either their status as students, international students, or as persons living in either University Housing, the Greek Community, or off campus. C. Health Care: The ASUW favors requirements that regardless of pre-existing conditions, institutions of higher learning provide comprehensive, reasonably priced coverage for students, and that university-based health care centers and plans allow an option for students to obtain reasonably priced coverage for spouses, domestic partners, and dependents. D. Textbook Tax Exemption: The ASUW supports exempting textbook and required supply purchases for college courses from Washington State sales tax. History of Legislation 2/5/2003: Legislation transfered from old database. |
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