January 21, 1996 - DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SERVICES
ENDORSES "WHEN"
The state agency charged with overseeing telecommunications projects "strongly supports the ideas and directions"
of the proposed Washington Higher Education Network. In a letter
to legislative leadership, state Department of Information Services
Director Steve E. Kolodney said, "The proposal builds on
a proven record of the Washington Higher Education Telecommunications
System (WHETS) operated by WSU. As such, it is a natural evolution
toward the goals of extending distance learning."
The WHEN proposal, linking all of the stateís
four-year institutions and community colleges with high-speed
links for audio, video, and data, continues to receive extensive
discussion in the state Legislative session and strong conceptual
support from many legislators. WSU Radio & Television Director
Dennis Haarsager will be among representatives of the institutions
discussing the issue with the Senate Ways and Means Committee
this week.
Full funding of the project was recommended by Gov.
Mike Lowry. However, the project has not yet won the approval
of legislative leadership. Sen. Nita Rinehart, D-Tacoma, has
been floating the idea of "phasing" the project,
perhaps building only a third of the proposal with appropriations
from this Legislature. Some House leaders have suggested that
no significant funding may be available for the project this year
though they will be meeting on the issue Monday.
WSU has discouraged legislators from "phasing"
the project because it may leave some education institutions without
participation in the initial project, jeopardizing the agreements
in place among the colleges and universities. WSU has not objected
to legislators who request that the state Department of Information
Services be given formal project approval of WHEN.
Collective Bargaining Bill Surfaces in the House.
The issue of whether higher education
institutions should contract for services was heard as House Bill
1004 in the House Higher Education Committee. The public four-year
institutions, represented in testimony by John Pettit of the University
of Washington, supported restrictive language that would allow
expanded authority for contracting out for services only if
it would not result in the lay-off of any current employees.
That relatively narrow language nevertheless drew strong objections
from labor organizations. Despite some press reports to the contrary,
Washington State University and President Smith have not been
directly involved in lobbying efforts on the ìcontracting
outî issue as we do not view it as a priority of the 1996
Legislature.
Tuition & Fee Bills Under Consideration
Legislators are once again considering student tuition increases.
Legislation introduced to allow non-resident undergraduate
tuition to increase by 10 percent was introduced at the request
of UW. WSU has decided to support the request but does not endorse
UW intentions to seek legislation next year for a second 10 percent
increase. The legislation has been introduced as Senate Bill
6303, which raises non-resident undergraduate tuition from $8,599
to $9,755 per year, a $1,156 increase. House Bill 2478 provides
for a similar, though not identical, increase.
House Bill 2303 - Allows universities to decrease
or increase tuition fees up to 15 percent in up to three degree
programs. Amendments are reportedly pending that would limit
it to a single program at each institution. The Washington Student
Lobby, represented by ASWSUís David Reiter, expressed concerns
that the bill may dissuade existing or future students from programs
they may be well-suited.
Bills allowing each higher education institution
to impose "technology fees" for all students
has been introduced in both houses. WSU has not taken a formal
position on the legislation, as it focuses its discussions on
other resources or specific user fees for funding of computers
and other technologies. One of the bills was introduced at the
request of the University of Washington and has the support of
most four-year institutions.
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/legis.html.
