HOUSE BILL REPORT

SSB 5503

BYSenate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators Patterson, Vognild, Newhouse, Gaspard, Sellar, Bauer, Craswell, Warnke, Talmadge and Johnson)

Establishing the Cherberg scholarship program.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Spanel, Vice Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Basich, Bennett, Doty, Fraser, Heavey, Jesernig, Miller, Rector and Wood.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION FEBRUARY 21, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Washington has a number of programs designed to assist needy and meritorious students with the costs of their higher education.  Tuition waivers and other forms of financial aid are provided to needy students.  Tuition waivers or grants are provided to Washington Scholars and recipients of the Washington Award for Vocational Excellence.  Tuition waivers are also provided to students in a variety of other categories.

Washington also provides a few programs designed to attract students into various professions.  For example, forgivable loans and conditional scholarships are provided to exemplary students entering the teaching and nursing professions. In addition, the Washington state House of Representatives has a fellowship program for graduate students or the recent recipients of graduate degrees.  Up to five students may be selected to work for the House for a year.  These students must have a background in and a commitment to public service.

SUMMARY:

A scholarship program for students pursuing a career in public service is created in honor of former Lieutenant Governor John A. Cherberg.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will administer the Cherberg Scholarships. With the assistance of a screening committee, the board will select scholarship recipients. The board will also develop selection criteria and publicize the program. The criteria will include a demonstrated interest in public service as indicated in a written competition submitted with the scholarship application.

Scholarship recipients must be full-time resident students with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00. These students must be undergraduate or graduate students who have declared a major, and have accumulated a minimum of 60 semester credit hours or the equivalent.  At least one-half of the recipients must be needy students.

The board may award scholarships from appropriated funds, private donations, or other funds available for the program.  The maximum scholarship will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees at a public institution of higher education for one academic year.  The scholarships are not renewable.

For the 1989-91 biennium, the board will provide two scholarships each year to eligible students attending each public institution of higher education.  At each institution, one scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate student, and one will be awarded to a graduate student.  For the purposes of the act, $48,498 is appropriated to the board.

Appropriation:    $48,498 to the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Fiscal Note:      Available.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Tina Chou, Washington Student Lobby.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The majority of financial aid awarded to students in this state is granted in the form of loans.  The scholarships proposed in this legislation will help make education available to upper division and graduate students.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.