"WHEN" The Chairman of the Senate
Higher Education Committee Says It's "Now"
The united effort of the higher education institutions
to establish the "Washington Higher Education Network"
was unanimously approved for full funding by the Senate Higher
Education Committee Thursday and sent to the Ways and Means Committee.
"Its time now, let's get on with it,"
proclaimed Senate Higher Education Chairman Al Bauer, D-Vancouver,
prior to passage of Substitute Senate Bill 6705. "In
the 25 years I've been here, there has not been anything
with more impact to bring us together in higher education,"
said Bauer, the bill's prime sponsor. The bill establishes
WHEN, a telecommunications network that will expand the capacity
of the WSU "WHETS" system and extend it to each four-year
institution and every community college in the state.
Though Bauer predicted that the "Ways and
Means Committee will receive it with enthusiasm" the proposal
is expected to receive tough fiscal scrutiny in both houses in
the coming days. Some senators continue to discuss options for
partial or delayed funding of the project.
House Panel Takes Up "WHEN" With
Substitute H.B. 2929
In the State House of Representatives, there is also
legislation under consideration by the Appropriations Committee,
possibly coming to a vote Saturday. House Appropriations Chairman
Tom Huff, R-Gig Harbor, has said news service reports that the
House will reject WHEN this year are exaggerated and indicates
that efforts will be made to move the project along. The House
bill is silent so far on an appropriation level while the Senate
bill is currently drafted to provide $40.2 million, fully funding
the requests at each institution. The House and Senate versions
of the bill vary substantially in language but include some key
elements:
- Both provide significant oversight roles for
the state Higher Education Coordinating Board and the State Information
Services Board for construction of the project.
- Both would provide for a planning process that
could go on for months. Both would allow the release of state
funding, if appropriated in this supplemental budget session,
during the upcoming year and concurrently with the development
of the plan.
- Both acknowledge that expansion of access to
higher education through distance learning is an activity that
merits the support of the State Legislature.
State Higher Education Coordinating Board Endorses
WHEN To Move Forward
While the bill in House Appropriations Committee
(PSHB 2929) continues to undergo redraft, the Senate bill (SSB
6705) has drawn the support of Marc Gaspard, the Executive Director
of the state Higher Education Coordinating Board, who for the
first time this week called for funding of the WHEN project.
Steve Kolodney, the Director of the State Department of Information
Services, and Len McComb, of the State Information Services Board
has also endorsed the bill. The legislation has also been supported
by the Council of Presidents, the voluntary organization that
represents the state's four year institutions. HECB, DIS,
and COP all participated in the bill drafting in the Senate.
Washington State Association of Counties Supports
WSU "Learning Centers"
In another development, the legislative budget request
by Washington State University to establish six "pilot"
learning centers through WSU Cooperative Extension has been formally
endorsed by the state Association of Counties. "WSAC member
have had an eight-decade partnership with Cooperative Extension.
This partnership has helped communities all over the state address
a wide range of economic and social issues," said Karen
Miller, WSAC President.
"Extended learning centers will expand our
counties' long-time relationship with Washington State
University by bringing broader education and training opportunities
to citizens in our local areas," she said.
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. Internet address is ganders@wsunix.wsu.edu. Visit
our web home page at www.wsu.edu/IR/wsulegis/olympia.html.
