Olympia Updates

HOUSE MATCHES SENATE STUDENT NUMBERS; AGREES TO $34 MILLION FOR "WHEN"

The state House of Representatives rolled out and passed 56-42 a new version of its supplemental operating budget bill which - for the first time in the legislative session - matches Senate numbers in overall student access to higher education (3,365 new students) and construction dollars for a Washington Higher Education Network.

The House, which originally proposed just 109 new student enrollments for WSU, weighed in with 1,045 new student slots to deal with the access crisis, including satisfying the WSU budget request for Pullman, the extended degree program, and cooperative extension learning centers. Assuming up to 400 students over-enrolled next fall, that could push Pullman enrollment numbers alone to more than 17,800 total with the new funding. The total student enrollments for the WSU system proposed by the House is just 20 student FTEs short of the Senate numbers and more than double the new enrollments recommended by Gov. Mike Lowry. The latest versions of the House and Senate supplemental budget are now contained in Senate Bill 6069, which each house has passed in slightly different forms. This latest budget action appeared to bring the two houses closer together and kept hopes alive for a final supplemental budget agreement before the scheduled legislative adjournment tomorrow. Hereís how the proposed new enrollments break down in the House and Senate versions of SB 6069:

LATEST HOUSE AND SENATE PLANS FOR NEW WSU STUDENT ENROLLMENT INCREASES

* Pullman Numbers Include Extended Degree and Learning Center Programs

WSU Vancouver, which was allocated 128 new enrollment slots for 1996-97 by last year's Legislature has already been guaranteed room to accommodate more students this fall. Combined with funding provided in 1995, this new House budget would boost the 1996-97 enrollments for Spokane to 69 additional slots, Tri-Cities to 100 and Pullman would grow by 1,495 students.

HOUSE BOOSTS FUNDING FOR "WHEN" SYSTEM FROM $5 MILLION TO $34 MILLION. The latest House-passed budget earmarks "up to $34.575 million" for the Washington Higher Education Network, which expands the WSU WHETS system to all six four-year universities and community colleges. Like the Senate, the House also provides funding for a compatible system for the state's K-12 system, allocating up to $9.475 million for that additional project which will probably link educational service districts. The House funding plan comes very close to the $34.7 million which has been the consistent Senate position for the college and university component of what many legislators describe as a "K-20" technology project. That funding follows what university officials had described as a "best case scenario," providing more than 85 percent of the $40 million funded for the higher education system. However, the exact configuration and completion date of the system may depend on an extensive planning and approval process which is being considered in budget language and separate legislation in both houses.

WSU NON-RESIDENT TUITION HIKE POISED TO PASS .In other developments Tuesday, the Senate has reversed its position to "grandfather" students from a proposed increase in non-resident undergraduate tuition costs at the University of Washington and WSU. That legislation, Substitute House Bill 2478, can be expected to get final passage from the House today or tomorrow.

This update is shared by broadcast fax and electronic mail to friends of Washington State University as state government developments occur. Contact Karen Fischer, WSU State-wide Affairs, 509/335-6665. Larry Ganders is at 360/438-7552; Fax: 360/438-8104. (ganders@wsunix.wsu.edu.) For bill status and other legislative info, visit our web home page at www.wsu.edu/IR/wsulegis/olympia.html.