SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6490

BYSenators Rinehart, Saling, Stratton, Bauer, Rasmussen, Patterson, Gaspard, Cantu and DeJarnatt

Creating the first generation scholars program.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 25, 1990; January 29, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass and be referred to Committee on Ways & Means.

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

Senate Staff:Jean Six (786-7423)

                  January 31, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION, JANUARY 29, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Financial assistance has become increasingly necessary for worthy students who lack the resources to attend a college or university.  Changes in federal and other sources of student financial aid, the increased reliance on loans, as well as the costs of attending an institution of higher education have made it infinitely more difficult for some students to continue with their education.  Many times there are groups of people who do not recognize that the opportunity is even available to them.  First generation college students will help provide diversity in the student population while encouraging a new population to strive for a higher education.

SUMMARY:

The First Generation Scholars Program shall be designed to increase the number of first generation college students attending state institutions of higher education by providing scholarships, as funds are available, to selected eligible applicants.  "First generation college student" is defined as a student whose parents did not attend an institution of higher education.  The Higher Education Coordinating Board will administer the program by adopting rules, allocating available moneys to state institutions of higher education to select the recipients, publicizing the program with emphasis on elementary grade students and their families, and soliciting and accepting grants and donations from public and private sources.

A person is eligible to be selected for the program if the person's parents have not attended an institution of higher education, the person qualifies as a resident student, the person meets the definition of needy student or disadvantaged student, and the person is accepted for enrollment by a state institution of higher education.

A grant shall not exceed the tuition and fees for one academic year at the state institution attended.  An individual shall not receive grants for more than four academic years.

Appropriation:    $100,000

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      none requested

Senate Committee - Testified: Shelton K. Jackson, Franklin High School; Scott Olsen, Western Washington University; Betty Fallihee, Higher Education Coordinating Board; Joe Olander, The Evergreen State College; Judy McNickle, Western Washington University