HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESB 6095

BYSenators Benitz, Saling, Bluechel, Cantu, Smitherman, Stratton, Gaspard, Patterson, Bauer, von Reichbauer, Hayner, Smith, Rasmussen, West, Thorsness, Bailey, Johnson and Nelson

Providing for branch campuses.

House Committe on Higher Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Jacobsen, Chair; Van Luven, Ranking Republican Member; Fraser, Heavey, Jesernig, H. Myers, Prince, Rector and Wood.

Minority Report:  Without recommendation.  (4)

      Signed by Representatives Spanel, Vice Chair; Basich, Doty and Inslee.

House Staff:Susan Hosch (786-7120)

AS PASSED SENATE

BACKGROUND:

In 1985, the Higher Education Coordinating Board was created and charged with the responsibility of preparing a comprehensive master plan.  By statute, the plan was to include assessments of the state's higher education need.  The assessments could include, among other things, the basic and continuing needs of various age groups; business and industrial needs for a skilled workforce; analyses of demographic, social, and economic trends; and the needs of recent high school graduates and placebound adults.  The Board was encouraged to consider the needs of residents of all geographic regions, but to apply its initial priorities to heavily populated areas underserved by public institutions.

The Board completed its "Master Plan for Higher Education" in 1987.  In the plan, the Board found that a substantial underserved, placebound population does exist in the state's large urban areas.  The Board determined that additional upper-division and graduate level programs should be provided to the citizens living in or near the central Puget Sound, Spokane, Vancouver, and the Tri- Cities.  During 1988, the Board added Yakima to the list of areas needing additional upper-division and graduate programs.  The Board also recommended that both traditional modes of delivery and telecommunications should be employed to serve the educational needs of these areas.

The Board assigned to the University of Washington the responsibility for ensuring the expansion of upper-division and graduate programs in the Puget Sound area.  Washington State University was assigned the responsibility for providing upper-division and graduate programs to Vancouver and the Tri-Cities.  Washington State University and Eastern Washington University were jointly assigned the responsibility for serving the upper-division and graduate program needs of the Spokane area.  Central Washington University was assigned the responsibility for providing additional upper- division programs to the citizens of the Yakima area.

The University of Washington and Washington State University were directed to develop plans to serve unmet needs and to meet their assigned program responsibilities through the operation of branch campuses in their service areas.

SUMMARY:

The Legislature endorses the assignments of responsibility to provide upper-division and graduate programs that the Higher Education Coordinating Board has made to various institutions of higher education.  The Legislature also endorses the creation of branch campuses for the University of Washington and Washington State University.

It is legislative intent that, at the same time that funding is approved for serving these areas, enrollment lids at existing baccalaureate institutions should be raised at the upper-division level, to the extent that doing so will increase participation rates in underserved areas of the state.

The University of Washington is directed to ensure the expansion of upper-division and graduate programs in the central Puget Sound area.  The University will meet that responsibility through the operation of at least two branch campuses:  one campus to be located in the Bothell-Woodinville area, and one campus to be located in the Tacoma area.

Washington State University is directed to provide upper-division and graduate programs to the citizens of the Tri-Cities and Southwest Washington areas.  The University will meet those responsibilities through the operation of a branch campus located in each of those areas.

Washington State University and Eastern Washington University are jointly responsible for providing upper-division and graduate programs to the Spokane area.  Washington State University is directed to meet its obligation through the operation of a branch campus in the Spokane area.  Eastern Washington University will meet its responsibility through co-located programs and facilities in Spokane.

Central Washington University is responsible for providing upper-division and graduate programs to the citizens of the Yakima area.

Each of these universities shall carry out their responsibilities under rules or guidelines adopted by the Higher Education Coordinating Board.  Through its rules and guidelines, the Board must ensure a collaborative partnership between the community colleges and four-year institutions. In addition, before approving an institutional request to acquire facilities in one of the assigned areas, the Board must explore a variety of creative and cost-effective ways to serve the educational needs of that area.

The Spokane Intercollegiate Research and Technology Institute is created.  The Institute will be operated and administered through a cooperative agreement as a multidimensional education and research center.  Washington State University, Eastern Washington University and the community colleges of Spokane will offer programs through the Institute.  Gonzaga University and Whitworth College may participate as full partners in any activities at the Institute.  Washington State University will be the Institute's fiscal and administrative agent.

The coordination of programs and activities at the Institute is subject to the authority of the Spokane Joint Center for Higher Education.  The establishment of programs, and the lease, purchase and construction of sites and facilities is subject to the approval of the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will administer the Educational Opportunity Grant Project.  This demonstration project will be designed to permit needy, placebound students to complete their upper division coursework at any eligible accredited college or university.  Students living in and near the following areas may participate:  the central Puget Sound,Yakima, Spokane, the Tri-Cities, and Vancouver.  Each participating student may receive up to $2,500, not to exceed the student's demonstrated financial need.

Authorization for the programs, increases, and facilities described in the bill, are subject to legislative appropriation.

A statute creating the Southwest Joint Center for Education is repealed.  The Center, operated by Washington State University, The Evergreen State College, and Clark and Lower Columbia Community Colleges, is designed to serve the area's educational needs.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 68; Nays 29; Excused 1 - 4/14/89 (SB 6095 as House Amended)

Voting Nay: Representatives Ballard, Basich, Baugher, Beck, Belcher, Bowman, Braddock, Brekke, Brumsickle, Chandler, Crane, Doty, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Haugen, Inslee, Jones, Kremen, Locke, McLean, Miller, Rayburn, Sayan, Schmidt, Smith, Spanel, S. Wilson, Youngsman and Zellinsky

Excused:    Representatives Gallagher