2019

Washington launches consumer protection resource for college, vocational students 

Olympia—Washington has a new way for postsecondary students to file consumer protection complaints. Consumer complaints cover a variety of topics. Some of these include false or misleading advertising, failure to follow the school’s own published policies, and violations of state requirements. The state's new online portal is for students attending any college or vocational school in Washington, as well as student loan borrowers. Keep reading. 

GEAR UP West Professional of the Year awarded to WSAC's Beth Kelly 

Olympia—At its annual conference on October 22, GEAR UP West presented Beth Kelly of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) with its Professional of the Year Award for 2019. As Assistant Director for Washington State GEAR UP, Kelly works with 26 high-poverty schools to prepare over 5,500 students for education and careers after high school. Keep reading. 

Council welcomes Jeff Vincent, new member and chair 

Olympia—On October 16, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) welcomed a new member, Jeff Vincent, and elected him as chair. Governor Inslee appointed Vincent to fill a citizen-member position vacated by the last chair, Maud Daudon. Keep reading. 

Meotti on Inside Olympia: Support those facing the most barriers to access a valuable education

Olympia—On October 10, Austin Jenkins interviewed Executive Director Michael Meotti on Inside Olympia. They covered some of the top issues in postsecondary education and focused on opportunities and challenges specific to Washington. Key among these is the state's game-changing investment in residents' lifelong learning. Keep reading. 

How do we leverage Washington College Grant to raise awareness, enrollment, completion? 

Olympia—The Washington College Grant has changed the state’s postsecondary education landscape. On October 16, council members will consider how this new environment affords new opportunities to raise educational attainment. Keep reading. 

Apply for financial aid to access Washington College Grant and other state, federal aid

Olympia—October 1 marks the first day students can apply for financial aid to go to college in the 2020-21 school year. Next school year is also when the Washington College Grant will be fully funded. The grant will give more money to more students for more kinds of education and training after high school. Keep reading.

Council to discuss legislative proposals that increase postsecondary enrollment

Olympia—On September 13, Council members will discuss the following budget proposals for the 2020 Legislative Session: 

• State Work Study: Near-Peer Mentoring Pilot Project
• Microgrants: Returning Adult Pre-Enrollment Financial Support Pilot 

Keep reading. 

Central Washington University's Payton Swinford appointed to Student Achievement Council

Olympia—The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) welcomes Payton Swinford to serve a one-year appointment as the student member. Swinford, a graduate of Olympic College, is a senior at Central Washington University. Keep reading. 

Executive director to share new Washington College Grant with national research community 

Olympia—MDRC, a national non-profit, nonpartisan education and social policy research organization, is highlighting the Washington College Grant in a July 31 webinar on college promise financial sustainability. Keep reading. 

State denies South University's application to offer field placements in Washington 

Olympia—The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has denied South University’s application to offer distance-education requiring field placements in state. WSAC’s denial also prevents the school from specifically targeting Washington residents for recruitment and advertising. Keep reading. 

Council to focus on increasing access to postsecondary education in North Central region

Olympia—Local leaders from K-12, postsecondary education, and the public health sector will guide discussion at the Washington Student Achievement Council’s (WSAC) meeting in Quincy on July 10. The council will focus on dual enrollment and ways to improve education access through partnerships with local community networks. Keep reading. 

National GEAR UP Professional of the Year awarded to Washington’s Marcie Sample 

Olympia—The National Council for Community and Education Partnerships (NCCEP) has recognized Washington Student Achievement Council’s (WSAC) Marcie Sample as the 2019 Professional of the Year. NCCEP lauded Sample’s 12 years of service in a statement, saying, “Marcie has positively impacted the lives of over 20,000 low-income, under-served, and first-generation students.” Keep reading. 

Update: 2019 Legislative Session Overview 

An overview of the Legislature's investments to increase educational attainment in Washington. Keep reading. 

12th Year Campaign pays off in higher financial aid completion rates at participating sites

Olympia—High school seniors in the class of 2020 won’t want to miss out on Washington’s generous state financial aid programs. The Washington College Grant is the newest of these, and it will be fully funded starting fall quarter of 2020. However, many students will miss this opportunity if they don’t complete a financial aid application. Keep reading. 

State denies Ashford University's application to recruit, advertise in Washington 

Olympia—The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has denied Ashford University’s application to continue advertising and recruiting in state. The school’s courses and degree programs are entirely online. WSAC made this decision after reviewing Ashford’s most recent application for re-authorization. Keep reading. 

Historic investment in Washington College Grant opens doors to college and career education

Olympia—Washington’s new two-year budget makes a historic commitment to educational opportunity for Washington residents. Beginning in the 2020-21 academic year, the Washington College Grant will be a guarantee for eligible state residents at or below median family income, which is currently $91,766 for a family of four. Keep reading.

Council to discuss strategic framework in pursuit of increased educational attainment

Olympia—The Apr. 17 Council meeting will feature a discussion on the Council’s proposed strategic framework to increase educational attainment. Four strategic clusters define the current framework: affordability, student support, enrollment (including K-12 and adult), and completion (including dual credit). Keep reading. 

College Promise Scholarship moving forward in the Legislature, funding questions remain

Olympia—Last weekend, the Washington State Senate passed a bill off the floor to establish a statewide free college program (SB 5393). The bill refashions State Need Grant into the Washington College Promise Scholarship and makes the program an entitlement for the lowest-income students. Keep reading.

Washington Student Achievement Council executive director testifies in U.S. Senate

Olympia—Michael P. Meotti, executive director of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC), testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions this morning. The committee hearing was on improving access to financial aid. Keep reading. 

Location change for Art Institute of Seattle student information fairs 

Olympia—The Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) has changed the location of the two information fairs for students at the Art Institute of Seattle (AI Seattle). The fairs will now take place at The Edgewater Hotel, one block away from the AI Seattle campus. Keep reading. 

Art Institute of Seattle to close Friday March 8

Olympia—This afternoon, the Art Institute of Seattle (AI Seattle) informed the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) that it will close abruptly—two weeks before the end of the winter quarter—on Friday March 8. Keep reading.

Art Institute of Seattle students can learn about academic, financial options at info fairs 

Olympia—The Art Institute of Seattle (AI Seattle) is at risk of closure. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the school may run out of funds to continue operations. There are two options for AI Seattle at this point. A buyer could acquire AI Seattle and continue operations, or the school could close. Keep reading. 

Washington missed out on $50 million in federal student financial aid

Olympia—In 2017, Washington left over $50 million in federal student financial aid on the table. We can trace these unused resources back to low rates of students applying for financial aid. Only 54 percent of seniors in the graduating class of 2017 completed the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Keep reading. 

Washington State GEAR UP closes opportunity gaps for HS graduation, college enrollment

Olympia—According to a new report, students in Washington State GEAR UP are surpassing state averages for high school graduation and college enrollment. Most of the students served by the program are from low-income households, so Washington State GEAR UP is proving effective at closing opportunity gaps. Keep reading.

Student loan borrowers have an advocate at the Washington Student Achievement Council

Olympia—Student loan borrowers can face daunting amounts of debt, and they often aren’t aware of the repayment options available to them. In Washington State alone, over 750,000 people have a combined total of more than $24.6 billion in student debt. Now, they have a new resource in the Washington Student Achievement Council’s (WSAC) Student Loan Advocate. Keep reading. 

Council to discuss strategies to increase educational attainment 

Olympia—Halfway through the ten year 2013 Roadmap to increase educational attainment, the Washington Student Achievement Council will meet on January 30 to review progress over the past five years and discuss new strategies to expand educational success to more Washington residents. Keep reading. 

Governor recognizes highest number of schools, districts for College Bound sign-up rates

Olympia—Governor Inslee has recognized 287 schools and 123 school districts for signing up more than 70 percent of their students who were eligible for the College Bound Scholarship. Schools who exceeded the state sign-up rate of 70 percent will receive Gold Star Awards. Keep reading. 

Art Institute of Seattle designated as at-risk of closure

Olympia—On January 10, the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) designated the Art Institute (AI) of Seattle as at-risk of closure. AI Seattle’s parent company is Dream Center Education Holdings (DCEH). Keep reading.

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