Ben,
I need an A- in this class (I think I'm close?) Then I would get straight As this semester. What a great way to end my undergraduate career, huh? Well... I thought I'd try. Thanks for a great semester. :) I learned a lot.
Shawna
Monday, May 4, 2009
Public records request denial causes concern for WSU community
Despite hard economic times and imminent budget cuts, Washington State University denies public records request despite boasting the importance of transparency.
Students have voiced their concerns regarding the budget process and have criticized the Washington State University administration and the Washington Legislature.
Additionally, due to the looming threat of layoffs, the administrative and professional staffs are concerned with the lack of disclosure regarding the budget process.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3.3 million Americans have become unemployed during the last five months. The national unemployment rate is now 8.5 percent.
In March, Washington State’s unemployment rate increased to 9.2 percent, an increase of .8 percent from the previous month. Whitman County’s unemployment rate has also increased by .8 percent to 5.8 percent.
Washington is currently facing an almost $9 billion deficit through mid-2011 despite a statewide hiring freeze implemented by Gov. Christine Gregoire in August 2008.
Gregoire ordered all Washington state colleges and universities to implement a hiring freeze while simultaneously reducing travel and equipment expenses.
Washington State University President Elson S. Floyd implemented a similar hiring freeze in April 2008. Floyd significantly slowed the pace of administrative and professional hiring.
As a result of the freeze, 215 fewer people were hired during May and December 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007, said Matthew A. Skinner, associate budget director. This means that there were nearly 50 percent fewer positions filled.
“The initial hiring freeze has proven to have been a prudent step. By slowing the rate of hiring last April, it has resulted in less people being laid off due to budget cuts,” Executive Director of Budgeting and Planning, Joan S. King said.
On Apr. 26, the Washington Legislature completed the state’s operating and capital budget. The legislature suggests that higher education be cut by 21.5 percent or $112.3 million over the next two years.
This figure assumes a 14 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduates; an increase of $870 next year.
Washington State University’s preliminary budget is aimed at cutting services, travel, hiring and expenditures, course reductions and the elimination or consolidation of several academic programs.
The decrease in state funding also necessitates that 370 employees be let go. Though 160 positions are already vacant, 210 currently filled positions or 3.3 percent of all Washington State University employees will be let go due to budget restraints.
The state legislature’s decrease in funding for higher education is the largest total budget reduction in history.
All of this information was not made public until Apr. 27 despite a public record’s request filed with the Office of Forms and Procedures in late March.
In December, WSU created a 15-member budget committee to oversee the expected reductions in the university’s operating budget. The committee is co-chaired by President Floyd and Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick M. Bayly.
In order to better prepare for the impending budget cuts, the budget committee requested that all university deans, vice presidents and chancellors prepare a 12 percent and 18 percent budget reduction scenario.
Documents pertaining to these scenarios were requested in order to analyze possible trends amongst colleges and departments regarding cuts in expenditures.
The public records were withheld in accordance with RCW 42.56.280, which provides that “preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended, etc. are exempt from disclosure until publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action,” Linda Nelson, public records coordinator said.
After contacting the Student Law Press Center to verify the legality of the denial, Mike Hiestand, an SPLC legal consultant said, “Just because the law may give them the option to withhold these records -- it is not mandatory -- does not mean that it is the right thing to do.”
“The university is choosing not to release these documents,” SPLC intern, Lisa Waananen said.
With the state legislature announcing alarming budget figures and proposals, the WSU community is wondering how the pending cuts are going to affect the university.
“I would hope the university would be dedicated to fully informing the public throughout the entire decision-making process,” Waananen said.
“Particularly in these times, when Washington state schools face extraordinary budget cuts that will require huge changes in what is funded and how, the public -- the owners of that education system -- ought to be made privy to all accurate information that could assist them in weighing in and having their concerns heard,” Hiestand said.
The preliminary budget is now available online. In addition, the budget committee is seeking comments and suggestions from students, faculty and staff regarding the preliminary budget.
---
References:
Matthew A. Skinner
Associate Director of Budget
(509) 335-1836
Joan S. King
Executive Director of Budget and Planning
(509) 335-9681
Linda Nelson
Public Records Coordinator
(509) 335-3928
Mike Hiestand
SPLC Attorney
(202) 777-3609
Lissa Waananen
SPLC Intern
(763) 242-8095
“Current Employment Situation”. Workforce Explorer: Washington. Washington State Employment Security Department. Retrieved 24 Mar. 2009, <http://www.workforceexplorer.com/cgi/dataanalysis/?PAGEID=148>.
Students have voiced their concerns regarding the budget process and have criticized the Washington State University administration and the Washington Legislature.
Additionally, due to the looming threat of layoffs, the administrative and professional staffs are concerned with the lack of disclosure regarding the budget process.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3.3 million Americans have become unemployed during the last five months. The national unemployment rate is now 8.5 percent.
In March, Washington State’s unemployment rate increased to 9.2 percent, an increase of .8 percent from the previous month. Whitman County’s unemployment rate has also increased by .8 percent to 5.8 percent.
Washington is currently facing an almost $9 billion deficit through mid-2011 despite a statewide hiring freeze implemented by Gov. Christine Gregoire in August 2008.
Gregoire ordered all Washington state colleges and universities to implement a hiring freeze while simultaneously reducing travel and equipment expenses.
Washington State University President Elson S. Floyd implemented a similar hiring freeze in April 2008. Floyd significantly slowed the pace of administrative and professional hiring.
As a result of the freeze, 215 fewer people were hired during May and December 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007, said Matthew A. Skinner, associate budget director. This means that there were nearly 50 percent fewer positions filled.
“The initial hiring freeze has proven to have been a prudent step. By slowing the rate of hiring last April, it has resulted in less people being laid off due to budget cuts,” Executive Director of Budgeting and Planning, Joan S. King said.
On Apr. 26, the Washington Legislature completed the state’s operating and capital budget. The legislature suggests that higher education be cut by 21.5 percent or $112.3 million over the next two years.
This figure assumes a 14 percent tuition increase for resident undergraduates; an increase of $870 next year.
Washington State University’s preliminary budget is aimed at cutting services, travel, hiring and expenditures, course reductions and the elimination or consolidation of several academic programs.
The decrease in state funding also necessitates that 370 employees be let go. Though 160 positions are already vacant, 210 currently filled positions or 3.3 percent of all Washington State University employees will be let go due to budget restraints.
The state legislature’s decrease in funding for higher education is the largest total budget reduction in history.
All of this information was not made public until Apr. 27 despite a public record’s request filed with the Office of Forms and Procedures in late March.
In December, WSU created a 15-member budget committee to oversee the expected reductions in the university’s operating budget. The committee is co-chaired by President Floyd and Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick M. Bayly.
In order to better prepare for the impending budget cuts, the budget committee requested that all university deans, vice presidents and chancellors prepare a 12 percent and 18 percent budget reduction scenario.
Documents pertaining to these scenarios were requested in order to analyze possible trends amongst colleges and departments regarding cuts in expenditures.
The public records were withheld in accordance with RCW 42.56.280, which provides that “preliminary drafts, notes, recommendations, and intra-agency memorandums in which opinions are expressed or policies formulated or recommended, etc. are exempt from disclosure until publicly cited by an agency in connection with any agency action,” Linda Nelson, public records coordinator said.
After contacting the Student Law Press Center to verify the legality of the denial, Mike Hiestand, an SPLC legal consultant said, “Just because the law may give them the option to withhold these records -- it is not mandatory -- does not mean that it is the right thing to do.”
“The university is choosing not to release these documents,” SPLC intern, Lisa Waananen said.
With the state legislature announcing alarming budget figures and proposals, the WSU community is wondering how the pending cuts are going to affect the university.
“I would hope the university would be dedicated to fully informing the public throughout the entire decision-making process,” Waananen said.
“Particularly in these times, when Washington state schools face extraordinary budget cuts that will require huge changes in what is funded and how, the public -- the owners of that education system -- ought to be made privy to all accurate information that could assist them in weighing in and having their concerns heard,” Hiestand said.
The preliminary budget is now available online. In addition, the budget committee is seeking comments and suggestions from students, faculty and staff regarding the preliminary budget.
---
References:
Matthew A. Skinner
Associate Director of Budget
(509) 335-1836
Joan S. King
Executive Director of Budget and Planning
(509) 335-9681
Linda Nelson
Public Records Coordinator
(509) 335-3928
Mike Hiestand
SPLC Attorney
(202) 777-3609
Lissa Waananen
SPLC Intern
(763) 242-8095
“Current Employment Situation”. Workforce Explorer: Washington. Washington State Employment Security Department. Retrieved 24 Mar. 2009, <http://www.workforceexplorer.com/cgi/dataanalysis/?PAGEID=148>.
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