Letter to Parents and Families Regarding the Washington State Legislature

Dear Parents and Families:

The month of March provided an opportunity for the Gonzaga Financial Aid Office to give you some insight to the Washington state funded financial aid programs, as well as potential impacts that the Washington Legislature may have on these funds for the 2011-2012 academic year and beyond. This letter is intended to update you on current proposals in the House of Representatives, as well as how you can help influence potential proposals to come from the Washington Senate.

Washington State Need Grant (Awarded to Washington residents with highest need): The House has proposed a bill that would significantly impact Washington state residents who choose to attend private non-profit colleges, such as Gonzaga University. The latest proposal would cut Washington State Need Grant aid to these students by 30%.

State Work Study (Awarded to Washington residents showing significant financial need and a willingness to work): This House bill eliminates the State Work Study program. State Work Study is currently utilized by almost 9,000 student statewide and impacts over 1,000 non-profit organizations and businesses. Gonzaga helped over 500 students find work to help them pay for school through the State Work Study program this year with more than half of them working to develop non-profit organizations. Losing this program not only reduces the chance for students to help pay for college, but it limits their opportunities to learn critical job skills to become better employees after graduation. As an institution that is committed to ‘cura personalis’, the development of the whole person, the State Work Study Program fulfills a key aspect of our mission and vision for Gonzaga students. The students, Gonzaga University, and the greater Spokane Community, cannot afford to see this program suspended in any way.

The Independent Colleges of Washington has been a key ally for Gonzaga in the discussion of Washington state financial aid. If you have thoughts or concerns on the proposed House bill, or what should be drafted in to the upcoming Senate bill, please visit ICW’s website to do so (http://www.icwashington.org/). Thank you for taking time to learn more about this critical issue. We encourage you to join ICW, the students of Gonzaga, and the whole Gonzaga community in voicing our concern.

Thank you,

The Gonzaga Financial Aid Office