Session marks halfway point, CTC bills passing

This week legislators marked the session halfway point with plenty of action on bills impacting community and technical colleges. In addition, CTCs presented before legislative committees on a variety of issues and continued to be part of discussions with lawmakers in Olympia.

Campus climate examined in work session

The House Higher Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, held a three-part work session on Wednesday, Feb. 12, regarding health and safety in higher education.

Campus safety and security

Bill Overby, Skagit Valley College director of security services, gave an overview of the safety and security issues, challenges, and policies for the community and technical college system, as well as those specific to his campus.

In examining security vulnerabilities, colleges ask themselves if buildings can be locked down, whether employees can quickly and discretely summon help, whether information technology is secure (from cyber hackers) with redundancies in case of emergency, and whether parking lots and other areas of campus are secure.

Skagit is the second oldest college in the state and its buildings cannot be locked down from a central control center, Overby explained.

“There is more work to be done,” said Overby. On behalf of campus safety officers, he asked the committee to support campus safety improvements and training initiatives outlined in a 2010 SBCTC report to the Legislature, particularly, to support funding for technology (electronic access devices, duress buttons, cameras, ID cards, and security/fire alarm systems) and to restore/improve access to mental health care.

Local communities also look to the colleges as designated safe havens for food, clothing, and shelter in the event of disaster. Overby described mutual aid agreements with the American Red Cross and other entities as well as local multi-agency training in incident response.

Tim Walters, Eastern Washington University chief of police, and Steve Hanson, Washington State University, assistant chief of police, discussed security issues and challenges at the public baccalaureates.

Link to testimony (begins at 00:04).

Link to Skagit Valley College presentation.

Student debt

The Student Debt Reduction Working Group of the Associated Students at the University of Washington presented its research findings about student debt at the UW.

Tuition increases mean it is no longer possible to cover the cost of college with part-time jobs. Their calculations found that UW students need to work 54 hours per week (year-round at minimum wage) to fully fund an education.

They found that middle-income students have the greatest unmet need, with students from middle-income families not eligible for financial aid, but unable to afford college without loans.

Student debt impacts:

·         Of those students accessing mental health counseling services, 33 percent cite financial stress.

·         Students simply drop out or go back to work.

·         Added difficulty for time-intensive majors such as engineering or pre-medicine.

·         Undue sacrifice by families, taking on private loans and second mortgages.

·         Less ability to engage or participate on campus.

Brian McQuay, Pierce College Puyallup student, described the stress of repaying loans as students complete college.

He will graduate in June with $15,000 in debt and guesses he could be $30,000 to $40,000 in debt when he is completely finished with his postsecondary education.

“Older students can’t rely on their parents,” said McQuay, “Some already have a family themselves.”

He also shared that attending college is not just about tuition, but also includes cost of living expenses. “Tuition is only part of it,” he said, explaining the burden of total living expenses. “I worry about this current generation and future generations who can’t pursue the education and careers they want.”

Link to testimony (begins at 46:34:00).

Mental health on campus

Deb Casey, Green River Community College vice president of student affairs and human resources, and Cyndi Rapier, Green River Community College director of housing and safety response for international programs, gave an overview of student mental health issues system-wide and response at their campus.

“The International Association of Counseling Services recommends a staffing level of one counselor for every 1,000 to 1,500 students,” Casey said. “We have 9,000-plus students and two counselors. It doesn’t work when you have increased demand for services.”

About 10 percent of any population — whether in the community or on campus — has mental health issues, according to Casey. The range of behaviors on campus can range from lacking social and problem-solving skills to attempted suicide.

Green River has embedded “human crisis response” into its emergency management plan with the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT), a multidisciplinary team that meets on a regular basis to review and respond to reports of student behavior that may pose a threat of self-harm or a threat to the community.

By way of example, Casey said the shooter at Virginia Tech logged 70 behavior-related incidents all over campus, but there was not a holistic way to see a pattern.

The BIT process requires a “culture of reporting,” with information and incidents — e.g. a disturbing class essay or a Running Start student who has an episode at high school — funneled into one place so that, taken in total, it may be more readily apparent if there is an escalating problem.

Rapier said counselors go beyond the campus boundaries and network with community resources, including cultural organizations, food and clothing banks, and domestic violence resources, on behalf of their students.

Challenges to the community and technical college system include:

·         Increased funding for staffing, academic accommodations, safety communication systems, professional development, capacity-building, and partnerships.

·         Statewide technology systems.

·         Increased support and funding for mental health, counseling, and other community resources and referral agencies.

Elizabeth McHugh, The Evergreen State College director of counseling and health services, described the increase in student anxiety and stress over the past five years, coupled with limited campus resources and increased complexity, especially drug and alcohol issues combined with mental health issues.

Ted Pratt, Western Washington University dean of students, gave an overview of increase of usage of counseling center, including waiting lists for services.

Link to testimony (begins at 1:13:46).

Link to Green River presentation.

Bills

This week legislators took action on a number of bills CTCs are tracking this session:

·         SHB 2336: increasing higher education transparency by posting departmental budget information online. This bill passed the House 95-3 and has been scheduled for a public hearing in Senate Higher Education Feb. 20.

·         HB 2398: allowing CTCs to award honorary applied baccalaureate degrees. This bill passed the House 98-0 and has been referred to Senate Higher Education.

·         SHB 2486: allowing state funds to provide associate degrees for incarcerated adults. This bill passed the house 59-37 (2 excused) and will now be referred to a Senate committee for further action.

·         SHB 2546: making modifications to outdated higher education statutes. This bill passed the House 98-0 and has been referred to Senate Higher Education.

·         SHB 2613: making institutions of higher education more efficient through alternative payroll periods, predesign limits for capital projects, and other means. This bill passed the House 96-0 (2 excused) and will be referred to a Senate committee for further action.

·         ESHB 2626: concerning the WA Student Achievement Council’s educational attainment goals. This bill passed the House 87-10 (1 excused) and will now be referred to a Senate committee for further action.

·         SHB 2651: promoting higher education transparency by requiring budget information is posted online. This bill passed the House 97-1 and is scheduled for a public hearing in Senate Higher Education Feb. 20.

·         SSB 5969: awarding academic credit – tied to a degree or certificate – for prior military training. This bill passed the Senate 48-0 (1 excused) and has been referred to House Higher Education.

·         SB 6358: requiring CTCs to notify students of financial aid policies on a rolling basis. This bill passed the Senate 48-0 and will be referred to a House committee for further action.

·         SSB 6362: promoting higher education efficiencies through alternative payroll periods, aligning reporting requirements for four-year institutions under previous legislation, and other means. This bill passed the Senate 48-0 (1 excused) and will now be referred to a House committee for further action.

·         ESSB 6436: creates a stakeholder work group to study the College Bound scholarship program and make recommendations to the Legislature. This bill passed the Senate 48-0 and will now be referred to a House committee for further action.

Click here for a longer list of high priority CTC bills still in play.

Click here for a complete list of CTC bills being tracked this legislative session.

Session cutoff dates

Mandated cutoff dates determine which bills will continue through the legislative process. Here is the next round of important session cutoff dates fast approaching:

·         Feb. 18: house of origin cutoff (5 p.m.) – bills in their original chamber must be passed by 5 p.m.

·         Feb. 28: policy committee cutoff – bills in opposite house policy committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         March 3: fiscal committee cutoff – bills in opposite house fiscal committees must receive and hearing and be passed.

·         March 7: opposite house cutoff (5 p.m.) – bills in the opposite chamber must be passed by 5 p.m.

·         March 13: Sine Die – last day of the regular session.

Session resources

SBCTC Government Relations provides updated legislative resources throughout session:

·         The Bill Watch List – important bills being considered that may have significant impact on the CTC system.

·         The Bill Status Report – all bills being tracked by SBCTC staff during session.

·         The Weekly Hearing Schedule – schedule of weekly hearings where CTCs are testifying and/or monitoring bills.

·         Legislator information – contact information for legislators organized by college district, committee, caucus, etc.

Students rally, CTC bills progress in session

Nearing the session halfway point, legislative work is evolving as the first round of cutoff dates pass. Legislators are now moving from hearing bills in committees to debating bills on the chamber floor. For community and technical colleges this means closely monitoring bills for amendments, tracking budget discussions, and providing information to decision makers.

This edition of Legislative News contains highlights from the week where CTCs monitored and testified on a number of bills and CTC students rallied support for higher education in Olympia.

Postsecondary education for inmates

A measure to reduce recidivism rates through prison education received a public hearing before the Senate Human Service and Corrections Committee on Thursday, Feb. 6. Sponsored by Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, Senate Bill 6344 would allow the Department of Corrections (DOC) to offer post-secondary education degree programs within its existing budget. Current law limits prison education to basic skills, vocational, and high school diploma or equivalent courses.

Marty Brown, SBCTC executive director, clarified that the bill would not cost the state more money. “This bill would not ask for additional money,” Brown said. “We’re actually here, we hope, to save you money on recidivism.”

Bernie Warner, DOC secretary, agreed, saying the bill would allow for a broader spectrum of prison education. “This really is one of the best investments in our portfolio of services to reduce recidivism and increase public safety,” he said.

Ed Brewster, Grays Harbor College president, cited research on the impact of education on recidivism rates. Education provides an opportunity for ex-offenders to find jobs, he said, which “contributes to lower costs of incarceration, increases public safety, and decreases the cost associated with the criminal justice system in general.”

Link to testimony (begins at 29:50).

CTC students rally, make voices heard

Sporting colorful T-shirts, scarves and banners representing community and technical colleges, hundreds of students rallied on the capital campus on Friday, Feb. 7 to urge continued legislative support for two-year colleges. This year’s event titled, “Washington’s Greatest Investment,” was emceed by Peninsula College student Emma Sackett, Washington Community and Technical College Student Association (WACTCSA) acting president. A large crowd of elected officials, legislative and staff members, and higher education stakeholders gathered in support.

Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, kicked off the event followed by student speakers Kary Ortiz-Rangle of North Seattle Community College, and Robert Lasker of Pierce College Fort Steilacoom. Marty Cavalluzzi, Pierce College Puyallup president, and Debrena Jackson Gandy, Highline Community College trustee also rallied the crowd.

Other legislative speakers included Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton and Rep. Hans Zeiger, R-Puyallup, both members of the House Higher Education Committee. Speaking on behalf of the Senate were Senate Higher Education Committee Chair Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor and Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle.

Bills

After yesterday’s first policy committee cutoff, here are bills still in play that impact community and technical colleges:

·         ESHB 1769: creating efficiencies for higher education institutions.

·         ESHB 1817: allowing undocumented students to be eligible for state financial aid (Dream Act).

·         SHB 1858: awarding academic credit for prior military training.

·         SB 2285: studying state dual credit programs.

·         SHB 2336: increasing higher education transparency by posting departmental budget information online.

·         HB 2396: increasing participation of underrepresented students in Running Start.

·         HB 2398: allowing CTCs to award honorary applied baccalaureate degrees.

·         SHB 2486: allowing state funds to provide associate degrees for incarcerated adults.

·         SHB 2546: making modifications to outdated higher education statutes.

·         SHB 2651: promoting higher education transparency by requiring budget information by category is posted online.

·         SSB 5969: awarding academic credit – tied to a degree or certificate – for prior military training.

·         SB 6523: allowing undocumented students to be eligible for state financial aid and providing $5 million for the State Need Grant (Real Hope Act).

Click here for a longer list of high priority CTC bills still in play.

Click here for a complete list of CTC bills being tracked this legislative session.

Session cutoff dates

Mandated cutoff dates determine which bills will continue through the legislative process. Here is the next round of important session cutoff dates approaching:

·         Feb. 11: fiscal committee cutoff – bills in fiscal committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         Feb. 18: house of origin cutoff (5pm) – bills in their original chamber must be passed.

·         Feb. 28: policy committee cutoff – bills in opposite house policy committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         March 3: fiscal committee cutoff – bills in opposite house fiscal committees must receive and hearing and be passed.

·         March 7: opposite house cutoff (5pm) – bills in the opposite chamber must be passed.

·         March 13: Sine Die – last day of the regular session.

Session resources

SBCTC Government Relations provides updated legislative resources throughout session:

·         The Bill Watch List – important bills being considered that may have significant impact on the CTC system.

·         The Bill Status Report – all bills being tracked by SBCTC staff during session.

·         The Weekly Hearing Schedule – schedule of weekly hearings where CTCs are testifying and/or monitoring bills.

·         Legislator information – contact information for legislators organized by college district, committee, caucus, etc.

Committees ramp up hearings, first cutoff date fast approaching

With the Feb. 7 cutoff date fast approaching, legislative committees are scheduling, hearing, and passing a number of higher education bills. Legislative proposals impacting CTCs range from financial aid, precollege initiatives, budget transparency, workforce training, and college efficiencies.

Expanding education to reduce recidivism

The House Higher Education Committee, chaired by Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, held a public hearing Tuesday, Jan. 28, on House Bill 2486, which aims to reduce the likelihood of former inmates re-offending by allowing postsecondary education degree programs for incarcerated adults.

While basic skills, vocational, and high school diploma or equivalent are currently allowed, the Department of Corrections (DOC) is barred from using state funds to pay for post-secondary academic education courses (those typically leading to an associate transfer degree).

The bill would repeal that prohibition and authorize DOC to offer such degree programs within available resources.

“For every dollar invested [in education for inmates], we get a five dollar return to the state in public safety and reduced social costs,” said Bernie Warner, DOC secretary, “Eighty percent of inmates who engage in education are retained in those programs. They take it very seriously.”

Warner said no state funds are used for post-secondary academic education programs offered at correctional facilities. Walla Walla Community College used funds from The Sunshine Lady Foundation to provide college transfer courses to inmates and 177 have graduated with AA degrees.

Jacquie Armstrong, SBCTC policy associate for adult basic education and corrections, testified in favor of the measure, pointing out that prison education reduces recidivism and increases employment opportunities.

Armstrong said national studies — as well as research by the Washington Institute for Public Policy — show education reduces recidivism rates. In addition, AA graduates released from the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center have, to date, had zero percent recidivism.

Kevin Miller, who earned a computer information systems program certificate and later an AA degree from Edmonds Community College while incarcerated at the Walla Walla State Penitentiary and the Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, has been out of prison since July 2012. Miller will graduate from Washington State University – Vancouver in May.

“Without an opportunity for growth and change, there’s not a real shot at reforming a person [in prison],” Miller said. “Education was a springboard for my life.”

He said the scales are tipped against former inmates, but an education helps balance the scales with employers and shows a person has taken the initiative to better themselves and be a better citizen.

Link to testimony (begins at 55:05).

Senate committee holds confirmation, pre-college hearings

The Senate Higher Education Committee held a confirmation hearing for State Board member Jay Reich on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Reich said he felt privileged to work in the community and technical college sector.

“[The CTC system is] among the most flexible, it’s among the most entrepreneurial, it’s the most grounded in terms of community involvement and linkages to employment,” he said. “To me, frankly, given the daunting needs and the need for capacity-building, it holds among the greatest opportunities looking forward.”

After the confirmation hearing, the focus shifted to pre-college education. Michelle Andreas, South Puget Sound Community College vice president of instruction, discussed data-driven approaches that are making a difference in Washington.

A former SBCTC staff member, Andreas corrected two common myths: most pre-college students are straight out of high school (most have been out of high school at least three years), and they get stuck in a substrata of pre-college courses (many students take one or two pre-college courses, typically in math, while enrolled in other college-level classes).

“You might imagine yourself having gone through high school, maybe even a fabulous writer, and really good at math, but being away from those two subjects for a while [and] not having the opportunity to do a lot of continued skill development … you might need some brushing up if you were to go back and retool.”

She pointed to successful approaches in Washington, including:

·         I-BEST, which uses a team-teaching approach to combine college-readiness classes with regular, credit-bearing academic or job training classes. Students work on college-level studies right away, clearing multiple levels in one leap. 

·         Concurrent classes that close the “persistence gap.” Students are required to take precollege and college-level classes in the same subject, at the same time – such as English 98 and English 100 – leaving them no option but to proceed in college-level study.

·         Competency-based education, where students move through pre-college courses based on knowledge gained rather than time spent in a classroom.

·         Multiple assessments – including high school transcripts – for the many students who might know a subject matter but fare poorly on traditional placement tests.

Andreas pointed out that South Puget Sound Community College has collapsed the sequence of pre-college courses so students can take just a couple of courses instead of an entire series.

Link to testimony (Jay Reich at 5:57, Michelle Andreas at 16:00).

Financial aid work session

The Senate Higher Education Committee held a financial aid work session on Thursday, Jan. 30. Rachelle Sharpe, Washington Student Achievement Council senior director of student financial aid and support services, kicked off the meeting with an overview of the types of financial aid -- federal, state, institution, and private. Individual colleges package those programs differently for each student based on eligibility and program rules, she explained.

Sharpe said the average annual student loan amount increased dramatically between 2007-2008 and 2012-2013:

·         Up 50 percent for research universities.

·         Up 59 percent for regional universities.

·         Up 100 percent for community and technical colleges.

The spike in student loans started to level between 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, she said, probably because students hit the maximum federal borrowing limit those years.

Lisa Matye Edwards, Lower Columbia College vice president of student success, and Marisa Geier, director of financial aid, offered different financial aid scenarios and spotlighted the large number of students with financial need. About 429 eligible Lower Columbia students have not received State Need Grants, causing a $1.5 million Need Grant deficit at the college.

Link to testimony (Rachelle Sharpe at 12:26, Lower Columbia at 1:00:30).

Capital work session

Wayne Doty, SBCTC capital budget director, spoke before the Senate Ways and Means Committee on Thursday, Jan. 30, as part of a work session on construction costs and capital projects for community and technical colleges.

The committee organized the session around capital construction cost drivers which include, among other things:

·         Inflation rate (labor/materials and market competition);

·         Scope (purpose) and durability (life expectancy);

·         Prevailing wage, high performance building;

·         Public procurement process; and

·         Codes and standards.

“We are not building the same buildings we built 12 years ago,” Doty explained. “The project cost per square foot of building has gone up faster than what can be explained by just the inflation of labor and materials.”

Doty said that despite the many changes in requirements and learning environments, the system is managing projects within the funding provided, competitively bidding every project, and returning any savings to the state when projects are complete.

Several factors result in higher costs:

·         High performance building standards (adopted in 2005);

·         Building and fire codes change every two years;

·         Storm water management manuals (updated in 2004 and 2005), with additional requirements for urban density areas;

·         Permitting authorities are imposing more mitigation to local impacts;

·         The creation of campus-wide notification and lock-down systems to increase student safety;

·         Long-term planning, flexible designs, and quality construction that allows colleges to adapt buildings to future uses; and

·         Updated technology throughout the buildings, such as wireless connectivity, projectors, and monitors.

Doty highlighted projects in the system’s 2014 supplemental request to illustrate the changes:

·         Centralia College’s new Student Service Center will replace two old buildings that do not meet current standards for safety and access.

·         Olympic College’s pending Instruction Center incorporates the changes outlined above.

Link to testimony (begins at 27:20).

Link to SBCTC presentation.

Bills

The Legislature took action on a few bills this week:

Real Hope Act, in-state tuition for veterans passes Senate

SB 6523, the Real Hope Act, sponsored by Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, passed the Senate 35-10 (4 excused) yesterday. This bill makes undocumented students eligible for state financial aid. In addition, $5 million in new funding is provided for the State Need Grant.

SB 6523 will now be referred to a House committee for further action.

SB 5318, introduced last session also by Sen. Bailey, passed the Senate 45-0 (4 excused) the same day. This bill waives the one-year waiting period for veterans to be able to pay in-state tuition.

SB 5318 will now be referred to a House committee for further action.

Credit for military training bill passes House

HB 1858, introduced last session by then-Rep. John McCoy, D-Tulalip, passed the House 95-0 (3 excused). This bill requires all higher education institutions to have a policy in place to award academic credit for students with prior military training. All CTCs currently have a policy in place.

HB 1858 will now be referred to a House committee for further action.

House hears statutory modification bill

The House Higher Education Committee heard HB 2546 on Jan. 29. This bill, sponsored by Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, allows the expiration of many outdated state statutes impacting CTCs including:

·         Officially transferring technical colleges from K-12 to the higher education system;

·         Enrollment and financial aid budget calculations based on participation rates from the early 90s;

·         Programs that have been defunded and are no longer used (e.g. the Displaced Homemaker Act and Project Even Start); and

·         Some higher education general obligation bonds that have since matured.

Session cutoff dates

Mandated cutoff dates determine which bills will continue through the legislative process. These dates directly impact legislative work and are important to note. This session, these dates are:

·         Feb. 7: policy committee cutoff – bills in policy committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         Feb. 11: fiscal committee cutoff – bills in fiscal committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         Feb. 18: house of origin cutoff (5pm) – bills in their original chamber must be passed.

·         Feb. 28: policy committee cutoff – bills in opposite house policy committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         March 3: fiscal committee cutoff – bills in opposite house fiscal committees must receive and hearing and be passed.

·         March 7: opposite house cutoff (5pm) – bills in the opposite chamber must be passed.

·         March 13: Sine Die – last day of the regular session.

Session resources

SBCTC Government Relations provides updated legislative resources throughout session:

·         The Bill Watch List – important bills being considered that may have significant impact on the CTC system.

·         The Bill Status Report – all bills being tracked by SBCTC staff during session.

·         The Weekly Hearing Schedule – schedule of weekly hearings where CTCs are testifying and/or monitoring bills.

·         Legislator information – contact information for legislators organized by college district, committee, caucus, etc.

CTCs honor students, advocate for system initiatives during busy second week of session

The Legislature’s second week ended with a flurry of activity around higher education issues and a near record number of bills introduced. Similar to last week, community and technical colleges were in the spotlight with a number of issues: performance funding, financial aid, dual credit programs, system funding, and many others.

Highlights below include summaries of our annual trustee winter conference and Transforming Lives event, presentations in committee work sessions, testimony on proposed legislation, and action taken on bills that impact the CTC system.

Trustees gather for conference, name Transforming Lives award winners

The Trustees Association of Community and Technical Colleges (TACTC) held its annual two-day Legislative Contact Conference in Olympia to honor this year’s Transforming Lives award winners and to hear from legislators about higher education issues. A number of legislators spoke at the event on Monday, Jan. 20, starting with Sen. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, and Senate Higher Education Committee chair.

Sen. Bailey acknowledged that higher education has been neglected in recent years and said legislators are paying attention to the needs of community and technical colleges. She also thanked trustees for their important role as volunteers, serving colleges and communities with their diverse perspectives, business expertise, and insights to student success.

“We know higher education is a stepping stone to a good career,” Bailey said. “We need to make sure our students have access to one of the best education systems in the nation to prepare them to be successful, productive, and drive the state’s economy.”

Majority Floor Leader Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, said the decision to freeze tuition in the 2013-2015 operating budget marks a crucial shift in the Legislature’s approach to funding higher education. Lawmakers too often divert money from higher education and filled the gap with tuition increases that burden students who are trying to move ahead in life, he said.

“What we’re doing down here in the Legislature, I think, is a fundamental re-shift away from using tuition as a backdoor tax increase to pay for other state spending,” he said. “I hope that we have realized that the organizations that you represent in this room are the absolute keys to our economic recovery and the absolute keys to the success of our state in the long run.”

Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor, and House Higher Education Committee chair, called upon the higher education community to accomplish three goals to set the stage for greater public support in 2015: turn the Washington Student Achievement Council’s Roadmap into actionable items, form an education advocacy network, and rethink student financial aid “from end to end.”

Without additional investments in higher education, he said, “…our state is going to continue to decline in educational attainment, meaning our state is going to decline. We cannot have that. We’ve got to turn it around now.”

Lawmakers focus on performance funding

David Prince, SBCTC research director, highlighted the community and technical college system’s nationally recognized Student Achievement Initiative (SAI) during a work session before the House Higher Education Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Under SAI – the system’s performance-based funding approach – colleges earn a portion of their funding based on results, not just enrollments. Points, and funding, are awarded when students reach key academic achievement points that propel them toward certificates, degrees and transfers. The number of degrees and certificates completed at Washington’s community and technical colleges increased by 46 percent from 2007-2008 to 2011-2012.

A new version of SAI launched this year places a new emphasis on student retention and completion.

The extraordinary thing about the SAI, Prince said, is that it measures student progress incrementally as students move through college.

“The performance measures recognize all of the missions within the community college system: adult basic education, transfer education, professional-technical education. We take that all into account in one measurement system,” Prince said. Through SAI, colleges learn “Here’s where your students were in the beginning of the year, here’s what’s happening to them quarter-by-quarter, here’s where you know they need to move next.”

Prince pointed to innovative approaches that are improving student success at Bellingham Technical College, Tacoma Community College, and Walla Walla Community College.

The Student Achievement Initiative was also the highlight of a Senate Higher Education Committee work session on Thursday, Jan. 23.

Link to TVW House testimony (begins at 27:55) and link to SBCTC presentation.

Link to TVW Senate testimony (begins at 17:45) and link to SBCTC presentation.

Testimony supports Governor’s capital budget proposal

Wayne Doty, SBCTC capital budget director, testified in favor of the Governor’s supplemental capital budget proposal before the House Capital Budget Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Contained in HB 2224, the proposal includes:

·         A $3.162 million new appropriation for the design phase of the Centralia College Student Services building.

·         Authority to finance $3 million for the Lower Columbia Student Housing using local funds.

·         Authority to finance $3 million for the Lower Columbia Main Building renovation using local funds.

The proposal does not provide the $53 million in construction funding requested for the Olympic College Instruction Center.

Jim Walton, Centralia College president, said the proposal would allow the college to finish redesigning its aging and overcrowded Student Services Building and replace parking that the building will ultimately displace. “Parking is an issue because we’re in the middle of a residential district and our building will displace one of our largest parking lots. The City of Centralia is so concerned that they issued us a letter saying that they would not issue us a building permit until we take care of this issue,” he said.

Chris Bailey, Lower Columbia College president, said the proposal gives the college permission to finance two projects using local funds: purchase student housing adjacent to the campus, and convert underused space in the oldest building for much-needed math classrooms. “These classrooms are part of our STEM work that is in great demand,” he said.

David Mitchell, Olympic College president, pointed out that the Olympic College Instruction Center was the only project on the system’s capital request list not funded in the budget proposal. “The system strongly recommends that this be in the budget. The project has been funded for design. It’s replacing an old building that has seismic problems, it’s not accessible, it doesn’t meet ADA standards, and mechanical and electrical systems have run their useful life.”

Link to TVW testimony (begins at 50:10).

Institutional funding put to good use for students

Students have benefitted greatly from $18.5 million in new, flexible funding authorized in the 2013-2015 operating budget, according to testimony at the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education hearing on Wednesday, Jan. 22.

Rich Cummins, Columbia Basin College president, said the funding creates a “virtuous circle” of improved student services and retention. “The Legislature’s foresight has already provided a backbone for improved strategies for attracting and retaining our community’s future – home-grown, successful students who add great value to our quality of life,” he said.

David Mitchell, Olympic College president, said the new investment has been put to good use in student support services.

Nick Lutes, SBCTC operating budget director, gave a historical funding perspective. The 2013-2015 annual state appropriations for the community and technical college system are 19 percent lower than the “high water mark” of FY 2009 (23 percent lower when adjusted for inflation). Tuition increases and other resources have helped fill the void, but have placed a burden on students. Community and technical college students now pay 35 percent of their higher education, up from 24 percent in FY 2009.

Link to TVW testimony (CTC speakers not featured because video ends early).

Link to SBCTC presentation.

Bills

Hundreds of bills have been introduced by legislators over the last week. With the first cutoff date fast approaching, the Legislature has begun to take action on a number of these proposals that impact CTCs.

House hears dual credit, Common Core, BAS degrees, and cosmetology bills

Scott Copeland, SBCTC policy associate, testified in support of HB 2285 and HB 2396 during the Jan. 22 House Higher Education Committee hearing. HB 2285 requires the WA Student Achievement Council to study dual credit programs and recommend improvements to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2014. HB 2396 aims to increase the number of underrepresented students who participate in Running Start. Local school districts are required to create enrollment plans, with information from local CTCs, to increase participation rates among these students.

Link to TVW testimony (begins at 1:04).

During a Jan. 24 House Higher Education Committee hearing, Bill Moore, SBCTC Core to College Alignment director, testified in support of HB 2383 that requires ongoing alignment of the K-12 Common Core with higher education institutions. Education agencies are required to submit information to the WA Student Achievement Council to roll into a final report due to the Legislature by Dec. 1, 2014.

“We’ve been working very hard as a system to improve the issues around remediation and precollege programs in order to accelerate student progress to and through college level coursework,” Moore said.

Link to TVW testimony (begins at 23:00).

During the same hearing, Jim Walton, Centralia College president, Stu Halsan, Centralia College trustee, Jan Yoshiwara, SBCTC Education Services deputy director, and Paul Bell, Bellevue College student, testified in support of HB 2398 allowing CTCs to award honorary BAS degrees.

Halsan testified about the great opportunity for Centralia and other CTCs to grant applied baccalaureate degrees and to honor those active with their local college. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us and for people who are in rural areas to secure four-year degrees. We very much would encourage the Legislature to move this bill forward,” Halsan said.

Walton explained how Centralia College has awarded honorary associate degrees, but that allowing honorary BAS degrees would further demonstrate the important role community members play in the success of their local college. “We have offered honorary associate degrees over time and because of the fact that we now have a very successful applied science degree, we would like the ability to honor individuals who have dedicated themselves to Centralia College by offering them an honorary degree,” Walton said.

Yoshiwara testified that CTCs have seen a spike in the number of BAS degrees offered with many more in the pipeline. “We are very pleased to support HB 2398. We’ve had exponential growth in the number of programs and the number of colleges offering applied baccalaureate degree opportunities for their technical or associate degree graduates. The program is truly meeting the goals you outlined in the enabling legislation,” Yoshiwara said.

Bell offered student support for the bill explaining this is another way CTCs are responding to emerging needs. “[HB 2398] provides institutions like mine…awarding their highest honors in ways they deem appropriate, on an institution basis.”

Link to TVW testimony (begins at 53:33).

On Jan. 24, the House Business and Financial Services Committee heard a substitute to HB 2512 that creates a hair design license impacting cosmetology training programs at our colleges across the state. Tiffany Merkel, SBCTC program administrator, Alison Grazzini Smith, SBCTC legislative director, Tina Evans, Everett Community College faculty, and Sylvia Garcia, Spokane Community College faculty testified in support of the substitute bill.

Link to TVW testimony (begins at 46:22).

House passes efficiency, faculty increment bills

ESHB 1769, introduced last session by Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, passed the House 97-0 (1 excused). Aimed at increasing efficiency in higher education, this bill increases the threshold for capital predesign from $5 million to $10 million and increases the maximum value for a minor works project from $2 million to $5 million.

ESHB 1769 will be referred to a Senate committee.

HB 1348, introduced last session by Rep. Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, passed the House 63-34 (1 excused). This bill requires community and technical colleges to provide step increases or increments as they are negotiated in local agreements, even when the amount exceeds the compensation provided by the Legislature in the state budget. Under existing law, salary increases cannot exceed the amount set in the state budget.

HB 1348 has been referred to the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.

Session cutoff dates

Mandated cutoff dates determine which bills will continue through the legislative process. These dates can impact legislative work – including a flurry of committee hearings – and are important to note. This year, these dates are:

·         Feb. 7: policy committee cutoff – bills in policy committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         Feb. 11: fiscal committee cutoff – bills in fiscal committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         Feb. 18: house of origin cutoff (5pm) – bills in their original chamber must be passed.

·         Feb. 28: policy committee cutoff – bills in opposite house policy committees must receive a hearing and be passed.

·         March 3: fiscal committee cutoff – bills in opposite house fiscal committees must receive and hearing and be passed.

·         March 7: opposite house cutoff (5pm) – bills in the opposite chamber must be passed.

·         March 13: Sine Die – last day of the regular session.

Session resources

SBCTC Government Relations provides updated legislative resources throughout session:

·         Bill Watch List – important bills being considered that may have significant impact on the CTC system.

·         Bill Status Report – all bills being tracked by SBCTC staff during session.

·         Weekly Hearing Schedule – schedule of weekly hearings where CTCs are testifying and/or monitoring bills.

·         Legislator information – contact information for legislators organized by college district, committee, caucus, etc.