COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Rep. Don Carlson, Republican Co-Chair and
Rep. Phyllis Kenney, Democratic Co-Chair
BILL ANALYSIS
HB 1015
Brief Description: Extending the tuition waiver for students in the Western Interstate Commission For Higher Education (WICHE) Western Undergraduate Exchange program (WUE).
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. They pay 150 percent of the receiving school=s resident tuition, much less than the standard nonresident tuition. For example, at Eastern Washington University the annual 1998-99 nonresident tuition rate for undergraduate students $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 of Washington became a WUE participant in fall 1998, other participating states extended eligibility to Washington residents going to their participating institutions. Data from WICHE indicate that 189 Washington residents participated as WUE students in other states during fall 1998.
Summary: The governing board of Washington State University (WSU) is authorized to waive all or a portion of the difference between the nonresident tuition rate and 150 percent of the resident rate for residents of Idaho and Oregon who enroll at its Pullman, Spokane, or Vancouver campuses under the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. The statutory limit on the amount of operating fee revenue that WSU is allowed to waive is increased from 20 percent to 21 percent, sufficient to provide waivers to approximately 300 WUE participants.
Prepared for the House Higher Education Committee
by Sherie Story, Research Analyst (786-7120)
Office of Program Research
January 19, 1999
The governing board of Eastern Washington University (EWU) is authorized to waive all or a portion of the difference between the nonresident tuition rate and 150 percent of the resident rate for residents of Idaho and Oregon who enroll under the Western Undergraduate Exchange program. The statutory limit on the amount of operating fee revenue that EWU is allowed to waive is increased from 11 percent to 14 percent, sufficient to provide waivers to approximately 100 WUE participants.
HB 1015 Page 2
Prepared for the House Higher Education Committee
by Sherie Story, Research Analyst (786-7120)
Office of Program Research
January 19, 1999