Z‑0311.4 _____________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5819
_____________________________________________
State of Washington 57th Legislature 2001 Regular Session
By Senators Kohl‑Welles, Sheahan, Franklin, Shin, Jacobsen, McAuliffe and Thibaudeau
Read first time 02/05/2001. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
_1 AN ACT Relating to the college awareness project; adding a new
_2 chapter to Title 28B RCW; creating a new section; and making
_3 appropriations.
_4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
_5 NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature affirms that education has
_6 been and continues to be the underpinning of Washington's economic
_7 and social fabric. The legislature further finds that as
_8 Washington's population increasingly becomes more diverse, it is
_9 essential that opportunities for education at all levels be made
10 available to those who seek it.
11 NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) The college awareness project is
12 established to design and implement strategies to encourage
13 participation of underserved populations in higher
14 education. Strategies shall include, but are not limited to: (a)
15 Professional development for faculty, professional staff, and
16 community support staff to collaboratively develop support
17 structures necessary for success of diverse student populations;
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_1 (b) early outreach to targeted populations in the elementary,
_2 middle school, and high school grades to inform, encourage, and
_3 prepare students to participate in and succeed in completing their
_4 higher education goals; and (c) specific proposals for public four-
_5 year institutions of higher education that enhance recruitment,
_6 retention, and campus climate efforts necessary to support
_7 participation by underserved students.
_8 (2) The college awareness project shall be a collaborative
_9 effort among the council of presidents, the state board for
10 community and technical colleges, the office of superintendent of
11 public instruction, and the higher education coordinating board.
12 NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. (1) Partners in the college awareness
13 project shall develop a series of professional development
14 academies for K-12 teachers, counselors, curriculum specialists,
15 administrators, community service professionals, and volunteers or
16 others who are committed to working with diverse populations. These
17 academies will provide a collaborative framework for working on
18 the complex issues of educating a diverse population, including:
19 (a) Developing learning environments that more effectively support
20 the successful preparation of traditionally underserved students
21 for college; and (b) developing a local network of community-based
22 resources to support and mentor K-12 students and staff.
23 (2) Academies shall be held at four college campus sites around
24 Washington state during the academic year 2001-02 and the summer
25 of 2002. Each academy shall focus on aspects of working with a
26 culturally diverse student population and the various resources
27 available from individuals, organizations, schools, colleges, and
28 universities to support underserved students.
29 NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. (1) Partners in the college awareness
30 project shall develop six regional partnerships among the two-year
31 and four-year institutions of higher education and school
32 districts with high proportions of underserved students of color
33 to engage faculty, teachers, staff, students, and their families
34 in programs aimed at bringing underrepresented students to college
35 and university campuses to expose them to college life and support
36 systems geared to their success.
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_1 (2) Partnerships shall focus on grades four through six, middle
_2 school, and high school, and shall involve teachers, counselors,
_3 students, parents, families, and community members in programs
_4 throughout the state to promote college readiness.
_5 (3) Each partnership shall share results statewide to inform
_6 best practices.
_7 NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. (1) The council of presidents, the state
_8 board for community and technical colleges, the superintendent of
_9 public instruction, and the higher education coordinating board
10 shall establish a steering committee to oversee the management and
11 implementation of sections 3 and 4 of the college awareness
12 project. The steering committee shall: (a) Establish policies,
13 procedures, and guidelines to carry out the goals of the college
14 awareness project; (b) establish subcommittees from their
15 respective memberships and constituencies, as appropriate, to
16 implement the project; and (c) conduct or direct appropriate
17 research to support the current effort as well as future efforts.
18 (2) The college awareness project steering committee shall
19 convene an advisory committee including, but not limited to,
20 representatives from the public and private four-year institutions
21 of higher education, the community and technical colleges, K-12
22 schools and administrators, target population community members,
23 and other groups that may support the goals of the college
24 awareness project. The advisory committee shall provide assistance
25 in implementing the goals of sections 3 and 4 of this act, and may
26 enter into partnerships as appropriate to ensure success of the
27 college awareness project.
28 (3) The college awareness project steering committee shall
29 develop an evaluation plan for the college awareness project
30 including specific and measurable objectives for the project by
31 December 2001. The evaluation plan shall include both process and
32 outcome measures for the college awareness project described under
33 sections 3 and 4 of this act.
34 NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. (1) The evergreen center for educational
35 improvement shall be the fiscal agent for funding associated with
36 sections 2 through 4 of this act.
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_1 (2) The evergreen center for educational improvement shall work
_2 with the college awareness project steering committee to implement
_3 the project goals identified in sections 2 through 4 of this act.
_4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. To the extent funds are appropriated, the
_5 University of Washington shall:
_6 (1) Establish programs that send University of Washington
_7 faculty, students, and staff to middle schools and high schools in
_8 Washington state to: (a) Place or retain college admission
_9 counselors in strategic Seattle and Tacoma area high schools; (b)
10 hire part-time student ambassadors to coordinate student
11 involvement in outreach and recruitment efforts; (c) hire a
12 student development coordinator to work in eastern Washington;
13 expand the high school tutor and mentor programs; and (d) provide
14 permanent funding for the pipeline project that recruits, trains,
15 and supports undergraduate students as tutors and mentors for
16 students;
17 (2) Establish programs that bring middle and high school
18 students to the University of Washington campus, such as (a)
19 expanded summer residential programs for middle and high school
20 students; (b) permanent funding for Saturday academy; and (c)
21 permanent funding for the summer science and computer camp for
22 rural high school students;
23 (3) Establish programs that focus on enhancing skills and
24 experiences needed for competitive college applications, such as
25 (a) permanent funding for the ongoing operation and expansion of
26 the early scholar's outreach program; (b) expansion of the
27 mathematics, engineering and science achievement (MESA) program;
28 and (c) implementation of a pilot SAT/ACT preparatory program.
29 NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. To the extent funds are appropriated,
30 Washington State University shall:
31 (1) Implement new initiatives to improve the campus climate at
32 Washington State University that are identified by the campus
33 climate survey that is currently under consideration by the newly
34 convened council on student climate;
35 (2) In coordination with work currently funded by the Hewlett
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_1 Foundation to establish a diversity course requirement, implement
_2 new strategies such as freshmen interest groups and learning
_3 communities that focus on diversity issues;
_4 (3) Establish new summer programs designed to orient students
_5 to college life, engage them in serious academic work, and develop
_6 skills and attitudes necessary for educational advancement;
_7 (4) Expand opportunities for high school students in the
_8 central part of the state to visit Washington State University
_9 campuses to see first-hand educational opportunities offered at
10 WSU Tri-Cities, Washington State University, Pullman, and one of
11 Washington State University's feeder schools, Columbia Basin
12 College;
13 (5) Expand programs that positively impact student attitudes
14 toward higher education, such as, college knowledge for the mind,
15 Cougar Mondays, and future Cougars of color, to serve students in
16 areas not currently being served;
17 (6) Expand the number of community liaisons to assist
18 Washington State University in providing more consistent and
19 personal contact with prospective students and their families;
20 (7) Increase tribal contacts to establish meaningful outreach
21 programs that provide educational awareness opportunities for
22 Native American children; and
23 (8) Establish programs that work directly with middle and high
24 school students to help promote college awareness and teach basic
25 skills needed for academic success.
26 NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. To the extent funds are appropriated,
27 Central Washington University shall:
28 (1) Establish a program that focuses on providing admissions
29 and teacher education information and course work to eleventh and
30 twelfth grade underrepresented students from the Yakima Valley,
31 Wenatchee Valley, and Columbia Basin areas interested in careers
32 in education. The program is designed to increase interest in
33 teacher education among students of color, assess preparation and
34 readiness for college, and offer support services and mentoring
35 for underrepresented students who may subsequently enroll in
36 teacher preparation programs at Central Washington University; and
37 (2) Establish a multicultural student center at Central
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_1 Washington University to provide services and programs that
_2 encourage multicultural students to succeed, and expand cultural
_3 awareness and appreciation for cultural and racial diversity
_4 within the university.
_5 NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. To the extent funds are appropriated,
_6 Eastern Washington University shall:
_7 (1) Establish a campus climate that values diversity and
_8 supports the success of all community members by: (a) Creating a
_9 presidential commission on diversity to continuously assess the
10 climate; (b) funding an analyst to establish baseline data and
11 support continuous assessment of the campus climate; and (c)
12 designing and implementing learning and development plans for the
13 key constituents of the campus community, including faculty,
14 staff, students, and surrounding community members that will
15 include training, speakers, celebrative functions, and social and
16 educational programs; and
17 (2) Employ strategies to strengthen academic support programs
18 that assist underserved students in achieving their academic
19 career goals, such as: (a) Funding the expansion of Eastern
20 Washington University's Chicano education mentoring program,
21 expand its efforts, including developing a comparable program in
22 African-American and American Indian studies program; (b) funding
23 the establishment of a center for campus diversity to serve as a
24 campus resource as well as a coordinating center for diversity
25 programs.
26 NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. To the extent funds are appropriated,
27 Western Washington University shall:
28 (1) Establish a program to enhance diverse student recruitment
29 and retention efforts that focus on intensive orientation and
30 support programs to address needs of students of color;
31 (2) Increase diversification of Western Washington University's
32 curriculum by: (a) Expanding the diversity fellowship program; (b)
33 developing program grants through the center for innovative
34 instruction that address diversity issues within the curriculum;
35 and (c) enhancing employment outreach efforts;
36 (3) Establish a new beginnings summer camp for first
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_1 generation, low-income, first-time students. Intended to support
_2 persistence at the university level, students in the program shall
_3 complete one academic course while receiving an intensive
_4 orientation preparing them for university-level work at Western
_5 Washington University;
_6 (4) Develop additional freshmen interest groups clusters with
_7 an emphasis in math, science, and technology that target incoming
_8 first generation students and students of color who display
_9 challenges in these areas; and
10 (5) Establish Woodring College of Education participation in
11 summer academic institutes designed to develop curriculum,
12 instruct institute programs, evaluate instruction techniques and
13 content, and use evaluations for development of teacher education
14 curriculum.
15 NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. To the extent funds are appropriated, The
16 Evergreen State College shall:
17 (1) Establish an outreach program to minority and low-income
18 students from Yakima, Tri-Cities, Tacoma, Vancouver, Shelton, and
19 tribal and migrant communities to bring these students to The
20 Evergreen State College campus for orientation about college
21 resources and offerings;
22 (2) Develop, as a supplement to the outreach program, alumni of
23 color and currently enrolled student of color ambassador programs
24 to provide ongoing outreach activities in the target communities;
25 (3) Develop new orientation programs that incorporate an
26 enhanced academic component for all students and a live-in program
27 of mentoring and academic workshops designed to ease the
28 integration of newly enrolled students of color; and
29 (4) Establish a reach back college readiness program that will
30 focus on middle school students who live in areas with high levels
31 of poverty and little evidence of high academic achievement and
32 success attainment. The reach back program shall provide direct
33 professional support to the counseling and instructional staff in
34 the areas of counseling, academic advising, tutoring, mentoring,
35 and enrichments. Specific emphasis will be on outreach to segments
36 of the population at high risk for gang and domestic violence and
37 alcohol and drug abuse.
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_1
_2 NEW SECTION. Sec. 13. This chapter may be known and cited as the
_3 college awareness project act.
_4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 14. Representatives from the college awareness
_5 project steering committee shall report to the policy committees
_6 of the house of representatives and senate on the success of the
_7 college awareness project in the 2003 legislative session.
_8 NEW SECTION. Sec. 15. Sections 1 through 13 of this act
_9 constitute a new chapter in Title 28B RCW.
10 NEW SECTION. Sec. 16. (1) The sum of three million eight hundred
11 seventy-nine thousand six hundred sixty-four dollars, or as much
12 thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year
13 ending June 30, 2002, from the general fund to the evergreen
14 center for educational improvement for the purposes of
15 implementing sections 2 through 4 of this act.
16 (2) The sum of three million eight hundred seventy-nine
17 thousand six hundred sixty-four dollars, or as much thereof as may
18 be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30,
19 2003, from the general fund to the evergreen center for
20 educational improvement for the purposes of implementing sections
21 2 through 4 of this act.
22 NEW SECTION. Sec. 17. (1) The sum of one million one hundred
23 thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is
24 appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the
25 general fund to the University of Washington for the purposes of
26 section 7 of this act.
27 (2) The sum of one million one hundred thousand dollars, or as
28 much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal
29 year ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to the University
30 of Washington for the purposes of section 7 of this act.
31 NEW SECTION. Sec. 18. (1) The sum of seven hundred fifty
32 thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is
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_1 appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the
_2 general fund to Washington State University for the purposes of
_3 section 8 of this act.
_4 (2) The sum of seven hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much
_5 thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year
_6 ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to Washington State
_7 University for the purposes of section 8 of this act.
_8 NEW SECTION. Sec. 19. (1) The sum of four hundred fifty thousand
_9 six hundred twenty-five dollars, or as much thereof as may be
10 necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30,
11 2002, from the general fund to Central Washington University for
12 the purposes of section 9 of this act.
13 (2) The sum of four hundred fifty thousand six hundred twenty-
14 five dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is
15 appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the
16 general fund to Central Washington University for the purposes of
17 section 9 of this act.
18 NEW SECTION. Sec. 20. (1) The sum of four hundred twenty-four
19 thousand two hundred eighty-one dollars, or as much thereof as may
20 be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30,
21 2002, from the general fund to Eastern Washington University for
22 the purposes of section 10 of this act.
23 (2) The sum of four hundred twenty-four thousand two hundred
24 eighty-one dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is
25 appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the
26 general fund to Eastern Washington University for the purposes of
27 section 10 of this act.
28 NEW SECTION. Sec. 21. (1) The sum of six hundred sixteen
29 thousand seven hundred eighty-four dollars, or as much thereof as
30 may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year ending June
31 30, 2002, from the general fund to Western Washington University
32 for the purposes of section 11 of this act.
33 (2) The sum of six hundred sixty thousand eight hundred thirty-
34 nine dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is
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_1 appropriated for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003, from the
_2 general fund to Western Washington University for the purposes of
_3 section 11 of this act.
_4 NEW SECTION. Sec. 22. (1) The sum of three hundred ten thousand
_5 dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated
_6 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002, from the general fund to
_7 The Evergreen State College for the purposes of section 12 of this
_8 act.
_9 (2) The sum of three hundred ten thousand dollars, or as much
10 thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the fiscal year
11 ending June 30, 2003, from the general fund to The Evergreen State
12 College for the purposes of section 12 of this act.
‑‑‑ END ‑‑‑
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