H-0681.4 _______________________________________________
HOUSE BILL 1640
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 54th Legislature 1995 Regular Session
By Representatives Koster, Scott, Jacobsen, Stevens, Costa, Sehlin, D. Schmidt, Elliot, Radcliff, Sherstad, Blanton, Thompson, Cole and Ogden
Read first time 02/02/95. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
AN ACT Relating to the postsecondary education needs of the Snohomish, Island, and Skagit county area; creating new sections; making an appropriation; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties are three of the fastest-growing counties in the state of Washington, with Snohomish county in particular having added nearly one hundred fifty thousand persons in the decade between 1984 and 1994, constituting forty-one percent growth. This three-county region includes hundreds of high technology firms, major military installations, and one of the world's largest manufacturing exporters. Employers in this rapidly growing area will require an increasingly diverse work force, including more and more employees with upper division college credentials. Yet there is no four-year institution of higher education or branch campus in this three-county area, and a demographic study commissioned by the community shows an unmet need for nearly seven thousand five hundred people by the year 2012.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. The higher education coordinating board shall evaluate the postsecondary education needs of the Snohomish, Island, and Skagit county area and based upon the findings of area unmet need, evaluate and determine the appropriate organizational model for providing lower, upper, and graduate level programs, as well as other higher education needs. The board shall provide its recommendations concerning the preferred organizational model and a time-phased plan for implementing those recommendations to the legislature and governor by November 30, 1995.
In developing the model, the board shall, in consultation with the city of Everett and the tri-county area, consider a full array of alternative methods, financing, and governance structures, as well as public-private partnership opportunities, for providing postsecondary programs. The board shall consider, but need not be limited to, the following planning priorities:
(1) Responding to the higher education, training, and skills development needs of traditional student populations as well as older, employed individuals, and existing professionals in the tri-county area, including an analysis of program sequencing that analyzes the types of disciplines that best respond to the needs of employers and the tri-county community;
(2) Emphasizing teaching and instruction as the primary mission and goal;
(3) Incorporating and emphasizing existing and future educational information technology in the delivery of instructional programs;
(4) Looking at cost-effective and innovative methods of providing campus facilities and construction;
(5) Providing effective transfer provisions for students from Washington's extensive community and technical college system;
(6) Designing a higher education facility that is consistent with the policies of the growth management act and regional transportation laws and planning;
(7) Complementing the programs and missions of nearby public and private institutions, facilities, and military installations, including pursuing public-private partnerships, equipment-sharing opportunities, on and off-site training opportunities, and other potential innovations; and
(8) Evaluating the potential use of available publicly owned property in the city of Everett as a site for an educational facility.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 1997, from the state building construction account to the higher education coordinating board for campus evaluation under this act.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Section 2 of 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 immediately.
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