The number of welfare students attending EWU was declining
prior to the implementation of Work First in August 1997. It
dropped from 435 in fall 1994 to 325 in fall 1997, declining by an
average 37 students a year (Figure 1). However, from fall 1997 to
fall 1998 the university lost an additional 108 welfare students.
The rate of decrease clearly accelerated after the implementation
of welfare reform.