Wendy Bohlke, senior counsel in the Office of the Attorney General at Western Washington University, has released the following information regarding permissible and impermissible activities for WWU faculty and staff during the legislative season.

Legally permissible activities for faculty and staff:

Wondering what all this talk of tuition-setting authority means in terms of the price tag on education? Senate Committee Services released a report Monday that lays out possible future tuition rates under the maximum-limit provisions of SB 6562. The measure seeks to grant University of Washington, Washington State University and Western Washington University the authority to set resident undergraduate tuition -- without approval from the Legislature -- for the academic years 2011-2012 through 2017-2018.

Western Washington University students Jessica Schubert, left, Blair Kaufer and Amanda Leonti write letters to their state legislators and the governor urging them to support higher education at a rally put on by the Associated Students and the Western Votes organization at WWU Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. Students could also register to vote and make phone calls to their state legislators.

Hundreds of University of Washington students gathered at noon Friday on the Capitol steps to voice their displeasure over increased tuition and proposed cuts to financial aid and the school's budget. A state trooper estimated the crowd at 300 to 350 people. About the same time, students at Western Washington University, The Evergreen State College and Central Washington University staged walkouts. About 500 Eastern Washington University and 150 Washington State University students also held walkouts recently, media reports say.

For Madeline Corrado-Din and Trina Griffis, the debate over higher education funding in the Washington Legislature is far from academic. Madeline is the first in her family to attend college. Trina is a single mom, balancing parenthood, work and school. Both came to The Evergreen State College to earn a bachelor’s degree so they can compete for higher-paying jobs today and in the future and give something back to their state and their community. For them, access to a baccalaureate education is critical. But that access is at risk.

When University of Washington junior Janel Brown talks to younger students about college, she tells them that if they do their part in the classroom, the rest will take care of itself. The same assurances were made to Brown while she attended Franklin High School in inner-city Seattle.

The Legislature moved ahead Friday in taking some early steps to save money as lawmakers continue grappling with a $2.6 billion budget deficit. The Senate approved a measure that directs agencies to trim about $70 million in payroll costs through furloughs and other steps. The measure passed on a 27-17 vote and now heads to the House for further consideration. Under the measure, if the agencies don't present a plan on how they'll make the cuts, they will have to shut down for one day a month for 13 months starting in June.

Lawmakers can remedy the shortsighted way higher education is funded this session. Not an easy task when being steamrollered by a $2.6 billion budget shortfall. But it can be done.