SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 5717

BYSenators Talmadge and Fleming

Waiving graduate tuition for specified students.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 21, 1989

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

AS OF FEBRUARY 20, 1989

BACKGROUND:

While the number of minority graduate students increased in the '70s, it has been declining steadily -- especially among Blacks and Native Americans -- for the last 10 years.  The Council of Graduate Schools based in Washington, D.C. recognizes the dearth of minority graduate students as a crisis which needs to be addressed.  There are ways to successfully attract and retain minority graduate students:  making use of national funding sources which provide support for minority students, building bridges between the graduate institution and historically Black institutions, and keeping the problem visible on graduate institution campuses by publishing statistics on minority students in various departments.

SUMMARY:

To promote diversity and eliminate under-representation of ethnic minorities in graduate and professional programs, a waiver of tuition and fees is authorized in a pilot program of 600 graduate and professional students.  The board of regents or trustees of each of the state's regional universities, The Evergreen State College, or state universities may waive tuition and fees for minority students pursuing graduate and professional degrees.  No more than half of the waivers will be awarded to nonresidents.  The Higher Education Coordinating Board will prepare a biannual report which includes an evaluation of the waiver program, a student progress tracking report, and a recommendation on funding for the next biennium.

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested February 15, 1989