SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6554

BYSenators Saling, Stratton, Cantu, von Reichbauer, Johnson and Rasmussen

Requiring that degrees earned at branch campuses carry no special designation.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Senate Hearing Date(s):January 24, 1990; January 29, 1990

Majority Report:     Do pass.

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

Senate Staff:Scott Huntley (786-7421)

                January 31, 1990

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

BACKGROUND:

In 1989 legislation was enacted which directed the establishment of five branch campuses to provide higher education services to urban areas presently under-served by the state's higher education system. 

Two of the branch campuses created, in Tacoma and Bothell-Woodinville, will be branches of the University of Washington.  Three of the branch campuses, in the Tri-Cities, southwest Washington and Spokane, will be branches of Washington State University.  These two research universities are directed to provide upper-division and graduate higher education programs to the citizens of these designated areas through the branch campuses.

Concern has been raised about the possibility that one or both of the research universities offering degrees at branch campuses may offer degrees specially designated as being from the branch campus. This could result in a second-class status being attributed to those degrees received by citizens at a branch campus.  It has also been maintained that in offering its own separate degrees a branch campus may more easily become a free-standing, degree-granting institution.

It has been argued that the degrees offered at the branch campuses must be the same as those offered on the main campuses of the granting institution, in order to ensure the integrity of the baccalaureate and graduate degrees offered at the branch campuses to the citizens of this state who utilize those campuses for their educational and professional advancement.

SUMMARY:

All baccalaureate and graduate level degrees offered by state institutions of higher education through programs at branch campuses must be granted with the same designations as those granted to students on the main campus of the offering institution.

All degrees offered at branch campuses shall be the same as those granted at the main campus of the offering institution, with no separate designation of any kind denoting that the degree is granted at, or by, a branch campus.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:   none

Fiscal Note:    available

Senate Committee - Testified:   CON:  Sherry Burkey, University of Washington; Bob Thompson, University of Washington; Hugh Fleetwood, Council of Faculty Representatives