This bill amends existing laws regarding the supervision and operational guidelines of community and technical colleges, as well as regional universities and The Evergreen State College in Washington. A significant change introduced in the bill is the requirement that each college and university must not employ more than one full-time equivalent employee for every six full-time equivalent enrolled students. This provision aims to ensure that staffing levels are aligned with student enrollment, promoting efficiency and potentially reducing costs in higher education institutions. The calculation of both enrollment and full-time equivalent employees will be averaged over the academic year.

In addition to the staffing requirement, the bill also clarifies the responsibilities of the college board and university presidents, emphasizing their roles in maintaining compliance with laws and regulations. The amendments aim to enhance the governance of higher education institutions in Washington by establishing clear guidelines for employment ratios and reinforcing the oversight responsibilities of institutional leaders. Overall, the bill seeks to improve the operational effectiveness of higher education while ensuring that resources are allocated in a manner that supports student needs.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 28B.50.090, 28B.35.390, 28B.40.390