WAstudents.org

Representing, serving, and protecting the collective interests of students
in public post-secondary education in Washington State.

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News and Updates

Ten Minutes to Make the Case for Improved Transfer Policy

Although there are eight months until the next legislative session, the WSL is working to lay the groundwork for improving transfer policy in Washington State. Students often have no idea whether their credits will transfer to another college, and have no easy way of finding out. Administrations don't have a vested interest in clearing up the problem, and students are often forced to pay for credits twice.

If you have been unable to transfer all of your credits, please take ten minutes to answer this survey. The results will strengthen the case we present to lawmakers next year.

Click Here to take survey

Board Approves Strategic Plan

APR 12, 2008

Today's board of directors meeting was an important milestone in the effort to increase student power in Washington. The strategic plan they adopted sets out a series of goals that will broaden the WSL's membership, strenghten its lobbying efforts, provide greater continuity and accountability, and increase its presence in the lives of students.

The need for a strategic plan was made evident when the WSL leadership began looking at the strengths and weaknesses of other statewide student associations. They saw a need for greater outreach, more stable funding, and a move to a grassroots model. They also realized that the WSL's greatest strength was in its lobbying, so they were careful to suggest direction that only improved that aspect of the organization. The strategic planning process was a collaborative effort of the executive officers, the board of directors, and staff.

Governor Vetoes Three Student Priorities

APR 4, 2008

On Tuesday, Governor Gregoire vetoed three of the Washington Student Lobby's top priorities. She cut $1 million from the child care grant program and $477 thousand for additional mental health counselors in line-item budget vetoes. She also vetoed HB 2783 - regarding transfer and articulation and the $30 thousand appropriated to implement it.

"I've been speaking with students and staff at child care centers across the state," said WSL administrator, Matt Kreiling, "They are disappointed but hopeful that the WSL's effort during the next biennium will bring much needed resources to their overburdened centers."

"We are deeply disappointed to hear that students' top legislative priorities were vetoed, especially because these measures were simply small steps in the right direction toward improving the lives of struggling students," said WSL President and UW student, Bryce McKibben, "Unfortunately, student parents will continue to go without adequate support. We hope that the Governor will give student parents the support they desperately need in the next biennium."

You can find the governor's veto messages here. The relevant bill numbers are 2687 (the operating budget bill) and 2783 - regarding transfer and articulation.

WSL VP of Communication Communicates!

FEB 14, 2008

Jake Stillwell, WSL VP of Communications, discusses childcare, campus safety, and voter registration on Comcast Newsmakers.

Student Bills Survive First Cutoff

FEB 7, 2008

The legislative session is ruled by cutoffs, dates that determine which bills get to live another day. So it was with a certain amount of relief that the student lobbyists looked at each other and said, "We made it past the first cutoff!" In fact, all eight of the WSL's high priority policy bills are still alive! If you would like to know what our priority bills, click here. There is still a hard fight and several cutoffs ahead.

State May Help Students to Help Themselves
...if you help

Last year, college students contributed $3.8 million to child care programs. If the rest of the legislature and the governor take the recommendations that the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education made last week, the state will contribute $2 million more. The Washington Student Lobby's top priority this legislative session is to increase access to child care for children of students. We've created an action center that makes it easy to let your legislator know that students care about this issue.

Student Lobbying Team Prepares for Session

JAN 7, 2008

From left, clockwise around the table, Brianne Wood (ASBCC), Sarah Ishmael (ASWWU), Ashley Eliott (ASEWU), Andrew McNeely (ASUW-T), Steve Lindstrom (advisor), Chris Reigelsperger (ASWSU), Sarah Reyneveld (GPSS), Jake Stillwell (ASCWU). Not pictured: Bryce McKibben (ASUW).

Student Lobbyists Get an Early Start

NOV 29-30, 2007

The 2008 legislative session is nearly a two months away, but student lobbyists have already descended on Olympia from Pullman, Ellensberg, Bellingham, Seattle, and Tacoma. In addition to informing legislators about their individual student bodies' intentions for the upcoming session, the WSL's ambitious crew put forth a proposal for increasing state support of child care programs for children of students statewide. (More information about the bill will be posted here shortly.) Sarah Ishmael, legislative liaison from Western Washington University was impressed, "The student liaisons from Washington State University, Central Washington University, Western Washington University, University of Washington, and University of Washington Tacoma were very successful in coming together to meet with senators and representatives for the special session of the legislature. "

Northwest Student Leaders Ask, "What's up with WSL?"

NOV 9-11, 2007

WSL's Mike Bogatay shares his experience in the workshop Effective Lobbying.

"What's happening in Washington?" was the question on everyone's lips at the 18th annual Northwest Student Leadership Conference (NWSLC). Students and organizers from all over the country seemed to be buzzing about the WSL. Perhaps it was because WSL's president, Bryce McKibben, was one of the keynote speakers. Maybe it was the fact that Mike Bogatay, a WSL veteran lobbyist and VP of Finance, led several workshops and helped organize the conference as a member of the steering committee. It could have been Washington's increased involvement in the national student movement and the USSA that had everybody talking. Or maybe it was just a feeling in the air that Washington students are gaining power, getting organized, and fighting for student rights.

Historic Weekend for the WSL

NOV 5, 2007

The General Assembly, the body that proportionally represents the WSL's member schools, gained a few pounds this weekend. The WSL fattened up by adding Bellevue Community College (BCC) to its membership. BCC's membership was unanimously approved by the board meeting earlier in the day. The inclusion of community and technical colleges is a historic event that increases the power of the WSL as the collective voice of students from all parts of Washington's public higher education system. BCC's inclusion came at a great time. Their first contribution, minutes after they became members, as a part of the General Assembly, was to help draft the legislative agenda that reflected the needs of a broad segment of students.

Another historical event was Washington's first Electoral Action Training. A galvanized group of students from Central, Eastern, BCC, and the UW left the training Sunday night armed with tools and plans to mobilize their campuses. Nationwide and in Washington State, the student vote is on the rise. Students are poised to change the political landscape that politicians must navigate. The training, a service of the United States Student Association (USSA), was comprehensive and inspiring.

A week earlier, President Bryce McKibben and VP of Communications, Jacob Stillwell testified before the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB). The testimony focused on getting student interests to drive the creation of the HECB's "Strategic Master Plan", which will guide the legislature's efforts in the higher ed arena for the next ten years. You can see Bryce and Jake give the condensed version of their testimony here (starting at 1:48:20). Or read what they would have said if given the time the WSL was originally offered.

Don't forget to vote!

New Website!

The website has been redesigned so that it is easier to navigate and expanded to include new information. Additions will be made through the course of the year, with the intention of making the website a "one-stop-shop" for all your WSL needs. If you are new to the WSL you should check us out. If you are a board member, you might find the meetings page helpful.

First WSL Board of Directors Meeting of the School Year

The WSL Board of Directors met for the first time of the new school year at the University of Washington on Sunday, September 16th. Among the issues discussed were voter registration drives on college campuses, the upcoming Northwest Student Leadership Conference at Portland State University and future WSL development and initiatives.

WSL Delegation Attends USSA Congress

The WSL sent four representatives to the U.S. Students Association (USSA) National Student Congress, an event in which member schools and Statewide Student Associations from across the country come together to set the national student agenda for the following year. The Congress was held July 21-26 at the University of Pittsburgh. WSL President Bryce McKibben, VP of Finance Mike Bogatay, VP of Communications Jake Stillwell and board member Sarah Reyneveld, attended as the first ever Washington delegation.

Major agenda items that the WSL crew worked on include the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and support for the DREAM Act. Additional items passed by the Congress worked on by the WSL include a textbook resolution that directs the USSA to research student-friendly textbook laws, and an amendment to the HEA reauthorization campaign that emphasizes on-campus childcare support and funding.

Three of the delegates were elected to leadership positions- Reyneveld as Chair of the Graduate and Professional Student Caucus, Bogatay as Vice Chair of the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain Regional Caucus, and Stillwell as Vice Chair of the State and System Student Association Coalition.

Click here to read more

WSL Goes National!

Members of the General Assembly approved funds as of April 28th, to become a member Statewide Student Assocation of the United States Student Assocation. Membership with the oldest and most successful national student assocation will provide students of Washington State a means to have representation while the national student Legislative Agenda is crafted.

The Washington Student Lobby appropriated necessary funding to send full representation to the National Congress, at which, USSA develops its position, and decides upon which national campaigns (i.e. voter outreach) to do each year. We will also be receiving additional support services as a member association, and look forard to working together with other student associations nationally!

New Executives Begin

Congratulations to the newly elected Executive Officers, their term began on April 28, and will end during next years General Assembly meeting. The new President of the Washington Student Lobby is Bryce McKibben. He will lead WSL's second crew of Vice Presidents since our reorganization last June. Camille Andersen will be serving as the VP of Legislative Affairs, Mike Bogatay, as the VP of Finance, and Jake Stillwell, returns as the VP of Communications. A special thanks to all of last year's executives, your work is greatly appreciated.