HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5958

BYSenators Rinehart, Gaspard, Anderson and Peterson

Specifying the number of waivers of tuition for foreign students at the four-year institutions of higher education.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Allen, Barnes, Basich, Jesernig, Nelson, Silver, Unsoeld, K. Wilson and Wineberry.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION MARCH 24, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1986 the Legislature reestablished the foreign student waiver program which allows governing boards of the four-year public college and universities to waive tuition and services and activities fees for undergraduate or graduate students of foreign nations.  The program allows the boards of regents at the research universities to grant no more than the equivalent of 100 full-time waivers and the boards of trustees at the regional universities and The Evergreen State College to grant no more than the equivalent of 20 full-time waivers.  Students on academic exchanges or academic special programs sponsored by recognized international education organizations are given priority in the program which promotes reciprocal placements and waivers in foreign nations for Washington residents.  The number of waivers must not exceed the number of each institution's own students enrolled in approved study programs abroad during the same period.

Supporters of the exchange program have requested that the number of waivers permitted at the regional universities and Evergreen be increased by a total of 40.

SUMMARY:

The number of tuition and service activity fee waivers which may be granted to students of foreign nations at the regional universities and The Evergreen State College is increased by a total of 40 to 120, with a maximum of 20 at Evergreen, a maximum of 28 at Central Washington University, a maximum of 33 at Eastern Washington University and a maximum of 39 at Western Washington University.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    George Drake, Western Washington University.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Western Washington University has used the twenty tuition waivers it was granted in 1986 as leverage for creating exchange programs with China and Japan.  The university would like to see the waiver program expanded to enable more students to enjoy the benefits of participating in international exchanges.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.