WWU vows to protect students from U.S. budget cuts
BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) - If looming federal budget cuts take financial aid away from students, Western Washington University is promising to find money to offset those cuts.
Western President Bruce Shepard announced Tuesday the school will pull money out of its reserves to make sure students will get the financial aid they are expecting for this year and next.
The financial aid cuts could happen if Congress doesn't stop expected government-wide spending cuts by Friday.
Shepard says he is making this announcement to lessen some of the uncertainty students and their families are feeling. He says he hasn't heard of any other schools making a similar promise.
The school sent a message on Tuesday to Western students and parents letting them know of this decision.
Western President Bruce Shepard announced Tuesday the school will pull money out of its reserves to make sure students will get the financial aid they are expecting for this year and next.
The financial aid cuts could happen if Congress doesn't stop expected government-wide spending cuts by Friday.
Shepard says he is making this announcement to lessen some of the uncertainty students and their families are feeling. He says he hasn't heard of any other schools making a similar promise.
The school sent a message on Tuesday to Western students and parents letting them know of this decision.
The future of this country depends on the education of it's citizens. Our government and our industry leaders tell us time and time again that we need to invest in education, specifically math and science. Our future depends on the engineers and scientists that will sustain and grow our industries. Yet our government continues to make it harder to obtain that education.
My daughter is currently studying math, science and education, with the goal of becoming a high school math and science teacher. Unfortunately, by the time she graduates from college she will be burdened by a huge debt. At a time when we should be supporting those that are dedicating themselves towards the goal of educating our youth, we are instead bankrupting them.
We are not a rich family. We will borrow what is needed for my daughter to achieve her goals. Currently, government financial aid offers nothing but student loans at inflated interest rates. When the government is preaching education is the answer, they offer no support to those that choose to be part of the solution. We provide grants to support the arts. We provide grants that go to non-citizens. We ear mark grants for specific ethnicities. Why not provide grants to those that are trying to help us achieve our stated goals, i.e. educate our future.
@yousaidwhat? First lesson of paying for a college education is to calculate all costs and returns of said education. If your daughters goal is to teach, the numbers say you've been had, Pops. Â
What could she make at what job with no degree?
What can she make WITH degree? In a  profession other than teaching?
Cost of degree?
Sounds like you got a smart kid. She needs to aim a little higher. She can always teach later.
And don't believe everything the Government tells you. It ain't the Internet.
Yeah, extend these students an undischargeable loan so they can pay in the future for the overpriced cost of college. Maybe WWU should fire enough overpaid administrative staff to bring the cost down enough to make up the difference instead.
@Iconoclast you seem to be an expert on the great quantity of overpaid administrators and staff at WWU. Care to provide some specifics so the rest of us can experience the same outrage?
@tufa23 @Iconoclast Our state colleges are simply a microcosm of the government they emulate. Job programs for the otherwise marginally employable, scores of programs, positions and pet projects that are ridiculous and comical to speak of outside the academic environment. But don't fret students and parents, remember those double-digit tuition increases we've been shoving down your throats? Well now that the feds might pull back some of their welfare to our esteemed communist indoctrination camp, we've recently discovered some extra money behind the emperor's liquor cabinet. You'll be able to safely hide out here for another year before you find out just how valuable that lib arts degree really is. Math majors, and those who understand basic math, please don't divulge reality to the other students.
@tufa23 @Iconoclast Do they have a "Diversity" Department? Of course they do. Toss it. Replace it with a memo that outlines being civil to one another. Fixed that one. No need to thank me.
 How about a hiring freeze? Maybe they shouldn't be advertising so many job openings when their budget is going to be "slashed" by... ahem... increasing it.
https://jobs.wwu.edu/JobPostings.aspx
Women's Studies? Oh, boy. There be some serious man-hatin' going on. Get out! And make me a sammich!
Women Studies - Non-Tenure Track Faculty Vacancy Pool
"The Program engages students in the exploration of womenâs experiences through creative inquiry, critical analysis, effective expression, and community-based learning."Â
What? No "interpretative dance?" How much does this little degree go for nowadays?
Or do they need a  "Assistant Professor of Solo Voice/Opera Director?"
Fee-garo...
@tufa23 @Iconoclast Theatre and Dance Department? Seriously? At a Second Tier College? These are the refuges of the chronically hip poseurs. Begone!
President of the Drama club...
Where does WWU get it's money?
I don't get it. Everyone screams for budget cuts and when they get them the world is ending.
Good, we can all count on Western Washington University President Bruce shepard word that funding for student financial aid will flow unimpeded. End of story.Â
Oh man, of course WWU is the first to jump in and protect financial aid for illegal immigrants. How about NOT doing that?
@NW-Economist wtf man, how is this anywhere near being about illegal immigrants? Then again, maybe you are one of those people who doesn't believe that everybody should have the ability to get a quality education DESPITE THEIR ECONOMICAL STATUS.
I would bet less then 2% of the population at WWU are illegal immigrants.
Probably because there is a bill looming right now to give financial aid to illegal immigrants for education, and if we are in such financial turmoil, I guess some people might question that.
@Jalharad so you agree that there are illegals going to school on our dime.