Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Higher Education Committee

HB 1331

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Sponsors: Representatives Riccelli, Zeiger, Tarleton, Seaquist, Buys, Sawyer, Tharinger, Stonier, Bergquist, Liias, Upthegrove, Freeman, Farrell, Springer, Roberts, Jinkins, Maxwell, Fagan, Magendanz, Santos, Pollet, Fitzgibbon, Moscoso, Morrell, Fey and Dahlquist.

Brief Summary of Bill

Permits a student association at public baccalaureate to form a student advisory committee to advise the administration at that institution on issues that affect student access and success, such as tuition and fee levels.
Requires administrators at higher education institutions to make information available to the student advisory committee and allow the committee to present recommendations.
Requires the student advisory committee to solicit feedback from students and keep students informed of their meetings.

Background:

State Statute permits student participation in higher education governance. For example:

governing boards of The Evergreen State College, the state research universities and the state regional universities must consult with student associations regarding the impacts of potential tuition increases before changing tuition rates;
the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges must consult with student associations regarding the impacts of potential tuition increases before changing tuition rates; and
students must hold at least a majority of the voting memberships on the services and activities fee committee that proposes to the governing board program priorities and budget levels for programs derived from the services and activities fees.

Students may also serve as governing members of higher education institutions. One member of the board of regents or trustees at The Evergreen State College, the Washington research universities, and state regional universities is a student. Boards of trustees for each community college and technical college district may establish a sixth trustee filled by a student.

Summary of Bill:

A student association at a four-year higher education institution may form a student advisory committee. The purpose of this committee is to advise and assist the administration on issues that directly affect student ability to access and succeed in educational programs. The issues that the committee should consider include tuition and fee levels among other things.

The administration of the higher education institution must make available all non-confidential information requested by the student advisory committee and provide the committee an opportunity to present recommendations before final decisions are made.

The student advisory committee must make efforts to solicit feedback from students and keep students informed of deliberations and actions of the committee.