5914-S2AMHHEH5227.12SSB 5914H COMM AMDBy Committee on Higher Education Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert thefollowing:NEW SECTION.Sec. The legislature recognizes that southwestWashington continues to be the fastestgrowing region in the state andis successfully attracting a wide array of corporations and businessesvital to the future expansion of the economy of the region and theentire state. The legislature also recognizes that southwestWashington is the largest urban area in the state without access to aninstate, public fouryear institution of higher education. However,the legislature finds that other areas of the state could alsopotentially benefit educationally and economically from expandedbaccalaureate and graduate education opportunities. With increaseddemand and limited resources to provide such expansion, the legislaturefinds it necessary to examine thoroughly and objectively the prospectof creating additional educational opportunities not only in southwestWashington but also in other underserved areas of the state.NEW SECTION.Sec. (1) The Washington state institute forpublic policy shall develop evaluation criteria and identify datanecessary to study the feasibility of creating additional publicbaccalaureate and graduate education opportunities in underserved areasof the state. The criteria must be rigorous, objective, and applicableto various regions of the state. The study methodology must includeconsultation with community leaders. The criteria must include but notbe limited to the following: (a) A detailed regional analysis of student demand and supply ofdegree programs from existing higher education institutions; (b) Population and demographic projections for a region; (c) Potential regional economic development, including types of 1 businesses and employers and their educational and work force trainingneeds; (d) Evaluation of alternative models of providing baccalaureate andprofessional graduate education in a region, including expandingexisting partnerships between community and technical colleges andfouryear institutions; (e) Examination of the possible role and mission of new or modifiedhigher education institutions in a region, including the possibility ofan innovative combination of instruction and research suitable formeeting a region's needs for access as well as support the expansion ofa region's economic viability; (f) Analysis of short and longterm operating and capital costs;and (g) A balance between local or regional interests and statewideneeds. (2) Once the evaluation criteria, data, and methodology have beendeveloped, the institute shall conduct the first feasibility study insouthwest Washington. (3) The institute shall submit its findings from the firstfeasibility study to the higher education and fiscal committees of thesenate and house of representatives by December 15, 2004.NEW SECTION.Sec. If specific funding for the purposes of thisact, referencing this act by bill or chapter number, is not provided byJune 30, 2004, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act is null andvoid.2SSB 5914H COMM AMDBy Committee on Higher Education On page 1, line 1 of the title, after education; strike theremainder of the title and insert and creating new sections.Before conducting a feasibility study for additional 2 baccalaureate and graduate education in southwest Washington, theInstitute must first develop evaluation criteria and identify the datanecessary to conduct a study that is rigorous, objective, and could beapplied in various regions of the state. A balance between local orregional interests and statewide needs is added to the list of analysesthat are part of the study. Once the criteria, data, and methodologyare developed, the Institute will conduct the first study in southwestWashington.--- END --- 3