The Student Senate of the Associated Students of Central Washington University has heard the cry for help from students, for our support in asking the CWU Board of Trustees to rebuke the proposed S&A Base Funding Budget Allocations for the 2026-2029 Quadrennium.
The Student Senate recognizes the outcry of students’ concern, on the basis of the defunding of student-led journalism and media on campus, as well as other areas of the S&A budget. Being that the S&A fee is funded directly by students’ tuition, we feel that the budget should reflect their interests. At the April 15th S&A committee meeting, it was documented that over 90 students across departments attended to voice their concerns. Additionally, the Observer currently has a petition that has garnered over 380 signatures. Voices of support extend beyond current students, including sta, alumni, and community members. Due to the sheer amount of student voices in this matter, the Student Senate feels compelled to add our voices to the cause. These are our valued constituents, and as outlined in our duties, we act as their representatives.
The Student Senate now asks the Board of Trustees to rebuke the budget as it stands, and give the S&A committee a chance to reconvene, review, and redeliberate the proposed budget.
An investigation conducted by members of the Senate into the motivations behind aspects of the proposed budget has shown a misunderstanding of the Guidelines for Permissible Use of Services and Activities Fees, better known as the Killian Outline. The Killian Outline is a guideline on how S&A fees are intended to be used. This guideline has been in effect since February of 2010, and is a common governing document across higher education in Washington state. Four notable programs received sizable deductions in this proposed budget, on the basis of violating the Killian Outline. These four programs were Observer, PULSE, Marching Band, and Theatre Arts. These programs are accessible to all students, regardless of department, and represent a rich self-expressive aspect of Central, and helps prepare students for the professional world. All of these programs fall under the umbrella of Co-Curricular, which is the term for programs that exist to support and enrich students’ lives, coinciding with the curriculum.
The Killian Outline states, “S & A fees are for the purpose of supporting student activities and programs,” further stating, “In its ordinary and usual meaning, “student activities” refers to any college co curricular or extracurricular activity participated in by students in the furtherance of their education,”. The S&A committee voted on significant reductions of funding to these programs, citing that their operations are too closely tied to curriculum. It should be understood that in the 15 years of operating under the Killian Outline, none of these programs have significantly changed in their operation, and that during that time, the S&A Committee had consistently funded these programs. The proposed budget was made on this year’s
committee’s understanding of the Killian Outline, without consideration for precedence. Due to these points, the Student Senate finds this to be an unfair decision. Should more deliberation occur by the S&A committee, the Student Senate asks that the Board of Trustees provide the S&A committee clear and transparent definitions of “co-curricular” and ask that they consider and honor funding precedence when making impactful decisions.
Additionally, the Senate brings to light that when entering this year, S&A-funded programs were asked to prepare for up to 20% budget cuts. They created their funding proposals and presentations based on the 20% range given to them. The Senate agrees that had the programs known they might receive higher cuts, they likely would have changed their funding requests. Should the Board return this budget to S&A, the Senate asks that programs be given another opportunity to submit proposals surrounding their structure and funding, based on these new understandings.
Finally, we would like to highlight the state code. State RCW 28B.15.045 pertains to the operation of the S&A budget. It states: “It is the intent of the legislature that governing boards ensure that students have a strong voice in recommending budgets for services and activities fees.” The Senate’s intention with this letter is to accurately represent the students’ voices, and urge the Board of Trustees to rebuke the proposed budget on the grounds of student outcry and the Senate’s findings of discrepancy. Furthermore, “The legislature recognizes that students play an important role in recommending how services and activities fees should be expended,”. It goes without a doubt that the students of CWU have been overwhelmingly vocal in their opinions about the proposed budget, and where their money should be spent. Based on state RCWs, their voices cannot go without consideration.
The Student Senate does not support the proposed S&A budget, and asks that the Board of Trustees consider the points put forth when making decisions about the budget going forward.
