WHEREAS, The Washington Higher Education
Coordinating Board was created by chapter 370, Laws of 1985; and
WHEREAS, The Washington Higher Education
Coordinating Board was charged with responsibility for preparing a biennial
update of the master plan for higher education in this state; and
WHEREAS, The Washington Higher Education
Coordinating Board conducted public meetings and held public hearings
throughout the state, completed its study of Washington's system of
postsecondary education, and submitted its update of the master plan for higher
education to the Legislature on January 4, 1993; and
WHEREAS, Section 4, chapter 370, Laws of 1985,
requires the Legislature, by concurrent resolution, to "approve or
recommend changes" to the master plan;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the House of
Representatives of the State of Washington, the Senate concurring, That the
Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board be commended for its high
quality work, dedication, and commitment to the State of Washington in
producing a revised update of the master plan for higher education titled
"Commitment to Opportunity"; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature
approve the following goals of the update of the master plan:
(1) That Washington increase access throughout
postsecondary education and continue progress toward achieving, state-wide, a
level of upper division and graduate enrollment equal to the seventieth
percentile in national participation rates and a system-wide enrollment goal
equal to the ninetieth percentile in national participation rates by 2010;
(2) That Washington reaffirm its commitment
toward increasing access for economically disadvantaged students by expanding
state financial aid programs targeted first to the neediest students;
(3) That Washington continue to support efforts
by the state institutions of postsecondary education and by the Higher
Education Coordinating Board to increase access for and retention of persons of
color and persons with disabilities;
(4) That Washington support an increase in
upper division programs for persons in geographically isolated communities;
(5) That Washington's system of postsecondary
education contribute directly to the achievement of the state's economic
strength and competitiveness through ensuring that the state has a highly
educated, skilled, and flexible work force capable of meeting the challenges of
a changing economy;
(6) That Washington's system of postsecondary
education has no more basic responsibility than to offer an education of the
highest quality to undergraduate students;
(7) That Washington encourage and require
evidence of improvements in the quality and effectiveness of undergraduate
education at research universities and their branch campuses, comprehensive
institutions, and community and technical colleges;
(8) That Washington encourage and support
expansion of the assessment of program effectiveness and student competencies;
(9) That Washington's system of postsecondary
education expand partnerships with the K-12 school system, community service
organizations, and the business community;
(10) That Washington's system of postsecondary
education has an obligation to contribute to educational reform at all levels
by assisting in curriculum development, providing students opportunities to
make smooth transitions as they move among education levels and sectors and
into the workplace, and ensuring that tomorrow's teachers acquire the knowledge
and skills needed to be effective educators for the twenty-first century;
(11) That Washington stabilize the budget base
for postsecondary education and define a carry-forward essential requirements
level that includes provisions for the state's population growth;
(12) That Washington require the Higher
Education Coordinating Board, in cooperation with the State Board for Community
and Technical Colleges and the public four-year institutions of higher
education, to identify internal efficiency measures to increase both access to
and the quality of education;
(13) That Washington require the Higher
Education Coordinating Board to provide an annual report on postsecondary
education to the citizens of the state; and
(14) That Washington require the Higher
Education Coordinating Board to undertake a comprehensive study of tuition and
fee policies to be submitted to the 1994 Legislature; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That by September 1,
1993, the Legislature and the Governor appoint a citizen-legislator task force
to conduct a comprehensive study on funding policies and revenue sources for
postsecondary education. The study shall include but need not be limited to a
comparison of the present funding system with a system based on programmatic
and upper and lower division funding; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the
citizen-legislator task force consist of at least two members from each caucus
of the Senate and the House of Representatives, selected by the President of
the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Director of the
Office of Financial Management, a member of the Higher Education Coordinating
Board, a member of the Work Force Training and Education Coordinating Board,
and up to six citizens appointed by the Governor; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the
citizen-legislator task force report its findings and recommendations by June
1, 1994, to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Higher Education
Coordinating Board for inclusion in the 1995-97 operating budget for
postsecondary education.
