SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6095

BYSenators Benitz, Saling, Bluechel, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, Gaspard, Patterson, Bauer, von Reichbauer, Hayner, Smith, Rasmussen, West, Thorsness, Bailey, Johnson and Nelson

Providing for branch campuses.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):March 23, 1989

Majority Report:  Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Saling, Chairman; Patterson, Vice Chairman; Bauer, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, von Reichbauer.

Senate Staff:Scott Huntley (786-7421)

                  April 17, 1989

House Committe on Higher Education

AS PASSED SENATE, MARCH 27, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Washington State master plan for higher education, adopted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board and endorsed by the Legislature in 1988, recommends the creation of two branch campuses of the University of Washington and three branch campuses of Washington State University.

The master plan recommends the branch campuses of the University of Washington be located in the Tacoma area and in the Bothell-Woodinville area.

The master plan recommends the branch campuses of Washington State University be located in the Spokane area, the southwest Washington area, and in the Tri-cities area.

SUMMARY:

The Board of Regents of the University of Washington is given the authority to establish branch campuses in the Tacoma and Bothell-Woodinville areas.  The campuses will be designed to meet the need for upper-division and graduate programs in these areas, with emphasis on serving the needs of placebound students.

The Board of Regents of Washington State University is given the authority to establish branch campuses in Spokane, the southwest Washington area, and the Tri-cities area.  The Spokane branch campus will be designed to meet the need for upper- division and graduate education programs, with emphasis on graduate and research programs.  The southwest Washington branch campus shall be designed to meet the need for upper-division and graduate education programs in the area.  The campus shall replace the southwest Washington Joint Center for Education.  The Tri-cities branch campus shall be designed to continue and improve upon upper-division and graduate education programs.  The campus shall replace the Tri- cities University Center.

The method of organization, governance and administration of the branch campuses is to proposed by the appropriate governing board and subject to the approval of the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Legislature.  This provision does not apply to programs existing prior to the effective date of this act.

The governing boards are to adopt policies regarding faculty, staff and students appropriate to the missions of the branch campuses.

Admission standards for branch campuses will be adopted in accordance with policies adopted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The level of tuition fees charged to students at branch campuses is to be established by the Higher Education Coordinating Board in cooperation with the governing institutions.  The tuition charges are to be consistent with those established for graduate and undergraduate students at state four-year institutions.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will review and approve programs at branch campuses consistent with the procedures established for off-campus programs.

The University of Washington and Washington State University, respectively, are to establish a local advisory committee in each area where a branch campus is located.

This bill is null and void unless specifically referenced in the omnibus appropriations act. 

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested March 23, 1989

Effective Date:July 1, 1989

Senate Committee - Testified: No one

HOUSE AMENDMENTS:

The language of the Senate bill is stricken and the following provisions are inserted.

The Legislature endorses the assignments of responsibility to provide upper-division and graduate programs that the Higher Education Coordinating Board has made to various institutions of higher education.  The Legislature also endorses the creation of branch campuses for the University of Washington and Washington State University.

It is legislative intent that, at the same time funding is approved, enrollment lids at existing baccalaureate institutions should be raised at the upper-division level, to increase participation rates in underserved areas of the state.

The University of Washington is directed to ensure the expansion of upper-division and graduate programs in the central Puget Sound area.  The University will operate at least two branch campuses:  one campus to be located in the Bothell-Woodinville area, and one campus to be located in the Tacoma area.

Washington State University is directed to provide upper-division and graduate programs to the citizens of the Tri-Cities and southwest Washington areas.  The University will operate a branch campus located in each of those areas.  The Tri-cities branch campus shall replace and supersede the Tri-cities University Center.  All land, facilities, equipment, and personnel of the Tri-cities University Center shall be transferred from the University of Washington to Washington State University.

The Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute is created.  The institute will be operated as a multi-institutional education and research center, housing appropriate programs conducted in Spokane under the authority of Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and the community colleges of Spokane.  Gonzaga University and Whitworth College may participate as full partners in any academic and research activities of the institute.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will administer a demonstration project to provide educational opportunity grants to permit students in areas served by branch campuses to complete their upper-division coursework at any accredited independent baccalaureate institution of higher education.  Each participating student may receive up to $2,500 per academic year.  In order to be eligible for this program, students must be needy placebound residents of the state of Washington and have completed the associate of arts degree or its equivalent.

Washington State University and Eastern Washington University are jointly responsible for providing upper-division and graduate programs to the Spokane area.  Washington State University is directed to operate a branch campus in the Spokane area.  Eastern Washington University will meet its responsibility through co-located programs and facilities in Spokane.

Central Washington University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate programs to the citizens of the Yakima area.

Each of these universities shall carry out their responsibilities under rules or guidelines adopted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  Through its rules and guidelines, the board must ensure a collaborative partnership between the community colleges and four-year institutions.  In addition, before approving an institutional request to acquire facilities in one of the assigned areas, the board must explore a variety of creative and cost-effective ways to serve the educational needs of that area.

Authorization for the programs, increases, and facilities described in the bill, are subject to legislative appropriation.

A statute creating the Southwest Joint Center for Education is repealed.  The center, operated by Washington State University, The Evergreen State College, and Clark and Lower Columbia Community Colleges, is designed to serve the area's educational needs.