S-5693.1 _______________________________________________
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 8424
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State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1994 Regular Session
By Senators Bauer, Drew, Rinehart, Sheldon, Quigley, Cantu, Prince and West
Read first time . Referred to Committee on .
WHEREAS, The state of Washington and the institutions of higher education are operating in times of tremendous change that is both financial and societal; and
WHEREAS, Washington's public colleges and universities are subject to many state laws and rules designed to regulate state agencies and these laws and rules may not assist the institutions of higher education to carry out their educational missions in an effective manner; and
WHEREAS, It is becoming increasingly difficult for the state to provide the level of funding necessary to support access to high quality postsecondary education and work force training programs indispensable to Washington's residents and to the state's economic vitality; and
WHEREAS, It is time to examine the relationship of the state to its public institutions of higher education, to reexamine the principles that define higher education, to distinguish the contribution of both public and independent postsecondary institutions, and to determine the state's role in supporting citizens' access to those institutions;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, By the Senate of the state of Washington, the House of Representatives concurring, That the joint select committee on higher education be established to study state policies affecting higher education, including financing of and budgeting for public colleges and universities, management flexibility and accountability, tuition, financial aid, and governance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee also consider the role of the state in providing an affordable, flexible, cost-effective, and accountable educational enterprise offering lifelong learning; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the joint select committee consist of twelve voting members chosen as follows: Six members of the Senate, three members from each caucus appointed by the President of the Senate, and six members of the House of Representatives, three from each caucus appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee select cochairs from among its own members and that these cochairs be empowered to invite nonvoting members to assist the committee in its deliberations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee consult with the office of financial management, the higher education coordinating board, the state board for community and technical colleges, representatives of Washington's public and private four-year institutions of higher education, the work force training and education coordinating board, and other groups and individuals as the issue being studied requires; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That staffing to the committee be provided by the office of program research and senate committee services and that the joint select committee may request assistance and support as necessary from those agencies consulted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That committee members be reimbursed for travel in accordance with RCW 44.04.120; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee report its preliminary findings and recommendations to the legislature by January 5, 1995, and any additional recommendations by March 15, 1995; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the committee's study replace the study of funding policies and revenue sources for postsecondary education by a citizen-legislator task force as described in Substitute House Concurrent Resolution No. 4408, adopted by the legislature during the 1993 legislative session.
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