Wash. State CC Board Declares Financial Emergency

The Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges last week declared a state of financial emergency, based on state budget cuts. The move authorizes any of the 34 community and technical colleges to use an expedited process for layoffs of tenured faculty members. A spokeswoman for the board stressed that the board wanted the colleges to have the option, but that this does not mean the colleges will use it. She noted that the last time the board took this action, only one college used the authority for layoffs of tenured faculty members.