FINAL BILL REPORT

                 EHB 1723

                          C 98 L 91

                     Synopsis As Enacted

Brief Description:  Creating the Washington fund for excellence in higher education program.

By Representatives Ogden, Jacobsen, Wood, Spanel, Zellinsky, R. King, Roland, H. Myers and Fraser; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board;

House Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Background:  The Higher Education Coordinating Board has recommended the creation of a program that encourages institutions to work cooperatively to solve longstanding problems plaguing the state's system of higher education.  The program would be similar to a federal program that provides funding on a competitive basis to institutions that are experimenting with ways to improve the educational process in colleges and universities.

Summary:  The Washington Fund for Excellence in Higher Education Program is established.  The program is designed to encourage colleges and universities to work together to address specific system problems. The program will be administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.   Through the program, the board may award grants on a competitive basis either to individual state colleges and universities, or to consortia of institutions.  In awarding grants, a strong priority will be given to proposals that involve more than one educational sector, and to proposals that show substantial institutional commitment.  Each grant will be limited to a maximum of two years.

Participating institutions must provide some financial support to the program in one of two ways.  Institutions must either cover part of the program costs during the grant period, or must provide continued support of the funded program when the grant ends.

The board's program responsibilities are described.  These include adopting rules, establishing biennial guidelines and program requirements, and administering a process for selecting grant recipients.

During the 1991-93 biennium, the guidelines for the program will be consistent with three priorities.  First, initiatives that encourage the participation of minority students, including students with disabilities, will receive a priority.  Other priorities include teacher preparation programs that encourage collaborative efforts between K-12 and higher education, and initiatives that facilitate the smooth transfer of students between educational sectors.

Priorities for subsequent biennia will be established by the board.  Before adopting these priorities, the board will consult with the governor, the Legislature, institutions of higher education, educational associations, business, community groups, and state agencies concerned with the common schools, community colleges, and vocational education.

The Fund for Excellence is established in the office of the state treasurer.  Moneys received for the program will be deposited in the fund.  Moneys in the fund are subject to the allotment procedure, but no appropriation is required for disbursements.

Votes on Final Passage:

House  98   0

Senate 46   0    (Senate amended)

House  94   0    (House concurred)

Effective:    July 28, 1991