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For many years Running Start students were able to earn high school and college credits simultaneously, and all they had to pay for was textbooks. This changed last year when the legislature started requiring Running Start students to pay fees.
Then, on May 4 of this year, the Senate passed a bill allowing higher education institutions to charge all Running Start students a maximum of 10 percent of the resident tuition, which comes down to $8.70 per credit, as a way to counter the budget cuts they are facing.
Currently, the average Running Start student just pays for books and college fees, which include tech, facilities and other fees regular students are required to pay. For a full-time student taking 15 credits, the total they spend on fees is $137.50.
John Ramsey, director of public information, recently spoke with state representatives from the district on behalf of the college, urging them not to pass the bill.
"It's just another way to cut the colleges and do it on the backs of students, this time Running Start students. It's just not the right policy," he said.
According to Ramsey, most, if not all, colleges in the state share this sentiment.
Under the bill, Running Start students will still be able to qualify for waivers to these fees and the cost of tuition. For spring quarter 2011, about 10 percent of the 1,065 Running Start students at Green River qualify for and receive waivers.
If the bill becomes law, there would likely be lower enrollment through the Running Start program at colleges across the state. Enrollment at Green River already dropped roughly 15 percent this year, likely due to the new fees and smaller junior classes in the local high schools.
The intent of the bill is to counter the budget cuts all state institutions are facing, but, under the current proposal, any money collected from Running Start tuition will go to pay for a new, direct cut to the budget, Ramsey said, meaning neither the colleges nor the students would benefit from the money invested.
If passed by the House and signed by the Governor, the changes could go into effect as early as fall quarter 2011.
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Lita Black contributed reporting.
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