SENATE RESOLUTION

                                 8655

By Senator Hewitt

     WHEREAS, Walla Walla Community College was one of only two out of thirteen-hundred community colleges chosen for an 18-month study of economic and social benefits to the community by the Association of Community College Trustees, a national nonprofit education organization; and

WHEREAS, the study tracked three kinds of benefits: the contributions to local jobs and incomes, private benefits to exiting students, and social benefits to Walla Walla County, Columbia County,and northern Umatilla County; and

WHEREAS, the study found that 8.4 percent of the total earnings in the regional economy was attributable to Walla Walla Community College operations and past-student productivity; and

WHEREAS, the study found that without Walla Walla Community College the communities would immediately lose two percent of their economy; and

WHEREAS, the study found that Walla Walla Community College operations directly contributes $19.4 million with jobs and services to the region; and

WHEREAS, the study found that taxpayers in the region save $18.60 in costs associated with crime, medical care, welfare and unemployment for every $1 spent on education; and

     WHEREAS, the study found that Walla Walla Community College accounts for earnings in the region equal to that of over 3,600 jobs; and

     WHEREAS, the study found that every credit hour of instruction at Walla Walla Community College adds $56 to an exiting student=s annual income making the total value of credit hours of instruction equal to $46.4 million in earnings or 1,311 jobs in the Walla Walla economy; and

     WHEREAS, the study demonstrated that Walla Walla Community College is a sound public investment that enriches the lives of its students, both materially and culturally, while reducing the demand for taxpayer-supported social services and contributing to the economic vitality of the state;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the State of Washington, that the Walla Walla Community College Board of Trustees, President Steve VanAusdle, and all the members of the college faculty and staff be congratulated on participating in the Association of Community Colleges Trustees Study, and recognized for their significant contribution to their community and the state of Washington; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to Walla Walla Community College President Steve VanAusdle.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 2001-8655,

adopted by the Senate March 29, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate