BILL REQ. #:  S-1661.1 

Read first time 02/19/2007.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to the modification of the governing boards of state colleges and universities; amending RCW 28B.20.100, 28B.30.100, 28B.35.100, and 28B.40.100; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds:
     (1) College and university faculty are subject specialists in teaching and learning assessment, as well as their specialized fields;
     (2) College and university faculty are frontline service providers, designing courses, assessing students, supervising student research, pursuing research grants, and conducting studies that can affect the health, economy, teaching, music, and art of the state; and
     (3) College and university faculty are policymakers, establishing admissions standards for programs, curricula for programs, degree requirements, and the need for and acceptability of new degree programs, at the levels of the department, for each school or college, and for the college or university as a whole.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.20.100 and 2006 c 78 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The governance of the University of Washington shall be vested in a board of regents to consist of ten members, one of whom shall be a student and, beginning with the first appointment after the effective date of this section, one of whom shall be a full-time member of the faculty of the university. The governor shall select the student member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the associated students. The governor shall select the faculty member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the university faculty. They shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate, and, except for the student member, shall hold their offices for a term of six years from the first day of October and until their successors shall be appointed and qualified. The student member shall hold his or her office for a term of one year from the first day of July until the first day of July of the following year or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. The student member shall be a full-time student in good standing at the university at the time of appointment.
     (2) Six members of said board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the case of a vacancy, or when an appointment is made after the date of the expiration of a term, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the regent whose office has become vacant or expired.
     (3) Except for the term of the student member, no more than the terms of two members will expire simultaneously on the last day of September in any one year.
     (4) A student appointed under this section shall excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

Sec. 3   RCW 28B.30.100 and 2006 c 78 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The governance of Washington State University shall be vested in a board of regents to consist of ten members one of whom shall be a student and, beginning with the first appointment after the effective date of this section, one of whom shall be a full-time member of the faculty of the university. The governor shall select the student member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the associated students. The governor shall select the faculty member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the university faculty. They shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the consent of the senate and, except for the student member, shall hold their offices for a term of six years from the first day of October and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The student member shall hold his or her office for a term of one year from the first day of July until the first day of July of the following year or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. The student member shall be a full-time student in good standing at the university at the time of appointment.
     (2) Six members of said board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the case of a vacancy or when an appointment is made after the date of the expiration of a term, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the regent whose office has become vacant or expired.
     (3) Except for the term of the student member, no more than the terms of two members will expire simultaneously on the last day of September in any one year.
     (4) Each regent shall, before entering upon the discharge of his or her respective duties as such, execute a good and sufficient bond to the state of Washington, with two or more sufficient sureties, residents of the state, or with a surety company licensed to do business within the state, in the penal sum of not less than five thousand dollars, conditioned for the faithful performance of his or her duties as such regent: PROVIDED, That the university shall pay any fees incurred for any such bonds for their board members.
     (5) A student appointed under this section shall excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.35.100 and 2006 c 78 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The governance of each of the regional universities shall be vested in a board of trustees consisting of eight members, one of whom shall be a student and, beginning with the first appointment after the effective date of this section, one of whom shall be a full-time member of the faculty of the university. The governor shall select the student member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the associated students. The governor shall select the faculty member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the governing body of the university faculty. They shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate and, except for the student member, shall hold their offices for a term of six years from the first day of October and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The student member shall hold his or her office for a term of one year from the first day of July and until the first day of July of the following year or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. The student member shall be a full-time student in good standing at the respective university at the time of appointment.
     (2) Five members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In case of a vacancy, or when an appointment is made after the date of expiration of the term, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the trustee whose office has become vacant or expired.
     (3) Except for the term of the student member, no more than the terms of two members will expire simultaneously on the last day of September in any one year.
     (4) A student appointed under this section shall excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

Sec. 5   RCW 28B.40.100 and 2006 c 78 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The governance of The Evergreen State College shall be vested in a board of trustees consisting of eight members, one of whom shall be a student and, beginning with the first appointment after the effective date of this section, one of whom shall be a full-time member of the faculty of the college. The governor shall select the student member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the student body. The governor shall select the faculty member from a list of candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by the college faculty. They shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate and, except for the student member, shall hold their offices for a term of six years from the first day of October and until their successors are appointed and qualified. The student member shall hold his or her office for a term of one year from the first day of July and until the first day of July of the following year or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. The student member shall be a full-time student in good standing at the college at the time of appointment.
     (2) Five members of the board constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In case of a vacancy, or when an appointment is made after the date of expiration of the term, the governor shall fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term of the trustee whose office has become vacant or expired.
     (3) Except for the term of the student member, no more than the terms of two members will expire simultaneously on the last day of September in any one year.
     (4) A student appointed under this section shall excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.