SENATE 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.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 21, 1988

Senate Staff:Scott Huntley (786-7421)

AS OF JANUARY 19, 1988

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.

In 1987 supporters of the exchange program requested that the number of waivers permitted at the regional universities and The Evergreen State College be increased from a total of 80 to a total of 120.

SUMMARY:

The total number of tuition and services and activity fee waivers which may be granted to students of foreign nations at the regional universities and The Evergreen State College is increased from 80 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.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested 1/14/88