COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Representative Don Carlson, Chair

BILL ANALYSIS

SB 5517

BRIEF DESCRIPTION:  Requiring one student member on each state institution of higher education's governing board.

BACKGROUND:  The public research institutions, the University of Washington (UW) and Washington State University (WSU), 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 Evergreen State College (TESC) and the regional universities, Central Washington University (CWU), Eastern Washington University (EWU), and Western Washington University (WWU), are each 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 meeting.

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

Sitting at the table with the board of trustees at TESC are the past chair of the faculty agenda committee, one student volunteer, one alumni representative, and one staff representative elected by the staff.  These advisory members do not vote but take part in the discussion.

SUMMARY OF BILL:  For the University of Washington and for Washington State University, the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, appoints one full‑time student in good standing to

the board of regents.  The term of the student regent is for one year from October 1 until the appointment and qualification of the successor.  Each board of regents is 10 members, with six

members constituting a quorum.

For CWU, WWU, EWU, and TESC the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, appoints one full‑time student in good standing to the board of trustees.  The term of the student trustee is for

one year from October 1 until the appointment and qualification of the successor.  Each board of trustees is eight members, with five members constituting a quorum.