HOUSE BILL REPORT

SB 5197

BYSenators Gaspard, Rinehart, Saling, Bender, Peterson, Stratton, Conner, Bauer, von Reichbauer and Moore

Establishing the community college international student exchange program.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Heavey, Vice Chair; Allen, Barnes, Basich, Jesernig, Nelson, Silver, Unsoeld, K. Wilson and Wineberry.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 27, 1987

BACKGROUND:

In 1945 the legislature created the first Foreign Student Scholarship Program.  The program authorized the University of Washington and Washington State College (University) to award up to 50 scholarships to students from friendly foreign nations.  Participating students were exempted from paying tuition, library, and incidental fees.  That law required reciprocal privileges for a similar number of Washington students or graduates studying abroad. In 1979 the program was expanded to permit the three regional universities and The Evergreen State College each to award up to 20 foreign student waivers.

In 1982 the foreign student program was repealed, but provisions for its continuation were provided within the waiver program that allows each of the four-year schools to award waivers of no more than 4 percent of estimated total collections from tuition and services and activities fees.  Each local governing board was given explicit authority to award up to one-fourth of its 4 percent waiver program to non-needy students, which could include foreign students.

In 1986, the legislature recreated the foreign student waiver program.  Regents at the research universities were granted authority to waive tuition and services and activities fees for up to the equivalent of 100 full-time undergraduate or graduate students of foreign nations.  Trustees at the regional universities and The Evergreen State College were granted authority to waive tuition and services and activities fees for up to the equivalent of 20 undergraduate or graduate students of foreign nations.

Students selected for waivers are, to the greatest extent possible, to reflect the range of socio-economic and ethnic characteristics of the students' institutions and native countries.  Priority for waivers is assigned to students on academic exchanges or academic programs sponsored by recognized international education organizations.  These waivers shall promote reciprocal placements and waivers in foreign nations for Washington residents, and the number of waivers shall not exceed the number of that institution's own students enrolled in approved study programs abroad during the same period.  Recipients of foreign student waivers are not eligible for any other waivers, and the waivers granted are not subject to the 4 percent limitation on tuition waivers.

SUMMARY:

The community college international student exchange program is established to permit governing boards of Washington community colleges to waive the nonresident portion of tuition fees for undergraduate students of foreign nations.  Waiver priority is given to students on academic exchanges and to those participating in special programs recognized through formal agreements between states, cities and other institutions.

The waiver program is designed to promote reciprocal placements and waivers in foreign nations for Washington residents.  The number of foreign students granted resident tuition through this program shall not exceed the number of that institution's own students enrolled in approved study programs abroad during the same period.

Participation in the waiver program is limited to 100 full-time students from throughout the state's community college system.

Fiscal Note:      Attached.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Pam Brown, State Board for Community College Education; Gerald Jordheim, Skagit Valley College and Julie Hungar, Seattle Community College.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Some community colleges have active exchanges with colleges in sister cities or provinces in other countries.  These relationships facilitate international trade connections and cultural exchanges.  The community colleges would like to encourage reciprocal student exchanges with colleges in their sister cities, but the cost of out-of-state tuition inhibits those exchanges.  Some foreign countries, such as China, will provide free tuition, free rent, and free medical care to exchange students from Washington who enroll in their schools.  In contrast, the state of Washington does not provide any assistance to foreign students attending Washington community colleges.  If Washington will waive the nonresident portion of tuition for a few exchange students, more reciprocal placements will be possible.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.