FINAL BILL REPORT

                 SHB 1015

                         C 344 L 99

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Extending the tuition waiver for students in the western interstate commission for higher education undergraduate exchange program.

Sponsors:  By House Committee on Higher Education (Originally sponsored by Representatives Carlson, Radcliff and Sheahan).

House Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Appropriations

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Background:

The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program is a program through which students may enroll in designated institutions in other participating states outside their home state.  These students pay 150 percent of the receiving school's resident tuition, which is much less than the standard nonresident tuition.  For example, at Eastern Washington University (EWU)  the annual 1998-99 nonresident tuition rate for undergraduate students is $9,322, while 150 percent of the resident rate is $3,944.  In 1997-98,  approximately 8,300 students in 14 states participated in the WUE program. 

In fall 1998, Washington became a participating state on a limited basis when the 1998 Legislature authorized EWU to be a receiving institution in the WUE program  (section 606(6) and section 904(w) of the supplemental budget act).  The Legislature also increased the statutory limit on the percentage of operating fee revenue that EWU is allowed to waive from 11 percent to 14 percent.  The increased waiver authority is sufficient to provide waivers for approximately 100 WUE participants at EWU.  In fall 1998, the first quarter of WUE participation, EWU enrolled 129 students under the program.  Legislative authorization provided in the budget act expires on June 30, 1999.

When the state became a WUE participant in fall 1998, other participating states extended eligibility to Washington residents going to their participating institutions. Data from the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) indicates that 189 Washington residents participated as WUE students in other states during fall 1998.

Summary:

The governing boards of Washington State University (WSU), EWU, and Central Washington University (CWU) are authorized to waive all or a portion of the difference between the nonresident tuition rate and 150 percent of the resident rate for students participating in the WICHE, WUE program.  The amount of operating fee revenue that may be waived for students participating in WUE is limited to 1 percent at WSU, 3 percent at EWU and 3 percent at CWU.

Votes on Final Passage:

House940

Senate420

Effective:July 25, 1999