FINAL BILL REPORT

                 ESSCR 8425

                     As Passed Legislature

Brief Description:  Adopting the recommendations of the higher education coordinating board=s year 2000 update of the master plan.

Sponsors:  Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Kohl‑Welles and Sheahan; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board).

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

House Committee on Higher Education

Background:  Under current law, the purpose of the Higher Education Coordinating Board  is to provide planning, coordination, monitoring, and policy analysis for higher education in the state of Washington.  The board is expected to consult with institutions and other segments of post-secondary education as it carries out these responsibilities.  Its members are expected to represent the broad public interest above the interests of the individual colleges and universities.

By statute (RCW 28B.80.330(3)), the board must prepare a comprehensive master plan and update it every four years.  The plan and updates must be submitted to the Governor and appropriate legislative committees.  Following public hearings, the Legislature must, by concurrent resolution, approve or recommend changes to the initial plan and the updates.  The updated plan becomes state higher education policy unless legislation is enacted to alter the policies set forth in the plan.

The board has updated its master plan for the year 2000.  The resulting document, entitled, The 21st Century Learner: Strategies to Meet the Challenge, outlines five goals for higher education in Washington and the accompanying strategies to achieve these goals.  The report reinforces the message of the 1996 master plan that the state can expect a significant increase in the demand for higher education through the year 2010.

Summary:  The Legislature commends the Higher Education Coordinating Board for its dedication and commitment to the state and thanks the board for describing the challenges facing the state in its attempts to provide the post-secondary education and training that citizens need in the 21^st century.  The Legislature directs the board to communicate regularly with the appropriate legislative committees and the Governor.

The Legislature resolves to respond to documented demand for enrollment in the future.  Solutions to the enrollment challenge may be found in strategies that:

$make student learning the yardstick by which accountability, effectiveness, and efficiency is measured;

$link students= participation in higher education to their K-12 achievement;

$provide the information citizens need to make the best use of the learning opportunities available to them, and support outreach efforts designed to ensure the higher education system reflects the diversity of the state=s population;

$expand the use of e-learning technologies and using public facilities to the fullest extent possible; and

$help colleges and universities meet student needs and compete in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

It is clarified that the board will reexamine its assumptions with regard to projected upper-division and graduate enrollments.  The board will also reexamine its assumptions about the capital needs of the community and technical colleges and the four-year institutions, including the branch campuses.  The board, in consultation with the Office of Financial Management, must work collaboratively with all Washington higher education institutions and the appropriate legislative committees to prepare an enrollment accommodation plan.

The board is to proceed with implementation of the master plan as modified by the resolution.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate 412

House970(House amended)

Senate (Senate refused to concur)

House980(House amended)

Senate 440(Senate concurred)