Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: EWU trustees OK spending plan

Eastern Washington University’s board of trustees approved the 2011-’13 spending plan that increases tuition 11 percent and permanently cuts $24.9 million from the university’s budget, officials announced this week.

“This means in-state, undergraduate tuition will increase by $626 the first year (from $6,063 to $6,689),” said Dave Meany, university spokesman. However, the university remains the least expensive of the state’s universities.

As a result of the budget cuts, 7 to 10 graduate degree programs in education and social sciences with low enrollment are on the chopping block for the upcoming school year, but which programs will go is still being decided. Some undergraduate degree programs will be considered for elimination in 2012-’13.

Meanwhile, the Washington Board of Community and Technical Colleges on Thursday approved a 12 percent tuition increase at two-year colleges.

Staff reports

Libyan students’ funds restored

Funding to support 50 Libyan students studying at Washington State University has been restored.

School officials learned Wednesday that the Libyan Ministry of Education and Scientific Research has released funds to continue the Libyan-North American Scholarship Program, according to a WSU news release.

The United Nations froze Libyan assets due to ongoing conflict there, which included the funding that supports the 50 WSU students and their families and about 2,500 in North America, the news release said.

“This is welcome news for them,” said Dean of Students Chris Wuthrich. “This offers them 12 months of support that will afford them some time until, hopefully, this situation in Libya stabilizes.”

The students will receive their living stipend from the Canadian Bureau for International Education in two to four days, the news release said.

Chelsea Bannach