Z-1427.1  _______________________________________________

 

                         SENATE BILL 6707

          _______________________________________________

 

State of Washington   57th Legislature        2002 Regular Session

 

By Senators Jacobsen, Horn and Kohl‑Welles; by request of Governor Locke

 

Read first time 01/28/2002.  Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

Changing provisions relating to the setting, use of, and accountability for tuition at institutions of higher education.


    AN ACT Relating to tuition-setting authority and accountability for the use of tuition at institutions of higher education; amending RCW 28B.15.031, 28B.15.066, 28B.15.067, 28B.15.069, and 28B.15.100; adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW; and creating a new section.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1.  Public higher education funding is a shared responsibility between the state, students, and the public colleges and universities.  Periodic increases in state funding, state financial aid, and tuition must be authorized to provide quality higher education for the citizens of Washington.  It is the intent of the legislature to authorize the governing boards to establish tuition rates, to make colleges and universities responsible to provide quality programs, and to provide state fund appropriations so that tuition increases can support program improvements.

 

    Sec. 2.  RCW 28B.15.031 and 1996 c 142 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    The term "operating fees" as used in this chapter shall include the fees, other than building fees, charged all students registering at the state's colleges and universities but shall not include fees for short courses, self-supporting degree credit programs and courses, marine station work, experimental station work, correspondence or extension courses, and individual instruction and student deposits or rentals, disciplinary and library fines, which colleges and universities shall have the right to impose, laboratory, gymnasium, health, technology and student activity fees, or fees, charges, rentals, and other income derived from any or all revenue producing lands, buildings and facilities of the colleges or universities heretofore or hereafter acquired, constructed or installed, including but not limited to income from rooms, dormitories, dining rooms, hospitals, infirmaries, housing or student activity buildings, vehicular parking facilities, land, or the appurtenances thereon, or such other special fees as may be established by any college or university board of trustees or regents from time to time.  All moneys received as operating fees at any institution of higher education shall be deposited in a local account containing only operating fees revenue and related interest:  PROVIDED, That a minimum of three and one-half percent of operating fees shall be retained by the institutions((, except the technical colleges,)) for the purposes of RCW 28B.15.820.  Local operating fee accounts shall not be subject to appropriation by the legislature or allotment procedures under chapter 43.88 RCW.

 

    Sec. 3.  RCW 28B.15.066 and 2000 c 152 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    It is the intent of the legislature that:

    In making appropriations from the state's general fund to institutions of higher education, each appropriation shall conform to the following:

    (1) The appropriation shall not be reduced by the amount of operating fees revenue estimated to be collected from students enrolled at the state-funded enrollment level specified in the omnibus biennial operating appropriations act;

    (2) The appropriation shall not be reduced by the amount of operating fees revenue collected from students enrolled above the state-funded level((, but within the over-enrollment limitations,)) specified in the omnibus biennial operating appropriations act; and

    (3) The general fund state appropriation shall not be reduced by the amount of operating fees revenue collected as a result of waiving less operating fees revenue than the amounts authorized under RCW 28B.15.910.  State general fund appropriations shall not be provided for revenue foregone as a result of or for waivers granted under RCW 28B.15.915.

 

    Sec. 4.  RCW 28B.15.067 and 1997 c 403 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) Tuition fees shall be established under the provisions of this chapter.

    (2) ((Academic year tuition for full-time students at the state's institutions of higher education for the 1997-98 academic year, other than the summer term, shall be as provided in this subsection.

    (a) At the University of Washington and Washington State University:

    (i) For resident undergraduate students and other resident students not in graduate, law, or first professional programs, two thousand nine hundred eighty-eight dollars;

    (ii)(A) For nonresident undergraduate students and other nonresident students at the University of Washington not in graduate, law, or first professional programs, ten thousand two hundred seventy-eight dollars;

    (B) For nonresident undergraduate students and other nonresident students at Washington State University not in graduate or first professional programs, nine thousand eight hundred seventy dollars;

    (iii) For resident graduate students, four thousand eight hundred fifty-four dollars;

    (iv) For nonresident graduate students, twelve thousand five hundred eighty-eight dollars;

    (v) For resident law students, five thousand ten dollars;

    (vi) For nonresident law students, twelve thousand nine hundred fifteen dollars;

    (vii) For resident first professional students, eight thousand one hundred twelve dollars; and

    (viii) For nonresident first professional students, twenty-one thousand twenty-four dollars.

    (b) At the regional universities and The Evergreen State College:

    (i) For resident undergraduate and all other resident students not in graduate programs, two thousand two hundred eleven dollars;

    (ii) For nonresident undergraduate and all other nonresident students not in graduate programs, eight thousand six hundred forty-six dollars;

    (iii) For resident graduate students, three thousand seven hundred twenty-six dollars; and

    (iv) For nonresident graduate students, eleven thousand nine hundred seventy-six dollars.

    (c) At the community colleges:

    (i) For resident students, one thousand three hundred eleven dollars; and

    (ii) For nonresident students, five thousand five hundred eighty-six dollars.

    (3) Academic year tuition for full-time students at the state's institutions of higher education beginning with the 1998-99 academic year, other than the summer term, shall be as provided in this subsection unless different rates are adopted in the omnibus appropriations act.

    (a) At the University of Washington and Washington State University:

    (i) For resident undergraduate students and other resident students not in graduate, law, or first professional programs, three thousand one hundred eight dollars;

    (ii)(A) For nonresident undergraduate students and other nonresident students at the University of Washington not in graduate, law, or first professional programs, eleven thousand one hundred thirty dollars;

    (B) For nonresident undergraduate students and other nonresident students at Washington State University not in graduate or first professional programs, ten thousand two hundred sixty-six dollars;

    (iii) For resident graduate students, five thousand forty-six dollars;

    (iv) For nonresident graduate students, thirteen thousand ninety-two dollars;

    (v) For resident law students, five thousand three hundred seventy-six dollars;

    (vi) For nonresident law students, thirteen thousand seven hundred eighty-two dollars;

    (vii) For resident first professional students, eight thousand four hundred thirty-six dollars; and

    (viii) For nonresident first professional students, twenty-one thousand eight hundred sixty-four dollars.

    (b) At the regional universities and The Evergreen State College:

    (i) For resident undergraduate and all other resident students not in graduate programs, two thousand two hundred ninety-eight dollars;

    (ii) For nonresident undergraduate and all other nonresident students not in graduate programs, eight thousand nine hundred ninety-one dollars;

    (iii) For resident graduate students, three thousand eight hundred seventy-six dollars; and

    (iv) For nonresident graduate students, twelve thousand four hundred fifty-six dollars.

    (c) At the community colleges:

    (i) For resident students, one thousand three hundred sixty-two dollars; and

    (ii) For nonresident students, five thousand eight hundred eight dollars.

    (4) For the 1997-98 and 1998-99 academic years, the University of Washington shall use at least ten percent of the revenue received from the difference between a four percent increase in tuition fees and the actual increase charged to law students to assist needy low and middle-income resident law students.  For the 1997-98 and 1998-99 academic years, the University of Washington shall use at least ten percent of the revenue received from the difference between a four percent increase in tuition fees and the actual increase charged to nonresident undergraduate students and all other nonresident students not in graduate, law, or first professional programs to assist needy low and middle-income resident undergraduate students and all other resident students not enrolled in graduate, law, or first professional programs.  This requirement is in addition to the deposit requirements of the institutional aid fund under RCW 28B.15.820.

    (5))) (a) For the 2003-04 academic year and each academic year thereafter, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the state board for community and technical colleges may reduce or increase full-time tuition fees for resident undergraduate students, including summer school students.  Percentage increases in full-time tuition fees may exceed the fiscal growth factor.  Reductions or increases may be made for all or portions of an institution's programs, campuses, courses, or students.  Reductions and increases for resident undergraduate students at the community and technical colleges are limited to no more than ten percent per year starting with the 2003-04 academic year.

    (b) For the 2003-04 academic year and each academic year thereafter, the governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the state board for community and technical colleges may reduce or increase full-time tuition fees for all students other than resident undergraduates, including summer school students.  Percentage increases in full-time tuition fees may exceed the fiscal growth factor.  Reductions or increases may be made for all or portions of an institution's programs, campuses, courses, or students.

    (3) The legislature shall continue to fund the state need grant program to support changes in overall program eligibility, increases in enrollments, and changes in tuition.  The legislature shall increase funding for the state need grant program to support annual tuition increases of up to ten percent.  If any undergraduate resident tuition rate is increased in excess of ten percent, the state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College are responsible for providing funds from local revenues to state need grant recipients to cover the increased costs in tuition and fees resulting from the tuition increase above ten percent.  The amount provided per student shall be at the same proportion as the increase in the underlying state need grant for the tuition and fees increase up to ten percent.  This amount of local need grant support shall be carried forward into following years and adjusted for any future tuition and state need grant program changes.  The state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College shall submit a report to the office of financial management and the higher education coordinating board at the conclusion of each academic year, describing how state and institutional funds were awarded to state need grant recipients.

    (4) The tuition fees established under this chapter shall not apply to high school students enrolling in participating institutions of higher education under RCW 28A.600.300 through ((28A.600.395)) 28A.600.400.

 

    NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5.  A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) In recognition of increasing authority at the state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College, to promote accountability these institutions shall permit entering freshmen and resident students enrolled in one hundred twenty semester hour or one hundred eighty quarter hour programs to enter into an agreement with the institution to guarantee that the student will be able to graduate in four years.  Resident students transferring from other institutions of higher education may have an individual agreement developed by an academic advisor establishing a guaranteed graduation date based on the degree program to be undertaken, credits accepted toward program requirements, and term of arrival at the four-year institution of higher education.

    (2)(a) The state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College shall guarantee that a student enrolled in a four-year course of study will be able to graduate in four years if they meet the requirements of this subsection.  Guarantees for students transferring from other institutions of higher education shall be individually developed and a guaranteed graduation date established based on the student meeting the requirements of this subsection (2).

    (b) To secure the guarantee in this subsection (2), each student and an academic advisor of that institution of higher education must enter an agreement establishing a graduation action plan for an approved course of study before enrollment.

    (c) Students are responsible to complete courses successfully and in a timely manner to maintain progress required by the graduation action plan.  Students with agreements under this section, however, are not restricted any differently than other students from attending, enrolling in courses, or graduating.

    (d) Students are responsible for gaining acceptance into the degree program specified in their graduation action plan.  Degree program admissions policies and procedures are not affected by the provisions of this section.

    (e) The state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College are responsible for providing students with access to courses, or approved substitute courses, necessary for students to meet the requirements of their graduation action plans.  Four-year institutions of higher education may provide priority enrollment to students with guaranteed graduation dates under the provisions of this section.

    (3) If a student with an existing guarantee under a graduation action plan desires to change degree programs, the four-year institution of higher education shall determine if the existing guarantee can remain in force and, if so, will develop a new graduation action plan.  If the four-year institution of higher education cannot accommodate a student's change of degree program made after the student completes more than fifteen credit hours, the institution is not under an obligation to change the guarantee or the graduation action plan under which it was established.

    (4) Should a four-year institution of higher education be unable to provide the necessary courses, preventing a student from graduating in the quarter established in the graduation action plan, the institution shall waive all tuition and fees for additional courses necessary to meet the requirements of the graduation action plan that must be taken after the guaranteed graduation date.  Enrollment in required courses without charging any tuition or any fees is the full extent of the remedy available to a student under the guarantee.

    (5) The state universities, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College shall report annually, by December 15th, to the office of financial management, the higher education coordinating board, and the fiscal committees and the higher education committees of the legislature, the number of students who have approved graduation action plans, the number of students who have graduated by the guaranteed graduation date, and waivers provided under this section during the prior academic year.

 

    Sec. 6.  RCW 28B.15.069 and 1997 c 403 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) ((As used in this section, each of the following subsections is a separate tuition category:

    (a) Resident undergraduate students and all other resident students not in first professional, graduate, or law programs;

    (b) Nonresident undergraduate students and all other nonresident students not in first professional graduate or law programs;

    (c) Resident graduate students;

    (d) Resident law students;

    (e) Nonresident graduate students;

    (f) Nonresident law students;

    (g) Resident first professional students; and

    (h) Nonresident first professional students.

    (2) Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, as used in this section "first professional programs" means programs leading to one of the following degrees:  Doctor of medicine, doctor of dental surgery, or doctor of veterinary medicine.

    (3))) The building fee for each academic year shall be a percentage of total tuition fees.  This percentage shall be calculated by the higher education coordinating board and be based on the actual percentage the building fee is of total tuition for each tuition category in the 1994-95 academic year, rounded up to the nearest half percent.

    (((4))) (2) The governing boards of each institution of higher education, except for the technical colleges, shall charge to and collect from each student a services and activities fee.  A governing board may increase the existing fee annually, consistent with budgeting procedures set forth in RCW 28B.15.045, by a percentage not to exceed the annual percentage increase in student tuition fees for ((the applicable tuition category)) resident undergraduate students:  PROVIDED, That such percentage increase shall not apply to that portion of the services and activities fee previously committed to the repayment of bonded debt.  These rate adjustments may exceed the fiscal growth factor.  For the 2003-04 academic year, the services and activities fee shall be based upon the resident undergraduate services and activities fee in 2002-03.  The services and activities fee committee provided for in RCW 28B.15.045 may initiate a request to the governing board for a fee increase.

    (((5))) (3) Tuition and services and activities fees consistent with subsection (((4))) (2) of this section shall be set by the state board for community and technical colleges for community college summer school students unless the community college charges fees in accordance with RCW 28B.15.515.

    (((6))) (4) Subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, each governing board of a community college may charge such fees for ungraded courses, noncredit courses, community services courses, and self‑supporting courses as it, in its discretion, may determine, consistent with the rules of the state board for community and technical colleges.

 

    Sec. 7.  RCW 28B.15.100 and 1999 c 321 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:

    (1) The governing boards of the state universities, the regional universities, The Evergreen State College, and the community colleges shall charge to and collect from each of the students registering at the particular institution for any quarter or semester such tuition fees and services and activities fees, and other fees as such board shall in its discretion determine.  The total of all fees shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar amount:  PROVIDED, That such tuition fees ((for other than the summer term)) shall be ((in the amounts for the respective institutions as otherwise set forth in)) established in accordance with RCW 28B.15.067.

    (2) Part-time students shall be charged tuition and services and activities fees proportionate to full-time student rates established for residents and nonresidents:  PROVIDED, That except for students registered at community colleges, students registered for fewer than two credit hours shall be charged tuition and services and activities fees at the rate established for two credit hours:  PROVIDED FURTHER, That, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, residents of Idaho or Oregon who are enrolled in community college district number twenty for six or fewer credits during any quarter or semester may be exempted from payment of all or a portion of the nonresident tuition fees differential upon a declaration by the higher education coordinating board that it finds Washington residents from the community college district are afforded substantially equivalent treatment by such other states.

    (3) Full-time students registered for more than eighteen credit hours shall be charged an additional operating fee for each credit hour in excess of eighteen hours at the applicable established per credit hour tuition fee rate for part-time students:  PROVIDED, That, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, the governing boards of the state universities and the community colleges may exempt all or a portion of the additional charge, for students who are registered exclusively in first professional programs in medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine, doctor of pharmacy, or law, or who are registered exclusively in required courses in vocational preparatory programs.

 


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