According to data provided by the state universities, regional universities, and state college, the student to tenure-track faculty ratio ranged from a high of 48 students per tenure or tenure-track faculty member to a low of 16 students per tenure-or tenure track faculty member.

The ratios are as follows:

• 20 to 1 at the University of Washington;
• 34 to 1 at Washington State University;
• 48 to 1 at Central Washington University;
• 42 to 1 at Eastern Washington University;
• 16 to 1 at the Evergreen State College; and
• 27 to 1 at Western Washington University.

Subject to amounts appropriated specifically for this purpose, beginning in the 2022-23 academic year, the Legislature intends to add 200 faculty positions distributed across the state universities, regional universities, and state college.  The positions are divided among the institutions with the most positions allocated to the institutions with the highest student to faculty ratio.  The allocations are as follows:

• 30 at the University of Washington;
• 30 at Washington State University;
• 50 at Central Washington University;
• 50 at Eastern Washington University;
• 20 at Western Washington University; and
• 20 at The Evergreen State College.

The state universities, regional universities, and state college must develop faculty diversity programs for the recruitment and retention of faculty from all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.  Institutions that have already developed a program that meet the requirements under the bill are considered in compliance.  Any hires made under this bill must be conducted in alignment with the faculty diversity program.

The student achievement council must collect data and assess the impact of these hires on student outcomes.

PRO:  As you'll recall last year we made a great step forward for our community college faculty by converting 200 part-time positions to full-time.  Right now we are beginning to introduce new faculty positions at our colleges.  After we passed that, our friends at the four-year level reminded us that there are significant adjunct positions there as well and this bill may make sense from an equity lens.  I think it will add wonderful quality faculty positions at our institutions.  Washington is leading the way on making public education public again.  As we do that we have to make sure that students have access to high quality professors.  Nothing helps a student succeed more than access to a high quality professor who has the time to make sure they have the resources to be successful.  This is similar to a proposal Western Washington University put forward this year around student success.  Additional faculty through this bill will help us increase our capacity toward state attainment goals.  High quality faculty increase retention and engagement.  We aren't sure a Washington Student Achievement Council study with a 2024 due date would reveal the full impact of this bill.  As a non-tenure track faculty, each year there is the reality that I may not have a job.  We are passionate about our work and enjoy the opportunity but the uncertainty is a struggle.  This minimizes the impact we can have on our students.  Full time tenured faculty are able to be better mentors to students because of the stability offered.