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Editor’s Note: After each Board of Trustees meeting, Western Today provides a recap of decisions and discussion.

²ÝÁñÉçÇø Trustees Approve 2011-13 Operating Budget Request

The Western Washington University Board of Trustees on Friday, Aug. 20 approved Western’s 2011-13 biennial operating budget request to be submitted on Sept. 12, 2010, to the Governor's Office of Finance and Management (OFM).

²ÝÁñÉçÇø President Bruce Shepard advised the Board that the Governor has indicated to all state agencies, including higher education, that a second budget document must be submitted on Sept. 20, 2010, including a 10-percent budget reduction in 2011-13. Western’s biennial budget request will be affected by the governor’s proposed budget and then by a final legislative budget next year as well. For more information about the biennial budget, please see the as well as President Shepard’s The trustees, in their meeting at Lakewood, also:

• Voiced their appreciation for the efforts of Trustee Howard Lincoln, whose term is ending, for his strong and active advocacy on behalf of Western. “Howard has given so much to this institution. Thank you for what you have done,” said Trustee Dennis Madsen. Even though he no longer will be a trustee, Lincoln said he is “going to do everything I can to help this fine institution.”
• Welcomed appointed by the governor as the student trustee. Espinoza, a ²ÝÁñÉçÇø graduate and former Associated Students president, is pursuing a master’s degree at the university and is the first-ever graduate student to serve as student trustee.
• Welcomed , ²ÝÁñÉçÇø vice president for Business and Financial Affairs.
• Recognized the service of Kathy Wetherell, who served as interim vice president for Business and Financial Affairs. She has resumed her duties as assistant vice president for Financial Services.
• Approved a renewal of at 311 Holly St.
• Heard an update on the Sherry Burkey, associate vice president for University Relations and director of Government Relations for Western, said university officials hope the task force can recommend to the governor some suggestions for stable state funding for higher education in the state.
• On Thursday, Aug. 19 discussed planning for Western’s capital campaign.
• Heard an update on the
• Heard an update on university efforts to work with the city to partner in providing an educational TV channel as part of the renegotiation of Comcast’s franchise agreement with the city.

Meeting documents are available at the Board of Trustees Web site at .

For a complete audiocast archive of the Aug. 19-20 Board of Trustees meeting, go to  .