Brief Description: Providing for a full-time or emeritus faculty member on the governing boards of state colleges and universities.

Sponsors: Representatives Wallace, Goodman, Hasegawa, Priest, Dunshee, Anderson, Linville, Haigh, Fromhold, Ormsby, Roberts, Kelley and Chase.

Hearing Date: 1/24/08

Staff: Cece Clynch (786-7195).

Background:

The University of Washington (UW) and Washington State University (WSU) are each governed by a board of regents. Each board has 10 members appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. Nine of the members serve six year terms. The tenth member, a student, is appointed to a one year term. The student member is specifically prohibited from voting on matters related to hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members.

The Evergreen State College (TESC) and the regional universities, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, and Western Washington University, are each governed by an eight member board of trustees appointed by the Governor. Seven of the members of each board serve six year terms. The eighth member, a student, is appointed to a one year term. The student member cannot participate in voting on matters related to hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members.

In the exercise of their powers and duties, boards of regents and boards of trustees:

• control the university and its property of various kinds, except as otherwise provided     by law;
• employ the president of the university as well as faculty members;
• establish entrance and completion requirements;
• establish colleges, schools and departments necessary to carry out the purpose of the     institution;
• prescribe the courses of study;
• grant degrees and certificates;
• accept gifts and grants for the use and benefit of the institution;
• enter into contacts as essential for institutional purposes; and
• submit reports to the Governor and Legislature.

Each member of a board of regents or board of trustees takes an oath to faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the position and to perform strictly and impartially to the best of his or her ability.

Summary of Bill:

It is recognized that faculty members are subject specialists with extensive experience in teaching and learning, in general, as well as in their specific fields. It is further noted that faculty members also participate in their institutions by designing and monitoring programs, including standards, curricula, and degree requirements while the boards of regents and boards of trustees are charged with establishing entrance requirements, schools, colleges, departments, and degree requirements.

A full-time or emeritus member of the faculty is added to the board of regents or the board of trustees of each of the public four-year institutions. With these additions, the UW and WSU would be governed by a board of eleven. The regional universities and TESC would each have a nine member board of trustees.

The Governor is to select the faculty member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, supplied by the governing body of the university or college faculty. Like all of the members except the student member, the faculty member of the board would serve a six-year term.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 21, 2008.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.