[WSSSC] FW: [EXTERNAL*]-FW: Early Communication - 2025-26 Passport Awards

Thu Mar 20 08:55:55 PDT 2025

Following up to the WSSSC conversation regarding Passport.

Claire

From: Cypriano-McAferty, Dawn (WSAC) <DawnC at wsac.wa.gov>
Sent: Friday, March 7, 2025 2:25 PM
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Subject: [EXTERNAL*]-FW: Early Communication - 2025-26 Passport Awards
Importance: High

Passport Campus Teams,

The message below was sent to current Passport recipients as early notification of likely cuts to Passport awards in the 2025-26 academic year.  As someone who supports Passport students on campus, I also wanted you to be aware of the information shared.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Thanks,
Dawn
***

Dear Passport Students,

In May 2024, we sent messages to all returning Passport students to notify you of a reduction in Passport awards from $5,000 to $2,800 per year (memo is attached).  This scholarship reduction began in the 2024-25 academic year.

WSAC staff, members of the Passport Leadership Team<https://www.washingtonpassportnetwork.org/about/passport-leadership-team/>, College Success Foundation, and other community partners worked diligently over the past nine months preparing for the 2025 Legislative session.  Our mission was to help state legislators understand:

  1.  How the Passport program supports students
  2.  The rapid growth of the program, and
  3.  Cost estimates for restoring Passport awards to previous levels ($5,000).

There are legislators who believe in the Passport program, understand your struggle, and who are working to help, but with the state facing a critical budget shortfall, Passport will not receive the increased budget needed to restore $5,000 awards in the 2025-26 academic year.  Additionally, the number of eligible students continues to increase by about 20% each year, further stretching the program budget.

With the knowledge of this limitation, WSAC is working on calculating award estimates for the 2025-26 academic year.  At this time, we estimate that awards could be reduced even further, possibly to around $2,000, depending on the number of students who enroll.

Your voice is important, and I want you to be heard.  During the summer, I will be sending you a link to a survey where you will be able to share your thoughts about the Passport program, including the impact of the scholarship reduction.  In the meantime, I encourage you to work closely with your financial aid office and the Passport Designated Support (DSS) person on your campus if you need additional resources or support services.  You can find their contact information here<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1z7jkhtdAoWj3KYJiDXIaxKWfhJFQDph5EK-4J-tNkNo/edit?usp=sharing>.

Sincerely,
Dawn

[cid:image001.png at 01DB8D01.1A6482C0]
Dawn Cypriano-McAferty, M.S. (she, her, hers)
Assistant Director, Passport to Careers Program
Washington Student Achievement Council
360.515.3116 | 888-535-0747, opt. 3
passport at wsac.wa.gov<mailto:passport at wsac.wa.gov> | www.wsac.wa.gov<http://www.wsac.wa.gov/>

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