HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1437

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As Passed House:

February 28, 2017

Title: An act relating to adding a faculty member to the board of regents at the research universities.

Brief Description: Adding a faculty member to the board of regents at the research universities.

Sponsors: Representatives Pollet, Stambaugh, Orwall, Tarleton, Macri, Bergquist, Stanford and Dolan.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Higher Education: 2/8/17, 2/14/17 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/28/17, 89-9.

Brief Summary of Bill

Adds a full-time or emeritus member of the faculty to the board of regents for both the University of Washington and Washington State University.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 7 members: Representatives Hansen, Chair; Pollet, Vice Chair; Holy, Ranking Minority Member; Van Werven, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Sells, Stambaugh and Tarleton.

Staff: Megan Mulvihill (786-7304).

Background:

The Board of Regents.

The University of Washington and Washington State University are governed by a board of regents. Each consists of 10 members, one of whom is a student. The board of regents' members are appointed by the Governor with the consent of the Senate. The members hold terms of six years, except for the student member who holds a one-year term. The student member is not allowed to participate or vote on matters related to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

The board of regents has the following powers and duties:

maintain full control over the university and its property;

employ the university president, faculty, staff, and all university employees;

establish admissions requirements;

establish colleges, schools, or departments to carry out the purposes of the university;

prescribe courses of study with assistance from faculty;

grant certificates and degrees, including honorary degrees;

accept gifts, grants, conveyances, bequests, and devises for university benefit, and sell, lease, exchange, invest, or expend the same or the proceeds, rents, profits, and income from such;

enter into contracts;

submit reports to the Governor and Legislature; and

offer new degree programs, off-campus programs, participate in consortia or centers, contract for off-campus educational programs, and purchase or lease major off-campus facilities.

The Faculty Senate.

The faculty senate is the legislative body of the faculty. The faculty senate works with the university president to formulate regulations and procedures on matters related to education policy; student conduct and activities; scholastic policy; approval of degree candidates; criteria for faculty tenure, appointment, and promotion; and recommendations for campus and university budgets.

Summary of Bill:

The board of regents for both the University of Washington and Washington State University are increased to 11 members, with the eleventh member being a full-time or emeritus member of the faculty. The faculty member must be selected by the Governor from a list of candidates submitted by the university's faculty senate. The faculty member serves for a three-year term and must excuse himself or herself from voting on matters related to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of specific faculty members.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Adding a faculty member to the board of regents represents the joint governance of faculty and administrators. Faculty should have full participation and a vote. Students currently have a regent, so should faculty. It is firmly believed that a faculty regent will strengthen the universities. Faculty members are representatives of the state and have one of the most important roles in the university. They are the academic leaders and promote the mission of the university. A faculty member can enhance the board of regents' perspective and provide a more complete view.

Faculty members met many times to discuss this change, and it can take a while to develop these policies. Now is the time for a faculty member to be added to the research universities' boards of regents, and Washington would be following other states' leads. The regional institutions are not included in this legislation, because those conversations were not had.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Pollet, prime sponsor; JoAnn Taricani and Zoe Barsness, University of Washington; Joan Wu, Washington State University; and Julie Nicoletta, University of Washington Faculty Forward.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.