HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1079

BYRepresentatives Haugen, S. Wilson, Basich, Zellinsky, Jones and Jacobsen

Including maritime technology and osteopathic medicine students in compact-authorized educational programs.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendment.  (10)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Fraser, Heavey, Inslee, Jesernig, H. Myers and Wood.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FEBRUARY 22, 1989

BACKGROUND:

For more than three decades, Washington has been a member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).  Washington's participation in the organization began when this state, in statute, ratified and approved the Western Regional Higher Education Compact.

Through four programs administered by WICHE, over 2,000 residents of 14 western states are enrolled, at reduced levels of tuition, in a broad spectrum of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs that are not available in their home state.

The Professional Student Exchange Program is the oldest and largest of the WICHE exchange programs. Students pay resident tuition (or approximately one-third of regular tuition at private institutions).  The student's home state, or sending state, pays an additional support fee established by WICHE.  The professional exchange program includes 16 fields of study.  While Washington receives students studying in a number of fields, the state has limited its participation as a sending state to students studying optometry.

In 1988, Washington sent 25 state residents to attend WICHE optometry programs at a cost of $157,500.  Washington institutions received 106 Wiche exchange students.  Seventy-one students attended public colleges.  At the University of Washington, 45 students were enrolled in the following professional programs: dentistry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, law, public health, and library studies.  At Washington State University, 26 students were enrolled in the veterinary medicine program.  Washington received $710,287 in fees for those students.  In addition, 34 students attended the University of Puget Sound to study physical and occupational therapy programs.  One law student attended Gonzaga University.  The support fees for students attending independent institutions totaled $134,701.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board administers Washington's participation in WICHE.  The Board is directed, by statute, to develop plans for the state's participation.  If state appropriations are not sufficient to permit any resident student who wishes to attend an out-of-state exchange program, the Board's plans must include criteria for selecting participants.  The criteria for student selection must be in the best interest of meeting the state's educational needs, and must take into account a student's financial need.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED: The Higher Education Coordinating Board is directed to analyze the state's need for degree programs offered through the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education's Professional Student Exchange Program.  Beginning in the 1990-91 academic year, the Board will select students for the program based on the results of those analyses, giving priority to students pursuing degrees in areas in which the state has the greatest need for expertise.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL: Rather than selecting students for maritime studies and osteopathic medicine programs, in addition to students selected for optometry programs, the Board will analyze the state's need for various kinds of expertise, giving priority to students studying in areas in which expertise is most needed.

Fiscal Note:      Requested February 22, 1989.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Marilyn Sjolund, Higher Education Coordinating Board.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The WICHE exchange programs offer an opportunity to Washington students to obtain training in fields that are not available within the state.  Some of those programs, such as the maritime studies program, offer expertise that is sorely needed in Washington.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.