BILL REQ. #:  H-3636.2 

Read first time 01/20/2004.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to higher education branch campuses; amending RCW 28B.45.020, 28B.45.030, 28B.45.040, 28B.45.050, and 28B.80.510; adding new sections to chapter 28B.45 RCW; recodifying RCW 28B.80.510; and repealing RCW 28B.45.070, 28B.80.500, and 28B.80.520.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.45 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) In 1989, the legislature created five branch campuses to be operated by the state's two public research universities. Located in growing urban areas, the branch campuses were charged with two missions:
     (a) Increasing access to higher education by focusing on upper division and graduate programs, targeting placebound students, and operating as models of a two plus two educational system in cooperation with the community colleges; and
     (b) Promoting regional economic development by responding to demand for degrees from local businesses and supporting regional economies through research activities.
     (2) Fifteen years later, the legislature finds that branch campuses are responding to their original mission:
     (a) Branch campuses accounted for half of statewide upper division and graduate public enrollment growth since 1990;
     (b) Branch campuses have grown steadily and enroll increasing numbers of transfer students each year;
     (c) Branch campuses enroll proportionately more older and part-time students than their main campuses and attract increasing proportions of students from nearby counties;
     (d) Although the extent of their impact has not been measured, branch campuses positively affect local economies and offer degree programs that roughly correspond with regional occupational projections; and
     (e) The capital investments made by the state to support branch campuses represent a significant benefit to regional economic development.
     (3) However, the legislature also finds the policy landscape in higher education has changed since the original creation of the branch campuses. Demand for access to baccalaureate and graduate education is increasing rapidly. The state must prioritize additional expenditures in higher education to ensure the most cost-effective investment of public resources. The branch campuses have each evolved into unique institutions, and internal and external pressures are beginning to move them away from their original mission.
     (4) Therefore, it is the legislature's intent to reaffirm the mission of Washington's higher education branch campuses and set the course for their continued future expansion and development to meet the education needs of the citizens of Washington state in a cost-effective manner.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   A new section is added to chapter 28B.45 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The primary mission of the five higher education branch campuses created under this chapter is to expand access to baccalaureate and master's level graduate education in under-served urban areas of the state. The branch campuses shall place a priority on providing instruction and related activities to support degree and certificate programs.
     (2) Branch campuses shall collaborate with the community colleges in their region to develop articulation agreements, dual admissions policies, and other partnerships to ensure that branch campuses serve as innovative models of a two plus two educational system. Other possibilities for collaboration include but are not limited to joint development of curricula and degree programs, colocation of instruction, and arrangements to share faculty.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 28B.45 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) It is the legislature's intent that branch campuses be funded at a level consistent with their primary mission and commensurate with upper division and graduate level degree programs at the comprehensive universities.
     (2) The higher education coordinating board shall evaluate faculty workload, research activities, and funding for research at the branch campuses to identify an appropriate funding level for each campus. By December 1, 2005, the board shall recommend a strategy to transition overall funding to implement legislative intent. The board shall also recommend a growth plan for each branch campus to achieve economies of scale in operation and coordinate expansion in both enrollment and facilities.

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.45.020 and 1994 c 217 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The University of Washington is responsible for ensuring the expansion of upper-division and master's level graduate educational programs in the central Puget Sound area under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board. The University of Washington shall meet that responsibility through the operation of at least two branch campuses. One branch campus shall be located in the Tacoma area. Another branch campus shall be collocated with Cascadia Community College in the Bothell-Woodinville area.

Sec. 5   RCW 28B.45.030 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     Washington State University is responsible for providing upper-division and master's level graduate ((level)) higher education programs to the citizens of the Tri-Cities area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board. Washington State University shall meet that responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Tri-Cities area. The branch campus shall replace and supersede the Tri-Cities university center. All land, facilities, equipment, and personnel of the Tri-Cities university center shall be transferred from the University of Washington to Washington State University.

Sec. 6   RCW 28B.45.040 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     Washington State University is responsible for providing upper-division and master's level graduate ((level)) higher education programs to the citizens of the southwest Washington area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board. Washington State University shall meet that responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the southwest Washington area.

Sec. 7   RCW 28B.45.050 and 1991 c 205 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     Washington State University and Eastern Washington University are responsible for providing upper-division and master's level graduate ((level)) programs to the citizens of the Spokane area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the ((joint center for)) higher education coordinating board, except that Washington State University may offer the doctoral program authorized before the effective date of this act. ((However, before any degree is authorized under this section it shall be subject to the review and approval of the higher education coordinating board.)) Washington State University shall meet its responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Spokane area. Eastern Washington University shall meet its responsibility through the operation of programs and facilities in Spokane.

Sec. 8   RCW 28B.80.510 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 8 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((In rules and guidelines adopted for purposes of chapter 7, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess.,)) The higher education coordinating board shall adopt rules, guidelines, and performance measures to ensure a collaborative partnership between the community colleges and the ((four-year institutions)) branch campuses. The partnership shall be one in which the community colleges prepare students for transfer to the upper-division programs of the branch campuses and the branch campuses work with community colleges to enable students to transfer and obtain degrees efficiently.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 9   RCW 28B.80.510 as amended by this act is recodified as a new section in chapter 28B.45 RCW.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 10   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 28B.45.070 (Authorization subject to legislative appropriation) and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 14;
     (2) RCW 28B.80.500 (Branch campuses -- Adjustment of enrollment lids) and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 2; and
     (3) RCW 28B.80.520 (Branch campuses -- Facilities acquisition) and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 9.