SB 5411-S2 - DIGEST

(DIGEST OF PROPOSED 2ND SUBSTITUTE)

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.

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.

Expresses a belief 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.

Declares an 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.

Declares an intent to make decisions relating to enrollments and per-student funding for the higher education institutions in the omnibus operating budget.