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Good news for higher education?

Program expansions and additional degree options are on the horizon for Washington state higher education campuses. A light at the end of the tunnel is approaching as a bill for education expansion makes its way through the Senate. But not all Washington residents consider the bill to be a positive proposal.

In January the Higher Education Coordinating Board proposed a systematic mechanism for communities and the state to identify educational programs needed to expand the states higher education system. The mechanism would identify the needs of Washington students allowing education programs to be more widely available, and with a wider range of options. According to the Washington State Legislature fiscal note, the bill will have no fiscal impact.

According to the bill, “postsecondary educational opportunities for Washington residents must be expanded in order for the citizens and the state to remain significant participants in the global economic marketplace.”

The bill itself will not change higher education, but it will allow the mechanism to detect the necessary developments that are needed on the state’s campuses and changes will be made based off of that information.

If the Senate Bill 6355 is passed the mechanism will implement changes such as new degree programs developed by four-year institutions and also expansions of facilities by four-year, community and technical colleges.

According to the bill “making better use of existing capacity at the branch campuses, centers and comprehensive institutions to broaden the geographic availability of baccalaureate education” is one of its main plans for expansion.

With the tuition increases and budget cuts on student’s minds the bill has left some wondering if expansion should be the state’s current priority.

“With all the suffering that students are going through with tuition increasing as much as it is, it doesn’t make sense to me that the state would try to expand an already broken system,” Washington State University junior Katie Hertzberg said.

The Senate argues that the bill would improve the economic condition of the state by giving opportunity for more students to receive the degrees they want at additional locations.

“It’s been difficult budget times for us all but I think the university's message in this one is clear that investment in student, investment in research and investment in innovation is the best investment you can make in our economy for long term growth,” Margaret Shepherd Director of State Relations for University of Washington said.

On Feb. 12 the bill received 47 yeas and 0 nays from the Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development. The bill was sent to the Rules Committee on Feb. 24, which will decide if the bill will be placed on the floor calendar for a second reading.

Contacts for story

Katie Hertzberg- 425.442.1424

Margaret Shepherd- (TVW source)- mshep@u.washington.edu

Outline

Who: higher education coordinating board (HECB) and the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee.

What: expanding the states higher education system so that the system can be capable of delivering more degrees. Plans for expansion- making better use of current branches, new degree programs and making degrees more readily available to those who desire them.

Why: will improve the economic situation in Washington according to some in the legislation. Allow WA to stay in the game and start to reverse some economic damage.

Why not: The legislatures focus should be on the rising tuition and budget cuts rather than the expansion of the higher education system. It needs to be fixed before it can be expanded.

When: Bill 6355 is currently going through the senate and has been active since its first reading on Jan. 13.