H-1114

AN ACT Relating to additional enrollments at institutions of higher education; creating new sections; providing an effective date; and

declaring an emergency.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. This act shall be known as the higher education opportunity act of 1991.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The state of Washington has historically given high priority to the higher education needs of its citizens. As we move to the twenty-first century and to the more competitive world economy that it brings, it is imperative that we provide access to all of the types of higher education that are needed by the citizens of Washington. Washington has developed one of the finest community college systems in the country. The higher education coordinating board has determined that there is a need in this state for increased participation at the upper-division and graduate levels and that baccalaureate and graduate degrees need to be earned at an increased rate for our citizens to maintain competitiveness in the world economy. There is also a need to increase the opportunity for citizens to learn entry-level skills and trades resulting in their ability to become productive individuals in our society and not depend on the state for subsistence grants.

It is the intent of this act to modify the present enrollment lids which limit the size of the student population on the public higher education campuses in the state. This act will be the first step toward meeting the educational needs of our citizens in the 1990's. It is further the intent of this act to endorse the long-term enrollment goals established by the higher education coordinating board. This act moves toward achieving the goals of a participation rate equal to the 70th percentile of national participation rates for upper-division and graduate students and a participation rate equal to the 90th percentile of national participation rates for all lower-division students.

The legislature finds that the present enrollment lids at the public institutions are artificially set and that an increase in the number of full-time equivalent enrollments on the campuses can be accomplished without additional capital construction. The legislature further finds that at many of our state institutions of higher education there is the physical capacity available to accept new students, and there is also a desire among the institutions to accept new enrollments in the coming biennium. It is the intent of this act to remain sensitive to the capability and capacity of each institution to accept additional enrollments.

It is not the intent of this act to emphasize access to the detriment of quality in the educational programs of our institutions. Therefore, it is the intent of this act to provide a funding level for additional enrollments that is based on the 1990 higher education coordinating board cost study and will include both the direct and indirect costs associated with additional student enrollments. It is the intent of this act to begin the process of affording a place in the higher education system for all citizens of Washington who are qualified for and desirous of earning a college degree, and to assure that the quality of those degrees are not jeopardized by inadequate funding levels.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The new enrollments authorized in sections 4 through 10 of this act are additional state-funded enrollments at our state institutions of higher education above the level established for each institution during the 1989-91 biennium.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. The state-funded enrollment level in the evening degree program at the University of Washington shall be increased by forty full-time equivalent upper-division and graduate student enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional thirty-five full-time equivalent upper-division and graduate student enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. The state-funded enrollment level at the Pullman campus of Washington State University shall be increased by one hundred seventy-five full-time equivalent upper-division and seventy-five full-time equivalent graduate student enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional one hundred seventy-five full-time equivalent upper-division and seventy-five full-time equivalent graduate student enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. The state-funded enrollment level at Central Washington University shall be increased by two hundred fifty full-time equivalent upper-division and fifty full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional two hundred full-time equivalent upper-division and fifty full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. The state-funded enrollment level at Eastern Washington University shall be increased by one hundred fifty full-time equivalent upper-division and fifty full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional one hundred fifty full-time equivalent upper-division and fifty full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. The state-funded enrollment level at The Evergreen State College shall be increased by forty-five full-time equivalent upper-division and five full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional forty-five full-time equivalent upper-division and five full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. The state-funded enrollment level at Western Washington University shall be increased by one hundred twenty full-time equivalent upper-division and eighty full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional two hundred twenty full-time equivalent upper-division and eighty full-time equivalent graduate enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. The four-year institutions of higher education shall receive an additional four hundred twenty-nine upper-division and graduate student enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional eight hundred ninety-eight upper-division and graduate student enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year. The higher education coordinating board shall determine how to apportion those enrollments based on the following allocation model:

First, enrollments shall be increased at any branch campus that can prove to the satisfaction of the board that the branch campus turned away fully qualified students during the 1990-91 academic year due to enrollment restrictions. The board shall limit enrollment increases at each branch campus to the level necessary to serve the number of fully qualified students turned away by the branch campus during the 1990-91 academic year due to the enrollment restrictions.

Any remaining enrollment increases shall be apportioned by the board to the state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College based on institutional requests to enroll additional students and on demand factors as determined by the board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. The state-funded enrollment in the state community college system shall be increased by three thousand five hundred full-time equivalent enrollments during the 1991-92 fiscal year plus an additional three thousand five hundred full-time equivalent enrollments during the 1992-93 fiscal year. These new enrollments shall be distributed throughout the system by the state board for community college education consistent with legislative intent.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect July 1, 1991.