According to data provided by the state universities and regional universities for the 2020-21 academic year, the student to tenure-track faculty ratio ranged from a high of 48 students per tenure or tenure-track faculty member to a low of 20 students per tenure or tenure-track faculty member.

The ratios are as follows:

• University of Washington—20 to 1;
• Washington State University—34 to 1;
• Central Washington University—48 to 1;
• Eastern Washington University—42 to 1; and
• Western Washington University—27 to 1.

Subject to amounts appropriated specifically for this purpose, beginning in the 2023-24 academic year, the Legislature intends to add 200 faculty positions distributed across the state universities and regional universities.  The positions are divided among the institutions, with the most positions allocated to the institutions with the highest student to faculty ratio.  The allocations are as follows:

• 30 at the University of Washington;
• 30 at Washington State University;
• 50 at Central Washington University;
• 50 at Eastern Washington University; and
• 40 at Western Washington University.

 
The state universities and regional universities must develop faculty diversity programs for recruitment and retention of faculty from all racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds.  Institutions that have already developed a program that meet the requirements under the bill are considered in compliance.  Any hires made under this bill must be conducted in alignment with the faculty diversity program.
 
The state universities and regional universities must report on hires made under the bill by December 15, 2025.
 
The Washington Student Achievement Council, in consultation with experts in the field, must collect data and assess the impact of these hires on student outcomes by December 15, 2030.