SENATE BILL REPORT

                                   EHB 1723

          AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, APRIL 4, 1991

Brief Description:  Creating the Washington fund for excellence in higher education program.

SPONSORS:Representatives Ogden, Jacobsen, Wood, Spanel, Zellinsky, R. King, Roland, H. Myers and Fraser; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Jesernig, Skratek, Stratton, and von Reichbauer. 

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

Hearing Dates:March 28, 1991; April 4, 1991

BACKGROUND:

The Higher Education Coordinating Board has recommended the creation of a program that encourages institutions to work cooperatively to solve longstanding problems plaguing the state's system of higher education.  The program would be similar to a federal program that provides funding on a competitive basis to institutions that are experimenting with ways to improve the educational process in colleges and universities.

SUMMARY:

The Washington Fund for Excellence in Higher Education Program is established.  The program is designed to encourage colleges and universities to work together to address specific system problems.  The program will be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  Through the program, the board may award grants on a competitive basis either to individual state colleges and universities, or to consortia of institutions.  In awarding grants, a strong priority will be given to proposals that involve more than one educational sector, and to proposals that show substantial institutional commitment.  Each grant will be limited to a maximum of two years.

Participating institutions must provide some financial support to the program.  Institutions may provide this support in one of two ways.  Participating institutions may either cover part of the program costs during the grant period, or may provide continued support of the funded program at the end of the grant period.

The board's program responsibilities are described.  These duties include establishing specific biennial guidelines, and convening review committees to assist the board in evaluating grant proposals.

During the 1991-93 biennium, the board's guidelines will be consistent with three priorities.  Initiatives that encourage the participation of minority students, at a rate consistent with their proportion of the state's population will receive a priority.  Minority students would include students with disabilities.  Teacher preparation programs that encourage collaborative efforts between K-12 and institutions of higher education will also receive a priority.  Finally, initiatives that facilitate the transfer of students from K-12 to higher education, and from community colleges to four-year institutions will receive a priority.

Priorities for subsequent biennia will be established by the board.  Before adopting these priorities, the board will consult with the Governor, the Legislature, institutions of higher education, educational associations, business, community groups, and state agencies concerned with the common schools, community colleges, and vocational education.

The fund for excellence is established in the office of the State Treasurer.  Moneys received for the program will be deposited in the fund.  Moneys in the fund are subject to the allotment procedure, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

In addition to the provisions of the original bill, the amendment endorses a state policy which encourages teacher preparation faculty to spend time teaching in the common schools.

TESTIMONY FOR:

Creative solutions are needed.  Collaboration can lead to success and does not require large amounts of money.  With this bill on the books, providing a mechanism, private foundation money might become available.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  PRO:  Representative Val Ogden, prime sponsor; Ann Daley, Executive Director, HECB; Scott LaFramboise, WSL; Dave Habura, SBCCE