Gov. Gregoire signs bills expanding access to higher education

For Immediate Release: May 4, 2005

OLYMPIA � May 4, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today signed legislation that expands access to four-year degree programs throughout the state.

�I am committed to addressing the needs of higher education in our state,� Gregoire said at today�s signing ceremony at the UW Tacoma campus. �We've had a �no vacancy� sign up at our colleges and universities for too many students for too long. We must create more room for students to get the education they need to compete in our 21st century economy. This bill, passed with strong bipartisan support, will help us meet that need.�

The bill�s prime sponsor, Rep. Phyllis Kenney, said, �We face significant challenges in higher education. We have more students who want access to our colleges and universities than we can accommodate under our current plan. House Bill 1794 opens doors of opportunity for students to reach their educational goals.�

HB 1794 will allow University of Washington and Washington State University branch campuses to admit lower-division students and award four-year degrees, beginning in the fall of 2006. Until now, the campuses have offered only the junior and senior years of coursework toward a bachelor�s degree, and courses leading to master�s degrees.

The bill authorizes UW branch campuses in Bothell and Tacoma to enroll lower-division students through co-enrollment agreements with their local community and technical colleges. They will also teach lower-division courses in fields not offered at the local community colleges, and directly admit freshmen and sophomores.

WSU Vancouver will enroll freshmen directly and WSU Tri-Cities will offer a four-year degree in bioengineering. WSU Tri-Cities may also teach lower-division courses in fields not offered at the local community college.

The bill also authorizes up to four community and technical college pilot programs leading to bachelor�s degrees in applied technology. And, it encourages community colleges and regional universities to work together to offer four-year degrees on community college campuses so students do not have to relocate to complete their degrees.

Finally, the bill authorizes Everett Community College to work with education, business and community leaders to recommend ways to better serve the baccalaureate capacity needs in north Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties.

Earl Hale, executive director of the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, said, �The two-year colleges support House Bill 1794 because it represents a comprehensive approach to building baccalaureate capacity in Washington. It recognizes the partnerships between the two- and four-year institutions and uses a variety of approaches to meet the needs for increased access to higher education across the state.�

UW President Mark Emmert said his school currently turns away many qualified freshmen. �We need to expand access to baccalaureate degrees for the increasing number of students who will be graduating from our high schools,� he said. �UW Bothell and UW Tacoma will help us meet that demand for a UW diploma.�

V. Lane Rawlins, president of Washington State University, said, �As a system, Washington State University is now able to address needs for four-year higher education in several underserved areas of the state. We are grateful for the visionary action of the governor and Legislature.�

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