February 2005• The monthly newsletter for UWT faculty and staff

Legislature considers the future of higher education

Higher education is a major focus of discussion in legislative halls and hearing rooms in Olympia this year. In addition to the ongoing problem of paying for enrollment growth, legislators are considering where to establish the next four-year baccalaureate programs.

UW Tacoma is asking for 400 FTE for the 2005-07 biennium - 200 for fall 2005, 200 for fall 2006 - all for upper-division students. The cost for 400 FTE is $4.2 million. From the capital budget, UWT is seeking $7.5 million for an assembly hall to replace the Dawg Shed and $5.5 million to continue purchasing property in the 46-acre campus footprint and to remediate contaminated soil.

In January, the state Higher Education Coordinating Board endorsed the UWT plan, outlined in our HB 2707 report, to evolve gradually into a four-year school beginning with 100 freshmen. The start date for admitting freshmen was moved to 2007. The board also endorsed WSU Vancouver's plan to admit freshmen in 2006 and chose to study the UW Bothell and WSU Tri-Cities plans for a year before making a decision about their four-year status.

Several higher-education bills have been introduced. Two remove from statute the restriction that limits the upper-division campuses to offering only upper-division coursework. These bills empower the HEC Board to authorize campuses to offer four-year baccalaureate programs. A bill recently introduced by House leadership specifies that UWT, UWB and WSU Vancouver transition into four-year schools. Another bill would establish North Snohomish State College in Everett. Olympia observers expect a bill will be introduced that calls for WSU Tri-Cities to transition into a four-year school.

The UW Tacoma plan has been endorsed by Governor Christine Gregoire, The News Tribune, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, the City of Tacoma and the leadership committee of the Executive Council for a Greater Tacoma. In Olympia, questions about the plan have focused on costs and duplication of services with community colleges.

Diversity is also a topic of discussion this year in Olympia. House Bill 1586 and Senate Bill 5087 would allow colleges and universities to consider more factors in admissions processes. The bill titles read,

"Permitting a college or university to maintain a diverse student population considering race, color, ethnicity, or national origin in the admission and transfer process without using quotas, pre-determined points, or set-asides." These bills are interpreted by lawmakers as amending Initiative 200.

It is still early in the legislative session. Many hearings and meetings are yet to take place. And the budget forecasts will play a large role in decisions made by the Legislature.