AN ACT Relating to the operation of branch campuses; amending RCW 28B.45.010, 28B.45.020, 28B.45.030, 28B.45.040, and 28B.45.050; and adding new sections to chapter 28B.45 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 28B.45 RCW to read as follows:

It is the intent of the legislature to guarantee the quality and integrity of programs and degrees offered at the branch campuses established by this chapter.

The regional universities and state colleges have extensive experience in providing upper-division programs and degrees at various off-campus locations in this state. They are providing the highest quality upper-division educational programs to the citizens of this state at a lower cost level than the research universities have recommended for branch campus operations. The regional universities and state colleges have experience at offering baccalaureate degrees at off-campus locations which are the same, in designation and quality, as those provided at the main campus, with no secondary or lower status attributed to degrees obtained off-campus. Such experience and ability will ensure the integrity of the baccalaureate degrees offered at the branch campuses to the citizens of this state who utilize those campuses for their educational and professional advancement.

It is the intent of the legislature that the regional universities and state colleges be assigned the responsibility for offering and developing the upper-division programs established at the branch campuses, while the research universities maintain responsibility for the graduate program offerings. The higher education coordinating board shall designate a regional university or state college to provide upper-division programs for each particular branch campus area, and the regional university or state college chosen for a particular branch campus shall be responsible for all upper-division programs offered and for the administration of the branch campus.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 28B.45 RCW to read as follows:

The higher education coordinating board shall designate a regional university or state college to provide upper-division programs and degrees for the branch campuses established by this chapter.

The regional university or state college assigned such responsibility at the respective branch campuses shall grant the specific baccalaureate degrees offered at the particular branch campus. The designated research university for each branch campus shall grant the specific graduate level degrees offered at the particular branch campus.

All such degrees, baccalaureate or graduate, shall be granted with the same designations as those granted to students on the main campus of the institution offering the degree. Institutions offering degrees shall make no separate designation of any kind denoting that the degree is granted at, or by, a branch campus. All degrees, baccalaureate or graduate, shall be the same as those granted at the main campuses of the offering institutions.

The regional universities or state colleges assigned upper-division responsibility at branch campuses shall be responsible for all upper-division programs offered and for the administration of the branch campuses.

Sec. 3. Section 1, chapter 7, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.45.010 are each amended to read as follows:

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~~)) directs the higher education coordinating board to change 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~~)) to meet the needs of underserved urban areas.

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.

Sec. 4. Section 3, chapter 7, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.45.020 are each amended to read as follows:

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 responsibility for ensuring the expansion of upper-division educational programs in the central Puget Sound area shall reside with regional universities or state colleges assigned such responsibility by the higher education coordinating board. The University of Washington and the designated regional universities or state colleges shall meet ((~~that responsibility~~)) their respective responsibilities 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. The regional universities or state colleges selected to provide upper-division programs at the respective branch campuses shall be responsible for the administration of the branch campuses.

Sec. 5. Section 4, chapter 7, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.45.030 are each amended to read as follows:

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. The responsibility for providing upper-division educational programs in the Tri-Cities area shall reside with regional universities or state colleges assigned such responsibility by the higher education coordinating board. Washington State University and the designated regional universities or state colleges shall meet ((~~that responsibility~~)) their respective responsibilities through the operation of a branch campus in the Tri-Cities area. The branch campus shall replace and supersede the Tri-Cities university center. The regional universities or state colleges selected to provide the upper-division programs at the branch campus shall be responsible for the administration of the branch campus. All land, facilities, equipment, and personnel of the Tri-Cities university center shall be transferred from ((~~the University of Washington to~~)) Washington State University to the regional universities or state colleges assigned responsibility for the provision of upper-division programs at the branch campus by the higher education coordinating board.

Sec. 6. Section 5, chapter 7, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.45.040 are each amended to read as follows:

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. The responsibility for providing upper-division educational programs in the southwest Washington area shall reside with regional universities or state colleges assigned such responsibility by the higher education coordinating board. Washington State University and the designated regional universities or state colleges shall meet ((~~that responsibility~~)) their respective responsibilities through the operation of a branch campus in the southwest Washington area.

Sec. 7. Section 6, chapter 7, Laws of 1989 1st ex. sess. and RCW 28B.45.050 are each amended to read as follows:

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 be responsible for graduate level programs and Eastern Washington University for upper-division programs. Washington State University and Eastern Washington University shall meet ((~~its responsibility~~)) their respective responsibilities through the joint operation of a branch campus in the Spokane area. Eastern Washington University ((~~shall~~)) may also meet its responsibility through the operation of allocated programs and facilities in Spokane.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. If any provision of this act or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of the act or the application of the provision to other persons or circumstances is not affected.