SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1769

BYRepresentatives Fraser, Jacobsen, Heavey, H. Myers, Inslee, Prince, Wood, Jesernig, Spanel, Ebersole, Rector, Van Luven and Schoon

Allowing student exchange programs with institutions in other states.

House Committe on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 20, 1989; March 29, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  March 30, 1989

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, MARCH 29, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Washington law permits colleges and universities to waive all or a part of tuition and fees for students participating in certain exchange programs or exchange agreements.  Students from Oregon, Idaho, and British Columbia, who are selected by their college to participate in the reciprocal tuition agreements Washington has entered with their state or province, are exempt from the tuition differential normally charged to nonresident students.

Certain foreign students participating in academic exchange programs at four-year institutions of higher education may have all tuition and fees waived.  The number of foreign student waivers granted by a college or university must not exceed the number of students from that institution attending college in a foreign country as part of an approved study abroad program.

Certain foreign students participating in academic exchanges or in special programs recognized through formal agreements between states, cities, or institutions, may have the nonresident portion of their tuition waived by the community college they are attending.  The number of waivers granted by a community college must not exceed the number of that institution's own students enrolled in approved study abroad programs during the same period.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature recognizes the value of expanding opportunities for Washington students to attend schools in other states through student exchange programs.

The state's four- year universities and college may enter into student exchange programs with either public four-year institutions of higher education in other states, or with a consortium representing those institutions.  Participating institutions may waive the nonresident tuition differential for exchange students from other states.

The number of exchange students receiving nonresident tuition waivers at a given Washington institution must not exceed the number of students from that institution receiving nonresident tuition waivers at participating out-of- state institutions.  Waiver imbalances occurring in one year must be off-set in the next year.  A student's participation in the exchange program is limited to one calendar year.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      available

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The exchange program shall be between Washington's public four-year institutions and other states' comparable four-year public institutions with comparable programs.  Participation with consortiums is eliminated.  Eligible students are upper-division undergraduates.

Senate Committee - Testified: Representative Karen Fraser, prime sponsor; Judy McNickle, WWU; Jennifer Jaech, TESC; Sherry Burkey, UW; Enrique Moraks, on behalf of UW Minority Affairs Vice President