SENATE BILL REPORT

2SHB 1640

BYHouse Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations (originally sponsored by Representatives Fox, Jacobsen, Miller, Kremen, Spanel, Heavey, Silver, Nelson, Jesernig, Braddock, Wineberry, Winsley,R. King, Valle, Leonard, Dellwo, Peery, Haugen,H. Sommers, Jones, Wang, Scott,P. King, Basich, Nutley, O'Brien, Hine, Sanders, Sayan, Pruitt, Todd, Lux,K. Wilson, Unsoeld, Betrozoff and Rust)

Establishing the G. Robert Ross public service award program for outstanding public service by faculty.

House Committe on Higher Education

Rereferred House Committee on Ways & Means/Appropriations

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 18, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass and refer to Committee on Ways & Means.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Anderson, Hansen, McMullen, Smitherman, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  February 18, 1988

Senate Committee on Ways & Means

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 29, 1988

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators McDonald, Chairman; Craswell, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Bluechel, Cantu, Deccio, Fleming, Gaspard, Hayner, Johnson, Lee, Moore, Newhouse, Smith, Talmadge, Warnke, Williams, Wojahn, Zimmerman.

Senate Staff:Stan Pynch (786-7715)

                  March 1, 1988

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON WAYS & MEANS, FEBRUARY 29, 1988

BACKGROUND:

In 1985, Washington instituted an innovative program to attract and retain outstanding faculty.  The Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program was designed to equally match public and private funds in support of preeminent scholars at the public four-year universities and college.  During the 1987-89 biennium, at the governor's request, the Legislature appropriated $5,000,000 in matching funds for the program.  The funds are allocated to the four-year institutions of higher education under a statutory formula.  Each institution will receive at least one professorship if sufficient private matching funds are pledged or received by the institution.

In November 1987, three top officials of Western Washington University were killed in the crash of a chartered plane.  The loss of G. Robert Ross, President; Jeanene DeLille, Vice President for University Advancement; and Don Cole, Vice President for Business devastated the university's students and employees.

Dr. Ross was an exemplary university president who helped to lead his school to a position of increasing excellence and national prominence.  He strongly encouraged the faculty, staff, and students at Western Washington University to work together cooperatively to advance the university's goals in the areas of academics, research, and public service. Dr. Ross was a convincing spokesperson for excellence in all areas of education, and, during the 1987 session, was a leader in helping convince the Legislature to substantially increase financial support for higher education programs such as the Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature wishes to honor the public spirit, dedication, integrity, perseverance, inspiration, and accomplishments of Western Washington University faculty through the creation of the G. Robert Ross Distinguished Faculty Award.

The G. Robert Ross Distinguished Faculty Award is established. The award will be administered by the governing board of Western Washington University.  The Board will adopt guidelines for the selection of the recipients of the award.  The board will also establish and administer a local endowment fund for the deposit of state funds and private donations.  The proceeds of the endowment fund may be used to supplement the salary of the holder of the award, to pay salaries of his or her assistants, and to pay expenses associated with the holder's scholarly work.

The Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program is revised to permit matching funds for the program to be received from either private donations or from a legislative appropriation specifically designated to match trust fund moneys.

$250,000 is appropriated for deposit in the G. Robert Ross Distinguished Faculty Endowment Fund.  These moneys are the designated match for the $250,000 allocated for the use of Western Washington University under the Distinguished Professorship Program.  The total of $500,000 will be deposited in the G. Robert Ross Distinguished Faculty Endowment Fund.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program may receive funds, specifically for the G. Robert Ross Distinguished Faculty Award, from either private donations or a legislative appropriation designated as qualified for matching from trust fund moneys.

The Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program is amended to eliminate one "floating" professorship that would have been awarded to the first regional university or state college which generated the additional $250,000 in private matching funds necessary to claim the "floating" professorship.  The regional universities and state college retain one guaranteed professorship each.  The appropriation allocation language for the Distinguished Professorship Trust Fund Program is revised to total $4,750,000; the G. Robert Ross Distinguished Faculty Award remains at $250,000.

Appropriation:    $250,000 to Western Washington University from the General Fund

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 16, 1988.

Senate Committee - Testified: HIGHER EDUCATION:  Representative Jim Fox (for); Acting President Al Froderberg, WWU (for); Bob Waldo, Council of Presidents (for); Jim Sullivan, Washington Student Lobby (for)

Senate Committee - Testified: WAYS & MEANS:  Senator Ann Anderson (for); Representative Jim Fox (for); Gordon Sandison, WWU Board of Trustees (for)