S-4637.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 6581
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Senators Bauer, Prince, Drew, Cantu, Oke and Sheldon
Read first time 02/01/94. Referred to Committee on Higher Education.
AN ACT Relating to higher education students' concerns; creating a new section; and declaring an emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. (1) Each president of an institution of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 shall convene a task force to address the issues of concern to students on every major campus of the institution. The task force shall provide a forum for students to work in a collaborative environment with the administration of their college or university to identify and resolve problems identified by the students.
(2) The council of presidents and the state board for community and technical colleges shall coordinate the development of a format for reporting the results of the task forces for their respective institutions. The institutions shall report to the senate and house of representatives committees on higher education as follows: (a) By June 30, 1994, a preliminary report on the establishment of the task forces and a process for identifying student issues; (b) by November 30, 1994, an interim report including the identification of the three priority issues for the students of each institution; and (c) by January 7, 1995, a final report from each four-year institution and the community and technical college system. The final report shall identify issues that have been resolved, those that can be resolved through a continued institutional conversation, and those issues that may need legislative attention. The final report for the community and technical college system shall identify up to five issues of common concern to students in that system. The final report shall also include a recommendation from the state board for community and technical colleges and the council of presidents on the feasibility of creating an ongoing process for addressing and reporting issues of student concern on individual campuses and for the two-year and four-year systems.
(3) When selecting members of each institution's task force, the following groups shall make appointments from their membership: The associated student government organization, the governing boards, the faculty senate, student services, administration, student legislative liaisons, representatives from services and activities fees committees, Washington association of community college students, Washington student lobby, graduate and professional student association, and government relations personnel. Other organizations or individuals may be included as appropriate.
(4) Issues to be discussed by the members of the task forces may include but are not limited to:
(a) Services and activities fees;
(b) The right of students to lobby for student issues;
(c) Voluntary fees;
(d) Student membership on the governing boards;
(e) Student participation in the process for adopting special fees such as for special programs, computer access, health fees, or late fees;
(f) The role of teaching in the tenure process;
(g) A process for discussing emerging issues with the students;
(h) Installment payments for tuition;
(i) Guaranteed tuition rate;
(j) Housing;
(k) The establishment of a financial aid trust;
(l) Undergraduate advising;
(m) Child care; and
(n) Campus safety.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.
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