SENATE BILL REPORT

                            SB 5269

                    AS OF JANUARY 22, 1993

Brief Description:  Adding student members to the governing boards of institutions of higher education.

SPONSORS: Senators Bauer, von Reichbauer, Sheldon, Sellar, Drew, Jesernig, Winsley and Erwin

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff:  Jean Six (786‑7423)

Hearing Dates: January 27, 1993

BACKGROUND:

The public research institutions, the University of Washington and Washington State University, are each governed by a board of regents.  Each board has nine members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate to serve six-year terms.

The regional universities, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and Western Washington University, are governed by a seven-member board of trustees appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate to serve a term of six years. 

The research universities allow one graduate student, one undergraduate student and one representative of the faculty senate to serve as advisory members to the boards.  The advisory members are presidents of their respective associations.  Advisory members do not vote but do have a formal place on the agenda at each board meeting.

The regional universities have the chair of the faculty senate and the student body president sit as advisory members to the board.  Central includes the chair of the association of administrators.  Eastern's board receives from the advisory members a written and an oral report at each meeting.  Advisory members do not vote. 

SUMMARY:

The governance of the research universities shall be vested in an eleven-member board of regents.  One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be added to the board of regents of the University of Washington.  One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be added to the board of regents of Washington State University. 

The governance of the regional universities shall be vested in an eight-member board of trustees.  One undergraduate student will be added to the board of trustees of each of the regional universities.

The student members will be appointed by the Governor from a list of three names for each position submitted by the governing board of the recognized student associations.  The student members of the board will serve for a term of two years.

Six regents will constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business at the research universities.  A majority of the board of trustees will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the regional universities.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  requested January 22, 1993

Effective Date:  January 1, 1994