HOUSE BILL REPORT
2SHB 339
BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Jacobsen, Heavey, H. Sommers, Niemi, Pruitt, Dellwo, Wang, P. King, Hine, K. Wilson, Unsoeld, Miller and Wineberry; by request of Governor Gardner)
Establishing the Washington distinguished professorship trust fund program.
House Committe on Higher Education
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. (11)
Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Allen, Barnes, Basich, Jesernig, Nelson, Prince, Silver, Unsoeld and K. Wilson.
House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)
Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations
Majority Report: The second substitute bill be substituted therefor and the second substitute bill do pass. (21)
Signed by Representatives Locke, Chair; Allen, Belcher, Braddock, Brekke, Bristow, Fuhrman, Grant, Grimm, Hine, Holland, McLean, McMullen, Nealey, Niemi, Peery, Sayan, Silver, L. Smith, Sprenkle and B. Williams.
House Staff: Bill Robinson (786-7142)
AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 18, 1987
BACKGROUND:
In 1985, Washington instituted an innovation program to attract and retain outstanding faculty. The distinguished professorship program was designed to match public and private funds in support of preeminent scholars at the public four-year universities and college.
In 1986, the legislature included $750,000 in the supplemental budget to begin program funding. The University of Washington (UW), Washington State University (WSU), and Eastern Washington University (EWU) recruited pledged donations and applied for the funds. UW and WSU have received their pledges and state match. These institutions have created distinguished professorships in English and Entomology respectively.
During the 1986 interim, the House Higher Education Committee studied ways to improve the program. The Governor has included some of the committee's suggested changes, as well as $5,000,000 and an allocation system for dividing these funds, in his educational excellence package.
SUMMARY:
The Washington distinguished professorship trust fund program is created to match public and private funds in support of outstanding faculty at the public four-year universities and college. Monies in the trust will be administered and invested by the state treasurer.
The program will be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board, which will adopt program guidelines, in consultation with eligible institutions. These guidelines may include an allocation system based on a variety of factors, however, the allocation system shall be superseded by conditions in any legislative act appropriating funds for the program.
Institutions may apply for $250,000 from the trust fund when they can match the state funds with an equal amount of pledged or contributed private donations. These donations must be made specifically to the program, and must be donated after July 1, 1985. Upon receipt of an application, the board may reserve $250,000 for the school's pledged professorship. If the pledged amounts are not received within three years, the board must make those reserved funds available for another professorship.
Once the private donations are received by the institution, the state matching funds will be transferred to a local endowment fund established by the institution for the professorship.
The institution is responsible for investing and augmenting the endowment fund, administering the professorship, and reporting on the program to the governor and the legislature upon request. The proceeds from the fund may be used to supplement the salary of the holder of the professorship, pay salaries for his or her assistants, and pay expenses associated with the holder's scholarly work. Monies deposited in the trust fund or in the local endowment fund are not subject to collective bargaining.
After consulting with the board and eligible institutions, the governor may transfer the administration of this program to another agency with an appropriate educationally related mission.
By December 1, 1989, the board and any agency administering this program shall make recommendations on any needed program changes.
Any funds appropriated for the 1987-89 biennium shall be allocated as follows: 45 percent for the University of Washington; 30 percent for Washington State University; and 25 percent for the regional universities and colleges. Each regional institution is guaranteed one professorship. The remaining $250,000 will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis. If no regional institution has requested the unassigned professorship by May 1, 1989, that professorship may be allocated to one of the research universities in accordance with rules promulgated by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.
If either of the research universities has not used its allotted professorships by January 1, 1989, any institution which has utilized its entire allocation may apply for remaining funds, under rules promulgated by the board.
Fiscal Note: Attached.
House Committee ‑ Testified For: (Higher Education) Joyce Turner, Governor's Office; Robert Thoeny, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Bob Edie, University of Washington; Stan Marshburn, The Evergreen State College; and Marilyn Dunn, University of Washington.
(Ways & Means/Appropriations) Marilyn Dunn, University of Washington; Sue Washburn, The Evergreen State College; Patrick Hundley, Washington State University; Carol Eastman, University of Washington; Joyce Turner, Governor's Office.
House Committee - Testified Against: (Higher Education) None Presented.
(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.
House Committee - Testimony For: (Higher Education) This innovative program has proved to be extremely successful in raising faculty morale, providing a focus for interest in institutional instructional programs and enhancing private fund raising efforts. The four-year universities and college have worked closely with the Governor to assure equity and program balance.
(Ways & Means/Appropriations) Same testimony as in Committee on Higher Education.
House Committee - Testimony Against: (Higher Education) None Presented.
(Ways & Means/Appropriations) None Presented.