Student member on SBCTC

AN ACT Relating to adding a student member to the state board for 1
community and technical colleges; amending RCW 28B.50.050 and 2
28B.50.070; and creating a new section. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature recognizes that the 5
decisions made by the state board for community and technical 6
colleges greatly impact the lives and education experiences of 7
students and that student participation in the decision-making 8
process can provide meaningful insight into the impact of these 9
decisions from the student perspective, which is unique compared to 10
the perspective of traditional board members.11
The legislature finds that students have served on higher 12
education-related governing boards in Washington state and other 13
states for decades. Specifically, students serve on the governing 14
boards of systems of community and technical colleges in over 10 15
other states. Students also serve as voting members on both the 16
Washington student achievement council and the workforce education 17
investment accountability and oversight board. These opportunities 18
have provided students the opportunity to contribute greatly to 19
deliberations where they have been able to share ideas and concerns 20
on decisions that directly impact students. 21
H-0689.1
HOUSE BILL 1486
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Salahuddin, Pollet, Doglio, Davis, Reed, Ramel,
Goodman, Peterson, Nance, Scott, Hill, and Simmons
Read first time 01/21/25. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
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The legislature further finds that student perspectives offer the 1
opportunity to bring the state board for community and technical 2
colleges closer to the student community that it serves. Being on 3
campus and in class every day, students are exposed directly to many 4
topics of interest to the board, which is important for comprehensive 5
and in-depth discussion. Moreover, student populations at community 6
and technical colleges are the most diverse of any institution of 7
higher education in the state, and thus the student member would be 8
exposed to a more diverse group than any other member of the board 9
representing any one group of the community. 10
Additionally, the legislature acknowledges that student positions 11
on governing boards are also a valuable tool for developing 12
leadership through experiential learning. Student members learn 13
processes of institutional governance, analyze policy proposals, and 14
participate in board discussions and decision making.15
Therefore, it is the intent of the legislature to enhance 16
community college governance by the state board of community and 17
technical colleges through fostering a stronger relationship with 18
students in policy development and decision making at the state 19
level. 20
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.50.050 and 1991 c 238 s 30 are each amended to 21
read as follows: 22
There is hereby created the "state board for community and 23
technical colleges", to consist of ((nine)) 10 members who represent 24
the geographic diversity of the state, and who shall be appointed by 25
the governor, with the consent of the senate. At least two members 26
shall reside east of the Cascade mountains. In making these 27
appointments, the governor shall attempt to provide geographic 28
balance and give consideration to representing labor, business, 29
women, and racial and ethnic minorities, among the membership of the 30
board. At least one member of the board shall be from business and at 31
least one member of the board shall be from labor. ((The current 32
members of the state board for community college education on 33
September 1, 1991, shall serve on the state board for community and 34
technical colleges until their terms expire. Successors to these 35
members shall be appointed according to the terms of this section. A 36
ninth member shall be appointed by September 1, 1991, for a complete 37
term)) One member of the board shall be a student enrolled at a 38
community or technical college. 39
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The ((successors of the)) members ((initially appointed)), except 1
for the student member, shall be appointed for terms of four years 2
except that a person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to 3
the expiration of any term shall be appointed only for the remainder 4
of such term. The student member shall serve for a term of one year. 5
Each member shall serve until the appointment and qualification of 6
his or her successor. All members shall be citizens and bona fide 7
residents of the state. 8
Members of the college board shall be compensated in accordance 9
with RCW 43.03.240 and shall receive reimbursement for travel 10
expenses in accordance with RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060 for each day 11
actually spent in attending to the duties as a member of the college 12
board. 13
The members of the college board may be removed by the governor 14
for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office, in the 15
manner provided by RCW 28B.10.500. 16
Sec. 3. RCW 28B.50.070 and 1987 c 505 s 15 are each amended to 17
read as follows: 18
The governor shall make the appointments to the college board.19
The college board shall organize, adopt a seal, and adopt bylaws 20
for its administration, not inconsistent herewith, as it may deem 21
expedient and may from time to time amend such bylaws. Annually the 22
board shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson; all to serve 23
until their successors are appointed and qualified. The college board 24
shall at its initial meeting fix a date and place for its regular 25
meeting. ((Five)) Six members shall constitute a quorum, and no 26
meeting shall be held with less than a quorum present, and no action 27
shall be taken by less than a majority of the college board.28
Special meetings may be called as provided by its rules and 29
regulations. Regular meetings shall be held at the college board's 30
established offices in Olympia, but whenever the convenience of the 31
public or of the parties may be promoted, or delay or expenses may be 32
prevented, it may hold its meetings, hearings or proceedings at any 33
other place designated by it. Subject to RCW 40.07.040, the college 34
board shall transmit a report in writing to the governor biennially 35
which report shall contain such information as may be requested by 36
p. 3 HB 1486
the governor. The fiscal year of the college board shall conform to 1
the fiscal year of the state. 2
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