The House Higher Education Committee held a public hearing today on a key policy bill – House Bill 1795 sponsored by Rep. Carlyle- that would impact how higher education is funded, financial aid, and accountability for higher education institutions.

The bill as drafted – both the sponsor and the higher education community continue to work on the bill – would authorize public baccalaureate institutions to set tuition rates for all students for academic years 2011 through 2014 and direct public baccalaureate institutions to retain half of all tuition raised above 7 percent to support financial aid that mitigates tuition increases for middle class students with incomes up to 125 percent of the median family income.

In addition, the bill retains tuition setting authority for community and technical colleges with the state Legislature though individual colleges may raise tuition up to the state cap if the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges does not raise up to the cap for the whole state.

The bill would also require a study to recommend a possible phase two of Washington’s GET program and establish data reporting requirements for public baccalaureate institutions in statute and repeals performance agreements.  

  The  Committee heard testimony from several members of the higher education community, including institutions, students, faculty, the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and the Council of Presidents.  The testimony was clearly in favor of the bill with the only concern being the lack of knowledge at this time with regard to state funding levels for higher education. The testimony strongly supported the move to a single accountability system – Compete to Complete, additional tuition flexibility at the local level, and acknowledgement to work to mitigate the impacts on students.

Further action is expected on the bill next week.

The Committee also held a public hearing on substitute legislation to House Bill 1654. House Bill 1654 requires four-year public institutions of higher education and community and technical colleges that offer applied baccalaureate degrees to charge those resident students who exceed 125 percent of credits needed to obtain their degree at a nonresident or graduate tuition rate for credits that exceed 125 percent.

The proposed substitute language grandfathers current students in under current policy, removes the reporting requirement, and adds some specific waiver language  in addition to broader waiver language for institutions.

The Council of Presidents testified that the bill provided the latitude necessary to implement the intent of the legislation. The Washington Student Association testified in opposition to the bill.

The bill is scheduled for further action next week.

Finally the Committee took further action on a handful of bills, including:

•  HB 1394 – Enacting the college efficiency and savings act.
• HB 1477 – Authorizing the board of trustees at Eastern Washington University to offer educational specialist degrees.
• HB 1568 – Regarding appointing members to the boards of trustees for community colleges and the state board for community and technical colleges.
• HB 1586 – Regarding the provision of doctorate programs at the research university branch campuses in Washington.
• HB 1650 – Changing state need grant eligibility provisions.