Gov. Chris Gregoire released a revised state budget Tuesday, possibly cutting the Work Study program but restoring funding to the State Need Grant program that benefits 2,800 Western students.

The revised budget is still not official as the Legislature will come up with its own budget proposal in the next two months.

As required by law, the governor first released a balanced budget, announced Dec. 9, 2009, accounting for a $2.6 billion state deficit, according to a press release on the governor’s Web site. Her first budget drastically reduced funding for the State Need Grant program, causing 12,300 students statewide to no longer qualify—and those who still did to receive less money.

While the new budget proposes funding be restored for the State Need Grant program, it remains the only higher education program to regain funding thus far. If that remains the case, the new budget would leave 435 Western students without an average $2,850 earned annually through the Work Study program. Another 67 students qualifying for Washington

Award for Vocational Excellence (WAVE), Washington Scholars and the Future Teachers Scholarship would be left without $300,000 in combined aid.

“We’re delighted that the need grant was restored, but we’re also disappointed that work study wasn’t restored,” said Steve Swan, vice president for University Relations. “At a time when the cost of higher education continues to go up, it’s important that it still be affordable for students.”

Without work study, freshman Amelia Whaley, who works in the Legal Information Center, probably wouldn't be able to continue attending Western.

She said she would probably have to attend college back home in Colorado because she wouldn't be able to afford out-of-state tuition.

"I think it's kind of ridiculous that in looking to lower the state budget, that's where they would go to take money away," Whaley said. "I think it would be a real detriment to the state and to the school as a whole."

Wytia Jimerson-Peeples, a Western freshman and intern in the Social Issues Resource Center, said having work study gave her an edge in finding a job, as many of her friends without work study have had a hard time finding work.

She said if the Work Study program is cut and she can't find another job, she will still go to school but may have to go to community college instead of Western.

"It would definitely make it more difficult, but I have vowed to myself that I'm not going to let money stand in the way of my education," Wytia said.

Many Western students will be able to continue attending Western if funding remains for the State Need Grant program. Western senior Laura Truman said without the grant, she wouldn’t be able to get a loan because of her parents’ low credit and her own lack of credit.

“I pretty much wouldn’t be able to go to school if it weren’t for financial aid,” she said.

In total, Western is potentially facing approximately $1.3 million in cuts, said Clara Capron, director of Financial Aid. Financial aid disbursement from state funding for the 2008-2009 school year totaled about $11.3 million, and $1.2 million in employment, $400,000 in scholarships and $9.6 million in grants.

The Dec. 9 budget also proposed cutting $89.5 million in funding for two- and four-year higher education institutions and eliminated the Work Study program, Washington Scholars, WAVE and the Future Teachers Scholarship.

Gregoire said in her State of the State address to the House and Senate on Tuesday that she did not support the radical cuts in her first budget.

“The December budget was balanced,” she said. “But it would force us to abandon the values that define this state.”

The next two months will determine the final Washington state budget. Until then, nobody can predict the outcome, Swan said.

Capron advises students that it’s still too early to speculate and worry. She added that Western will try to get funding from other sources to make up for the loss of state funding.

“Students shouldn’t panic,” she said. “It’s too early to panic.”

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