Bottom line for higher ed: Get someone other than state goverment to help pay for it, Washington state task force suggests | OregonLive.com

Bottom line for higher ed: Get someone other than state goverment to help pay for it, Washington state task force suggests | OregonLive.com

Bottom line for higher ed: Get someone other than state goverment to help pay for it, Washington state task force suggests

Published: Monday, January 03, 2011, 4:50 PM Updated: Monday, January 03, 2011, 5:03 PM

By The Associated Press
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SEATTLE -- A task force charged with finding stable money to pay for higher education in Washington state has some ideas it wants the Legislature to consider.

At the top of its list announced today: Find someone other than state government to pay the bill.

The task force formed by Gov. Chris Gregoire wants donations from individuals and corporations to finance a new $1 billion scholarship fund. And it wants to allow state colleges to raise their own tuition to keep Washington tuition and fees comparable to charges at similar institutions in other states. Currently the Legislature sets tuition.

The task force chaired by Microsoft Corp. executive Brad Smith was asked to find ways to increase the number of degrees awarded by 30 percent over the next decade, while dealing with budget deficits and finding a stable source of money for higher education.

"We believe that the current economic challenges facing the state underscore the need for a new