Title: An act relating to making appropriations to institutions of higher education to conduct comprehensive reviews of admission applications.

Brief Description: Making appropriations to conduct reviews of admission applications.

Sponsors: Senators Kohl-Welles, Pridemore, McAuliffe, Weinstein, Brown, Kline and Jacobsen.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Ways & Means: 3/7/05 [DPS, DNP, w/oRec].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6073 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Prentice, Chair; Doumit, Vice Chair; Fraser, Vice Chair; Fairley, Kohl-Welles, Pridemore, Rasmussen, Regala, Rockefeller and Thibaudeau.

Minority Report: Do not pass.Signed by Senators Zarelli, Ranking Minority Member; Hewitt, Pflug, Roach and Schoesler.

Minority Report: That it be referred without recommendation.Signed by Senators Brandland and Parlette.

Staff: Richard Ramsey (786-7412)

Background: Many higher education institutions offer admission to some students based on review of high school grade point averages and scores on standardized tests. These students' essays and personal statements are not considered. By conducting a comprehensive review of each applicant, that is, reading the entire application, colleges and universities may create diverse student bodies, without giving preferential treatment to any group of students.

Summary of Substitute Bill: The comprehensive and research higher education institutions are encouraged to establish policies on diversity in admissions and to conduct comprehensive reviews of every application for admission.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill: The appropriation is deleted.

Appropriation: Yes.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: None.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: No one.