BILL REQ. #:  S-2455.1 

READ FIRST TIME 03/08/05.   

     AN ACT Relating to authorizing branch campuses to offer lower-division courses; amending RCW 28B.45.014, 28B.45.020, 28B.45.030, and 28B.45.040; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that the University of Washington Bothell, University of Washington Tacoma, Washington State University Tri-Cities, and Washington State University Vancouver have each conducted a thorough review of the campus mission and model of educational services and made recommendations to the legislature for the future evolution of the campus. The legislature further finds that in setting the course for branch campus expansion, the needs of the higher education system as a whole must be considered. The legislature recognizes that there are regional differences in relation to capacity gaps and programmatic needs of students that require a differential approach to individual branch campus expansion and that similar treatment of each campus may no longer be the most efficient way in which to address the higher education needs of the state. The legislature further believes that the original mission of branch campuses to contribute to regional economic development requires differential treatment of each campus based on the regional economic and higher education needs. Therefore, it is the legislature's intent to authorize each campus to expand its educational offerings to include lower-division courses but the expansion shall be unique to each campus, reflect the needs of the region the campus serves, and continue to support collaboration with the entire higher education system. It is further the intent of the legislature to make decisions relating to enrollments and per-student funding for the higher education institutions in the omnibus operating budget.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.45.014 and 2004 c 57 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The primary mission of the higher education branch campuses created under this chapter remains to expand access to baccalaureate and master's level graduate education in underserved urban areas of the state, both in collaboration with community and technical colleges for transfer students and, to the extent authorized by this chapter, by offering lower-division courses or admitting freshman and sophomore students.
     (2) Branch campuses shall collaborate with the community and technical 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.
     (3) In communities where a private postsecondary institution is located, representatives of the private institution may be invited to participate in the conversation about meeting the baccalaureate and master's level graduate needs in underserved urban areas of the state.
     (4) ((However, the legislature recognizes there are alternative models for achieving this primary mission. Some campuses may have additional missions in response to regional needs and demands. At selected branch campuses, an innovative combination of instruction and research targeted to support regional economic development may be appropriate to meet the region's needs for both access and economic viability. Other campuses should focus on becoming models of a two plus two educational system through continuous improvement of partnerships and agreements with community and technical colleges. Still other campuses may be best suited to transition to a four-year comprehensive university or be removed from designation as a branch campus entirely.
     (5))) It is the legislature's intent that each branch campus be funded commensurate with its unique mission((,)) and the degree programs offered, ((and the institutional combination of instruction and research,)) but at a level less than a research university.
     (((6))) (5) In consultation with the higher education coordinating board, a branch campus may propose legislation to authorize practice-oriented or professional doctoral programs if: (a) Unique research facilities and equipment are located near the campus; or (b) the campus can clearly demonstrate student and employer demand in the region that is linked to regional economic development.
     (((7) It is not the legislature's intent to have each campus chart its own future path without legislative guidance. Instead, the legislature intends to consider carefully the mission and model of education that best suits each campus and best meets the needs of students, the community, and the region.))

Sec. 3   RCW 28B.45.020 and 1994 c 217 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A primary responsibility of the University of Washington is ((responsible for ensuring)) to provide for the expansion of upper-division and graduate educational programs in the central Puget Sound area under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board and in accordance with proportionality agreements emphasizing access for transfer students developed with the state board for community and technical colleges. 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. In addition to upper-division and graduate educational programs, the branch campuses may offer lower-division coursework and enroll freshman and sophomore students as established in this section. This additional authority does not permit the branch campuses to restrict transfer capacity and access, but rather is intended to authorize the campuses to create additional lower-division capacity in accordance with regional needs.
     (2) The University of Washington Tacoma may offer lower-division coursework and enroll freshman and sophomore students who meet the university's admission criteria, in accordance with the campus plan submitted to the higher education coordinating board in 2004. The University of Washington Tacoma shall continue to collaborate with surrounding community and technical colleges.
     (3) The University of Washington Bothell may offer lower-division coursework only to the extent those courses are linked to specific majors in fields that are not addressed by programs offered at Cascadia community college. The University of Washington Bothell shall establish coadmission or coenrollment agreements with, at a minimum, Cascadia Community College by 2006 and may admit lower-division students through such agreements.
     Starting in 2006, the University of Washington Bothell may also offer targeted programs for freshmen and sophomores that create additional baccalaureate pathways for students who meet the university's admission criteria. These programs shall supplement and not duplicate existing two plus two programs with community colleges.

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.45.030 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A primary responsibility of Washington State University is ((responsible for providing)) to provide for upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the Tri-Cities area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board and in accordance with proportionality agreements emphasizing access for transfer students developed with the state board for community and technical colleges. 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.
     (2) In addition to upper-division and graduate level higher education programs, Washington State University Tri-Cities may offer lower-division coursework only to the extent those courses are linked to specific majors in fields that are not addressed by programs offered at the local community and technical college serving the community in which the program is offered. This additional authority does not permit the branch campus to restrict transfer capacity and access, but rather is intended to authorize the campus to create additional lower-division capacity in accordance with regional needs. Washington State University Tri-Cities shall establish a coadmission or coenrollment agreement with Columbia Basin College by 2006 and may admit lower-division students through such agreements.

Sec. 5   RCW 28B.45.040 and 1989 1st ex.s. c 7 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) A primary responsibility of Washington State University is ((responsible for providing)) to provide for upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the southwest Washington area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board and in accordance with proportionality agreements emphasizing access for transfer students developed with the state board for community and technical colleges. Washington State University shall meet that responsibility through the operation of ((a)) the Vancouver branch campus ((in the southwest Washington area)).
     (2) In addition to upper-division and graduate level higher education programs, Washington State University Vancouver may offer lower-division coursework and enroll freshman and sophomore students who meet the university's admission criteria. This additional authority does not permit the branch campus to restrict transfer capacity and access, but rather is intended to authorize the campus to create additional lower-division capacity in accordance with regional needs.