SENATE BILL REPORT

                 ESSCR 8425

              As Passed Senate, February 12, 2000

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Higher Education:  1/31/2000, 2/4/2000 [DPS-WM].

Ways & Means:  2/7/2000, 2/8/2000 [DPS (HIE)].

Passed Senate, 2/12/2000, 41-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8425 be substituted therefor, and the concurrent resolution do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

  Signed by Senators Kohl-Welles, Chair; Shin, Vice Chair; Bauer, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, McAuliffe, Sheahan and B. Sheldon.

Staff:  Jean Six (786-7423)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 8425 as recommended by Committee on Higher Education be substituted therefor, and the concurrent resolution do pass.

  Signed by Senators Loveland, Chair; Bauer, Vice Chair; Brown, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Rasmussen, B. Sheldon, Snyder, West, Winsley and Wojahn.

Staff:  Karen Barrett (786-7711)

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 of Bill:  The Legislature commends the Higher Education Coordinating Board for its dedication and commitment to the state.  The Legislature 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 resolves to respond to actual 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.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Available.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  We met with many people across the state in the development of the plan.  We are very concerned about the effects of poverty on the education of our citizens.  We believe the plan is creative and imaginative.  We are looking to the private sector for partnerships.  The plan is a snapshot of needs.  Enrollment targets are no more than targets.  We do support CC enrollments though we want more upper division access.  Focus on high demand fields.  Focus on the learner and outcomes is appropriate.  High tech industry requires a diversity change from the traditional higher ed structure.  The resolution does not commit this or future legislatures with respect to funding.  The board is aware of operating and capital budget constraints and will be working to refine and identify the means to accommodate new enrollment.  Students support the goal that by 2003, state need grants be made available to qualified students at the level of tuition for resident undergraduate study.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Ann Ramsay-Jenkins, Larry Hanson, HECB member; Dennis Brewer, AEA; Cody Benson, WSL; Marc Gaspard, HECB; Bruce Botka, HECB.

House Amendment(s):  The Senate language about meeting future demand for enrollments in 2010 occurring only if more citizens seek upper division and graduate level study is deleted.  New House language acknowledges the HECB reports a need for the public and private postsecondary institutions to provide opportunity for additional students by 2010 and resolves that the Legislature endorses an unquantified goal.

A joint select committee is established to review the proposed higher education enrollment levels and the implications for future capital facility needs to accommodate the additional students.

Additional House Amendment(s):  The Legislature responds to documented demand for access to higher education.  The HECB, in consultation with the Office of Financial Management, works collaboratively with all higher education institutions and the appropriate legislative committees to prepare an enrollment accommodation plan.  The HECB communicates regularly with the appropriate legislative committees and the Governor.  The joint select committee is deleted.