AN ACT Relating to upper-division and graduate level higher education programs; adding new sections to Title 28B RCW; adding new sections to chapter 28B.80 RCW; creating a new section; and repealing RCW 28B.30.510.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that the benefits of higher education should be more widely available to the citizens of the state of Washington. The legislature also finds that a citizen's place of residence can restrict that citizen's access to educational opportunity at the upper division and graduate level.

Because most of the state-supported baccalaureate universities are located in areas removed from major metropolitan areas, the legislature finds that many of the state's citizens, especially those citizens residing in the central Puget Sound area, the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Vancouver, and Yakima, have insufficient and inequitable access to upper-division baccalaureate and graduate education.

This lack of sufficient educational opportunities in urban areas makes it difficult or impossible for place-bound individuals, who are unable to relocate, to complete a baccalaureate or graduate degree. It also exacerbates the difficulty financially needy students have in attending school, since many of those students need to work, and work is not always readily available in some communities where the baccalaureate institutions of higher education are located.

The lack of sufficient educational opportunities in metropolitan areas also affects the economy of the underserved communities. Businesses benefit from access to the research and teaching capabilities of institutions of higher education. The absence of these institutions from some of the state's major urban centers prevents beneficial interaction between businesses in these communities and the state's universities.

The Washington state master plan for higher education, adopted by the higher education coordinating board, recognizes the need to expand upper-division and graduate educational opportunities in the state's large urban centers. The board has also attempted to provide a means for helping to meet future educational demand through a system of branch campuses in the state's major urban areas.

The legislature endorses the assignment of responsibility to serve these urban centers that the 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.

The legislature recognizes that, among their other responsibilities, the state's comprehensive community colleges share with the four-year universities and colleges the responsibility of providing the first two years of a baccalaureate education. It is the intent of the legislature that the four-year institutions and the community colleges work as cooperative partners to ensure the successful and efficient operation of the state's system of higher education. The legislature further intends that the four-year institutions work cooperatively with the community colleges to ensure that branch campuses are operated as models of a two plus two educational system.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

It is the intent of the legislature that, at the same time additional capital or operating funds are approved for the purposes of sections 3 through 7 of this act, enrollment lids at existing baccalaureate institutions of higher education should be raised at the upper-division level insofar as doing so would increase participation rates in underserved areas.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. The University of Washington is responsible for ensuring the expansion of upper-division and graduate educational programs in the central Puget Sound area under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board. The University of Washington shall meet that responsibility through the operation of at least two branch campuses. One branch campus shall be located in the Tacoma area. Another branch campus shall be located in the Bothell-Woodinville area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. Washington State University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the Tri-Cities area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board. Washington State University shall meet that responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Tri-Cities area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. Washington State University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the southwest Washington area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board. Washington State University shall meet that responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the southwest Washington area.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. Washington State University and Eastern Washington University are responsible for providing upper- division and graduate level programs to the citizens of the Spokane area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board. Washington State University shall meet its responsibility through the operation of a branch campus in the Spokane area. Eastern Washington University shall meet its responsibility through the operation of co-located programs and facilities in Spokane.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. Central Washington University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate level higher education programs to the citizens of the Yakima area, under rules or guidelines adopted by the higher education coordinating board.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

In rules and guidelines adopted for purposes of this act, the higher education coordinating board shall ensure a collaborative partnership between the community colleges and the four-year institutions. The partnership shall be one in which the community colleges prepare students for transfer to the upper-division programs of the branch campuses.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 9. A new section is added to chapter 28B.80 RCW to read as follows:

Before approving any institutional request to acquire facilities in an area assigned in sections 3 through 7 of this act, the higher education coordinating board shall ensure that creative and cost-effective methods of serving the needs of each assigned area are considered, including but not limited to:

(1) Exploring the possibility of time-sharing existing college or university facilities for instructional and administrative purposes;

(2) Using rented facilities; and

(3) Utilizing telecommunication technology.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 10. Authorization for the programs, increases, and facilities described in this act is subject to legislative appropriation.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 11. Sections 3 through 7 and 10 of this act are each added to Title 28B RCW.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 12. Section 13, chapter 72, Laws of 1983 1st ex. sess., section 1, chapter 408, Laws of 1985 and RCW 28B.30.510 are each repealed.