By Senators Dammeier, Conway, Becker, Sheldon, Brown, Dansel, O'Ban, Angel, Cleveland, Bailey, Hasegawa, Parlette, Padden, Litzow, Pearson, Chase, Roach, Rivers, Miloscia, Braun, Fain, Benton, Frockt, Mullet, Nelson, Schoesler, Rolfes, Billig, Fraser, McAuliffe, Darneille, Liias, Hatfield, Kohl-Welles, and Jayapal

WHEREAS, In 1989, the Legislature passed a bill establishing five new university campuses, allowing UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, and WSU Vancouver to open their doors to students 25 years ago; and

WHEREAS, These new campuses were established with the mission of expanding access to higher education in Washington State's urban centers, making bachelor's and graduate degree programs more widely available, particularly for place-bound and low-income students who cannot travel to another city to earn a degree; and

WHEREAS, These university campuses were established with an accompanying mission to drive economic development in their regions, which they have accomplished through the expansion of their physical campuses, through the strengthening of their regional workforces, and by applying university research to critical problems and challenges facing the communities they serve; and

WHEREAS, In 2005, the Legislature passed a bill allowing these campuses to become full four-year campuses, enrolling first- and second-year students in addition to continuing to serve transfer students from the state's community and technical college system; and

WHEREAS, In 2011, the Legislature recognized the continued growth and expansion of these newer UW and WSU campuses by authorizing them to provide doctorate-level degrees; and

WHEREAS, These UW and WSU campuses continue to grow, together enrolling more than 15,000 students annually—a number which grows each year—and with tens of thousands of graduates, most of whom stay in the regions where they earned their degrees, contributing to the economic, cultural, and civic life of their communities; and

WHEREAS, These campuses have established and continue to develop academic and research expertise in areas that are nationally relevant and important, which benefits the entire state by extending the reach of our world-renowned research universities; and

WHEREAS, This academic year, each of these 25 year old university campuses are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the day the State of Washington made it possible for them to enroll their first students;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor the 25th anniversary of the founding of the UW Bothell, UW Tacoma, WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, and WSU Vancouver campuses during this celebratory year, reaffirming our shared dedication to educational excellence and access to education for the citizens of Washington; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the chancellors of these distinguished institutions.