Poll

220-3616

Key Findings From a Statewide Voter Survey Conducted February 2-6, 2013

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3

Large numbers of voters have had a family member attend a college within each part of the public

system.

28. Please tell me whether you or anyone in your family have ever attended any of the following:

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5

Total Statement A68%

And voters largely agree that Washington’s investment in higher education benefits all

residents.

Q14b.

I am going to read you several pairs of statements about these issues. Please tell me which one of the two statements comes closer to your personal point of view, and whether it is much closer or only somewhat closer to your point of view.

(STATEMENT A) Washington's spending on its colleges and universities is an important investment that benefits all state residents.OR (STATEMENT B) Washington's spending on its colleges and universities pretty much benefits just students and the people who work at the state's colleges and universities.

Total Statement B 28%

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In their parts of the state, the regional universities rate even higher.

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9

Total A/B64%

Almost all voters give public higher education in Washington a passing grade.

Q6.

Many teachers and college professors use the letters A, B, C, D or Fail to grade their students. Suppose you had the opportunity to grade Washington's colleges and universities: what grade would you give them: an A, B, C, D or Fail?

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When prompted with specifics, voters agree there have been sizable cuts.

15 g. I would like to read you some statements about Washington’s public colleges and universities. Please tell me whether you generally agree or disagree.

“Washington’s public colleges and universities have lost hundreds of millions of dollars due to state budget cuts.”

Total Agree64%

Total Disagree17%

12

Total Sufficient26%

Still, more than half of voters think current

funding levels for colleges are insufficient.

Q11.

From what you know, is state budget funding for Washington’s public colleges and universities sufficient or insufficient to meet its needs?

Total Insufficient56%

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14

Total Willing57%

Voters are even willing to pay higher taxes to prevent further service cuts or tuition

increases.

Q22.

Regardless of how the money were raised, would you be willing to pay a small increase in taxes to prevent further service cuts or tuition increases at Washington’s public colleges and universities?

Total Unwilling39%

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16

Total MoreFavorably64%

Voters take a more favorable view of a legislator who supports higher education

funding.

Q20.

Suppose your state legislator supported an increase in state funding for Washington’s public colleges and universities. Would that make you view them more favorably or less favorably?

Total Less Favorably22%

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Methodology

600 telephone interviews with registered voters in Washington State Interviews conducted between February 2, 4-

6 , 2013 Interviews on both landlines and cell phones

Margin of sampling error of +/- 4.0% Some percentages may not sum to 100%

due to rounding