AN ACT Relating to admission standards to institutions of higher education; adding a new section to chapter 28A.03 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 28B.10 RCW; adding new sections to chapter 28B.80 RCW; repealing RCW 28B.10.045, 28B.10.050, and 28B.10.052; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

Starting with the fall term of 1987, the admissions standards for Washington residents shall be as follows:

(1) The University of Washington shall only admit entering freshman who demonstrate minimum high school grade point averages of 3.38 and test scores of at least the seventieth percentile on the Washington precollege test except under subsection (5) of this section.

(2) The Washington State University shall only admit entering freshman who demonstrate minimum high school grade point averages of 3.22 and test scores of at least the sixtieth percentile on the Washington precollege test except under subsection (5) of this section.

(3) The regional universities and The Evergreen State College shall only admit entering freshman who demonstrate minimum high school grade point averages of at least 3.06 and test scores of at least the fiftieth percentile on the Washington precollege test except under subsection (5) of this section.

(4) The entrance standards for students transferring from community college programs to the state universities, regional universities, or The Evergreen State College upon completion of the courses required by the appropriate community college administrative authority and the applicable state university, regional university, or The Evergreen State College shall be at least a 2.7 grade point average for the coursework done at the community college. Community college students not eligible under these standards may be admitted under subsection (5) of this section.

(5) A "special category group" of five percent of the entering freshman shall be permitted at each institution for admission of students who do not meet the standards established in subsections (1) through (4) of this section but who could benefit from offerings of the particular institution of higher education. During academic years 1987-88 through 1989-90 this group may be seven and one-half percent at each of these institutions of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:

The state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College in consultation with the council for postsecondary education or its successor agency shall develop admission standards for nonresident students consistent with the standards under section 1 of this act.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

A uniform application form and fee shall be created and administered by the council for postsecondary education or its successor agency for new admissions and community college transfer admissions to all public four-year institutions of higher education. The form shall provide for indication of the applicant's choice of institution of higher education. The council for postsecondary education or its successor agency shall certify the applications as meeting the established admission standards and categorize the remaining applications for consideration in the special category group. The council for postsecondary education or its successor agency shall maintain records of the applications received and shall forward the applications to the institution of higher education which the applicant indicated had the highest preference and which has spaces available for new enrollees. The application fee shall be competitive with the fees charged by other states as identified by the council or its successor agency for this purpose. The fees shall be deposited in the state general fund.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

The council for postsecondary education or its successor agency shall assess the impact of the admission standards established in sections 1, 2, and 3 of this act and report those findings to the appropriate legislative committees every two years beginning in June 1989.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

The council for postsecondary education or its successor agency shall transmit information regarding the admission policies of the state's institutions of higher education to appropriate students and to the parents of elementary and secondary students. In determining the best way to transmit this information, the council or its successor agency shall consult with the institutions of higher education, the superintendent of public instruction, and appropriate private school representatives. The council or its successor agency shall work with representatives of these groups to establish and communicate a recommended course of secondary education for students expecting to take maximum advantage of the educational resources of institutions of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 28A.03 RCW to read as follows:

The superintendent of public instruction shall ensure that every student entering high school is made aware of the admission standards for all state institutions of higher education.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:

(1) Section 18, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28B.10.045;

(2) Section 28B.10.050, chapter 223, Laws of 1969 ex. sess., section 9, chapter 169, Laws of 1977 ex. sess., section 19, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28B.10.050; and

(3) Section 20, chapter 278, Laws of 1984 and RCW 28B.10.052.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1987, from the general fund to the council for postsecondary education or its successor agency to implement this act.