SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 1437

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Reported by Senate Committee On:

Higher Education

Higher Education & Workforce Development, February 22, 2018

Title: An act relating to adding a faculty member to the board of regents at the research universities.

Brief Description: Adding a faculty member to the board of regents at the research universities.

Sponsors: Representatives Pollet, Stambaugh, Orwall, Tarleton, Macri, Bergquist, Stanford and Dolan.

Brief History: Passed House: 2/28/17, 89-9; 2/01/18, 84-10.

Committee Activity: Higher Education: 3/28/17.

Higher Education & Workforce Development: 2/20/18, 2/22/18 [DP, DNP].

Brief Summary of Bill

Adds a full-time or emeritus member of the faculty to the Board of Regents for both the University of Washington and Washington State University.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Staff: Clint McCarthy (786-7319)

SENATE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION & WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Majority Report: Do pass.

Signed by Senators Ranker, Chair; Carlyle, Liias, Miloscia, Nelson and Short.

Minority Report: Do not pass.

Signed by Senators Palumbo, Vice Chair; Hawkins, Ranking Member.

Staff: Alicia Kinne-Clawson (786-7407)

Background: The University of Washington and Washington State University are governed by a Board of Regents. Each consists of ten members, one of whom is a student. The Board of Regents' members are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. The members hold terms of six years, except for the student member who holds a one-year term. The student member is not allowed to participate or vote on matters related to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

The Board of Regents has the following powers and duties:

maintain full control over the university and its property;
employ the university president, faculty, staff, and all university employees;
establish admissions requirements;
establish colleges, schools, or departments to carry out the purposes of the university;
prescribe courses of study with assistance from faculty;
grant certificates and degrees, including honorary degrees;
accept gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises for university benefit, and sell, lease, exchange, invest, or expend the same or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income from such;
enter into contracts;
submit reports to the Governor and Legislature; and
offer new degree programs, off-campus programs, participate in consortia or centers, contract for off-campus educational programs, and purchase or lease major off-campus facilities.

Summary of Bill: The Board of Regents for both the University of Washington and Washington State University are increased to 11 members, with the eleventh member being a full-time or emeritus member of the faculty. The faculty member must be selected by the Governor from a list of candidates submitted by the university's faculty senate and confirmed by the senate. The faculty member serves for a three-year term and must excuse oneself from voting on matters related to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of specific faculty members.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

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

Staff Summary of Public Testimony (Higher Education & Workforce Development): PRO: We have the principle of shared governance at our research universities. Shared governance should include representation by the faculty on the board of regents. We do have representation by the students on the board. While there is active participation from the faculty senate, what we don't have is voting representation from the faculty senate in the regent committees informing decisions about academic policies and recruitment and retention. The faculty have an incredible role to play in terms of sharing the perspective of working with students with the regents. This bill is the result of many discussions with the faculty senate and our presidents. This is a change that will benefit the state by adding this essential perspective to our university's governing boards. We believe that the addition of a faculty member will strengthen the governance of our institutions and ultimately the quality of their decisions. Right now, the only person on the board of regents that has the experience of spending the majority of their day on the university campus is the student regent.

Persons Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development): PRO: Representative Gerry Pollet, Prime Sponsor; JoAnn Taricani, Faculty Senate, University of Washington; Thaisa Way, Faculty Senate Chair, University of Washington; Alex Hur, SEIU 925; Carrie Matthews, UW.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying (Higher Education & Workforce Development): PRO: Joan Wu, Faculty Senate, Washington State University.