BILL REQ. #:  H-1085.1 

Read first time 01/27/09.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of institutions of higher education; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.76 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.76 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall convene and staff an effectiveness and efficiency work group composed of representatives from the state board for community and technical colleges, the council of presidents, and the four-year institutions of higher education. The work group shall review all aspects of the provision of higher education and recommend action items and systemic changes designed to optimize the use of resources and yield savings and cost avoidances that can be redirected so as to maintain academic and research quality, accommodate enrollment demands, and moderate tuition increases. During the course of the review and recommendation process, the work group shall give consideration to:
     (a) Increasing collaboration among institutions of higher education in academic offerings, technology applications, and the procurement of materials, equipment, and energy;
     (b) Identifying means for shortening the time to degree;
     (c) Redesigning large, high enrollment undergraduate courses in order to improve learning outcomes and reduce the per student cost;
     (d) Establishing and reaching faculty workload goals;
     (e) Packaging need-based financial aid in order to increase access for low-income students, first generation students, and students of color;
     (f) Eradicating unnecessary barriers to transfer between institutions; and
     (g) Other means for optimizing the use of resources and achieving financial savings at state, institutional, and student levels.
     (2) The board, the state board for community and technical colleges, the council of presidents, and the institutions of higher education shall make every effort to implement recommended action items and systemic changes, quantify the associated efficiencies and savings to the extent possible, and redirect the savings to preserve academic and research quality, accommodate enrollment demands, and moderate the need for increased state funding and tuition increases.
     (3) By December 1, 2010, and every two years thereafter, the board shall report the recommended action items and systemic changes identified by the work group to the higher education committees of the house of representatives and the senate. The report shall include information concerning the status of implementation of each item or change, quantify the associated efficiencies and savings achieved, identify how the savings were redirected, and identify any legislative action needed to implement any recommended items or changes.