HOUSE BILL REPORT
SHB 3113
As Passed Legislature
Title: An act relating to expanding access to higher education in north Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties using the university center model.
Brief Description: Expanding access to higher education using the university center model.
Sponsors: By House Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Education (originally sponsored by Representatives Sells, Kenney, Strow, McCoy, Haler, Dunshee, B. Sullivan, Lovick, Roberts and Hasegawa).
Brief History:
Higher Education & Workforce Education: 1/27/06, 1/31/06 [DPS];
Appropriations: 2/4/06 [DPS(HEWE)].
Floor Activity:
Passed House: 2/9/06, 90-8.
Passed Senate: 3/3/06, 48-0.
Passed Legislature.
Brief Summary of Substitute Bill |
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HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE EDUCATION
Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 12 members: Representatives Kenney, Chair; Sells, Vice Chair; Cox, Ranking Minority Member; Rodne, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Buri, Fromhold, Hasegawa, Jarrett, Ormsby, Priest, Roberts and Sommers.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 1 member: Representative Dunn.
Staff: Nina Oman (786-7152).
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Majority Report: The substitute bill by Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Education be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass. Signed by 27 members: Representatives Sommers, Chair; Fromhold, Vice Chair; Anderson, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bailey, Buri, Chandler, Clements, Cody, Conway, Darneille, Dunshee, Grant, Haigh, Hunter, Kagi, Kenney, Kessler, Linville, McDermott, Miloscia, Pearson, Priest, Schual-Berke, P. Sullivan, Talcott and Walsh.
Minority Report: Without recommendation. Signed by 3 members: Representatives Alexander, Ranking Minority Member; Armstrong and Hinkle.
Staff: Brian Enslow (786-7143).
Background:
The North Snohomish, Island and Skagit (NSIS) Counties Higher Education Consortium was
meant to provide students in the NSIS region with opportunities to access higher education
from a variety of higher education institutions offering classes through one location, the
Everett Station. House Bill 1794, passed in 2005, subsequently found that the NSIS
Consortium did not meet the needs of the region. The bill further stated that the university
center model of service delivery, centered on a community college campus with a single point
of accountability, has proven more effective in developing degree programs and attracting
students.
The state therefore assigned management and leadership responsibility for the NSIS
Consortium to Everett Community College, and requested a plan for the region to include
preliminary recommendations, due to the Legislature December 1, 2005.
Everett Community College submitted a report titled "Higher Education Opportunity in the
NSIS region (Preliminary Report)" to the Legislature on December 1, 2005. This report
describes the vision for a new "University Center of North Puget Sound," which would
sponsor bachelor's and graduate degree programs offered by a variety of different universities.
The University Center of North Puget Sound would be located at Everett Station through
2008, and then relocate to Everett Community College in January of 2009 with the opening
of a new undergraduate education center on the college campus. Depending on enrollment
growth, the report states that additional space may be required beyond 2011.
The preliminary report submitted by Everett Community College describes projections of the
population to the year 2025. In the Snohomish area, the total population is projected to
expand by 39 percent, in the Island region by 35 percent, and in the Skagit region by 46
percent. Low baccalaureate participation rates and low transfer rates are attributed to the lack
of a baccalaureate institution in the region. Student interest in baccalaureate opportunities in
the NSIS region was documented through a survey conducted by the University of
Washington. Of the students surveyed, 83 percent of community college students said they
wanted to continue beyond an associate degree. A follow-up survey conducted by Everett
Community College found that half of all people surveyed said they would complete a
bachelor's degree if the program of their choice was available in the Everett area. Employer
needs in the area, as stated in the report, include interest in educational options for employees
who already have earned a technical associate degree, but who need a bachelor's degree to
strengthen their skills.
The report also describes goals which include serving between 450 and 620 full-time
equivalent (FTE) students by the year 2011, and 700 to 1,500 FTEs by the year 2015. The
range of needed FTEs will depend on when new programs can be added, and whether new
opportunities for participation in higher education will successfully meet the needs of the
expected population growth in the area.
The need for higher education enrollment in the NSIS region has been documented in a study
required by a 2005 Capital Budget Proviso. This proviso directs the Higher Education
Coordinating Board to undertake a higher education needs assessment of the Snohomish,
Island and Skagit Counties region. An interim report was due to the Legislature on January
15, 2006, and a final report is due December 1, 2006. The interim report projects unmet need
at the upper-division level to 4,141 FTEs, and unmet need at the graduate/professional level
to 2,397 FTEs by the year 2025.
Summary of Substitute Bill:
The Legislature accepts the preliminary report "Higher Education Opportunity in the NSIS
region" as representative of the needs for higher education in the NSIS region. The
Legislature finds unmet need in the area and intends to support enrollment growth as
represented in the report.
The Legislature intends to provide funding for a minimum of 250 FTEs at the upper-division
and graduate levels for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, to meet the higher education
needs of the NSIS region. The funding will include support fields of study including but not
limited to engineering, technology, nursing and health professions, environmental sciences,
education, interdisciplinary studies, and other areas of study based on student and employer
demand.
Everett Community College, with the assistance of Edmonds Community College and Skagit
Valley College, and the universities participating in offering enrollment will submit a report
to the Legislature due July 1, 2007. The report will describe the number of enrollments and
degrees resulting from the new FTE funding, as well as the effect of those enrollments and
degrees on local communities.
The act is null and void if specific funding for the purposes of this bill is not appropriated.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Available.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed except section 1, relating to legislative findings and a report requirement, which takes effect on July 1, 2006. However, the bill is null and void if not funded in the budget.
Testimony For: (Higher Education & Workforce Education) All of the NSIS region is
growing. Snohomish County is one of the most underserved areas in the state. This bill
gives us a chance to respond to higher education needs in all of the NSIS counties. The work
required by House Bill 1794 has laid the groundwork for this bill, with a plan that is
regionally focused.
There is a lack of higher education opportunity in the region. People don't want to drive for
higher education. The area needs a four-year university presence. Face-to-face education is
important. A community college/university partnership with funded FTEs offering bachelor's
degrees is a viable way to respond to the needs in the area. Employers want workers who are
locally trained. The Everett Chamber of Commerce took a poll, and 90 percent of those
polled want to see baccalaureate degrees offered in town.
Existing university centers have worked through challenges associated with the model and
could serve as examples. Enrollments and degree approval processes will need to happen
quickly to meet the deadlines in the bill.
Testimony For: (Appropriations) The impetus for this bill is house bill 1794, which was
passed by the Legislature last year. House Bill 1794 assigned leadership of the North
Snohomish Island Skagit Consortium to Everett Community College. House bill 2989 is part
of our response to last year's legislature, which challenged the community college to develop
a plan for meeting the needs of the community. The plan demonstrates that it is import to
offer a broad and robust array of programs in order to be effective.
Everett Community College is the single point of accountability which is needed to create
and develop, manage, and monitor partnerships with four-year institutions to bring degree
opportunities to region. The institutions will provide the courses, and collect tuition. The
University Center will ensure the access. Dedicated enrollment funding is the key ingredient
needed to accomplish this vision.
Testimony Against: (Higher Education & Workforce Education) None.
Testimony Against: (Appropriations) None.
Persons Testifying: (Higher Education & Workforce Education) Representative Sells, prime sponsor; Representative Dunshee; Patrick McLain, City of Everett; Ann Anderson, Central Washington University; Jack O'harah, Edmonds Community College; Christine Kerlin, Nancy Truitt Pierce, and Michael Kerns, Everett Community College; and Loretta Seppanen, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges.
Persons Testifying: (Appropriations) Christine Kerlin, Everett Community College; and Michael Kerns, Everett Community College.