Universities warn budget cuts are straining student support services; Shelton Promise shows strong early retention

Representatives of Washington’s public higher-education institutions told the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee that recent budget reductions are constraining student-support capacity and put retention gains at risk.

Dr. Melissa Beard, representing the Council of Presidents, reviewed statewide retention data: overall postsecondary retention at about 77.5% and public four-year retention near 82%. She said first-year fall-to-spring continuation is about 92% with a drop to 84% returning the following fall, and noted substantial variation by demographic group (ranges cited from the high 90s down to the mid-60s). Beard emphasized that FERPA transfers student educational rights to the student at age 18 and that institutions must rely on student consent for parental access to records. "When we lose advisors, wellness staff and tutoring support, the continuation rates we've worked so hard to build are at risk," she said.

Monir Fatemi of The Evergreen State College and student peer mentor Alana Karstens described the Shelton Promise, a legislative-supported program launched in 2024. Evergreen said it enrolled 53 Shelton Promise students (about 14% of Shelton School District's graduating class) and reported an early retention signal of 52 of 53 continuing. Program elements include a five-pronged, cohort-based approach: data-informed monitoring, summer bridge and pre-orientation, basic-needs supports (a "geoduck grant" scaled by need that Evergreen described as ranging from about $450 to $2,000 per quarter), peer mentoring, alumni mentors and text-message outreach to increase engagement.

Tisha Beeson, dean of undergraduate studies at Central Washington University, outlined CWU's Learner Access and Support plan and operational steps to raise first-time-in-college fall-to-fall retention from 70% to 78% by 2030 (CWU currently reports about 73%). Beeson described required University 101 and University 102 offerings, early academic alerts that require staff or faculty to submit flags (the system is not yet automated from gradefeeds), peer mentors embedded in coursework, academic success coaching and a new Students First Center intended as a no-wrong-door, cross-trained hub for financial aid, advising and registration needs. She said reductions in course sections and certain services have already occurred because of budget constraints.

Vice Chair Hansen asked whether early academic alerts are automatic when a student receives a low grade; Beeson said alerts require a faculty or staff member to submit them and that stronger data integration would be necessary for automatic flagging.

Committee members pressed presenters for details about specific grant levels and staffing reductions; Evergreen supplied its geoduck grant bands and said the program offers up to $2,000 a quarter for students with the greatest need. WSAC and university presenters agreed to follow up on additional numeric details requested by the committee.

The session highlighted both local innovation—Evergreen's Shelton Promise and CWU's Students First Center—and the broader risk presenters associated with institutional budget cuts to student success services.