FINAL BILL REPORT

SSB 5217

C 148 L 12

Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description: Allowing appointment of student members on the boards of trustees of community colleges.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators Shin, White, Nelson, Sheldon, Murray, Delvin, Rockefeller, Harper, Kline, Keiser, Conway, Chase, Eide and Fraser).

Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development

House Committee on Higher Education

Background: The University of Washington, Washington State University, the regional universities, and The Evergreen State College all have student members on their boards of regents or boards of trustees. There are no student members on the boards for any of the community college districts.

Boards at community and technical colleges have five trustees. Districts containing technical colleges must include at least one member from business and another from labor.

Summary: By a majority vote, the boards of trustees in any college district may establish a sixth trustee position to be filled by a full-time student in good standing throughout the student's term. The student trustee is selected, by the Governor, from a list of three-to-five candidates submitted by the student government of that college district and serves a one-year term or until the student member's successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is later. The student trustee is disqualified if he or she fails to be enrolled at the college full-time or forfeits his or her academic standing. A new member must be appointed to replace the disqualified member. The student must excuse himself or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel, or any other matters pertaining to collective bargaining agreements.

Votes on Final Passage: