Higher ed. gov./students

AN ACT Relating to the role of students on the governing boards 1
of institutions of higher education; amending RCW 28B.50.100 and 2
28B.50.102; adding a new section to chapter 28B.50 RCW; adding a new 3
section to chapter 28B.35 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.20 4
RCW; adding a new section to chapter 28B.30 RCW; adding a new section 5
to chapter 28B.40 RCW; and creating a new section. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:7
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that decisions made 8
by governing boards of each respective institution of higher 9
education greatly impact the lives of students and that student 10
participation in the decision-making process can provide insight into 11
the impacts of actions by trustees that are not always measurable 12
through reports and statistics. Students are on campus every day 13
using services and experiencing aspects of the institution that board 14
members may only see on paper, providing a unique and valuable 15
perspective that should not be overlooked.16
Students serving on governing boards of institutions of higher 17
education have proven effective in Washington and in over 30 other 18
states. For nearly 30 years, students at Washington's four-year 19
institutions of higher education have served as voting members on the 20
board of trustees and regents. Students also serve with voting rights 21
S-0840.1
SENATE BILL 5523
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Senators Riccelli, Lovelett, Slatter, Nobles, Kauffman, Warnick,
Trudeau, Hasegawa, Saldaña, Valdez, Wellman, and C. Wilson
Read first time 01/27/25. Referred to Committee on Higher Education
& Workforce Development.
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on both the Washington student achievement council and the workforce 1
education investment accountability and oversight board. These 2
opportunities have provided greater depth in board deliberations and 3
a well-educated conduit for students to voice ideas and concerns.4
The student perspective at community colleges also brings the 5
board closer to their community. Student populations at community 6
colleges are the most diverse of any institution of higher education 7
in the state. Being on campus and in class every day, students are 8
exposed to a more diverse group than any member of the board 9
representing any one group of the community. Student positions on 10
governing boards are also a valuable tool for developing leadership 11
through experiential learning. Student members learn processes of 12
institutional governance, become involved in campus projects, analyze 13
policy proposals, and participate in board discussions and decision 14
making. While some student leaders are given the opportunity to 15
report directly to the board, this is vastly different from having a 16
right to discussion and the opportunity to vote on matters important 17
to the student body. 18
It is the intent of the legislature to enhance community college 19
governance by fostering a more dynamic relationship between students 20
and institutions through the encouragement of student participation 21
in policy development and decision making at the district and state 22
level. 23
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.50.100 and 2013 c 23 s 58 are each amended to 24
read as follows: 25
(1) There is hereby created a board of trustees for each college 26
district as set forth in this chapter. Each board of trustees shall 27
be composed of ((five)) six trustees, ((except as provided in )) 28
including a student trustee pursuant to RCW 28B.50.102, who shall be 29
appointed by the governor for terms commencing October 1st of the 30
year in which appointed. In making such appointments, the governor 31
shall give consideration to geographical diversity, and representing 32
labor, business, women, and racial and ethnic minorities, in the 33
membership of the boards of trustees. The boards of trustees for 34
districts containing technical colleges shall include at least one 35
member from business and one member from labor. 36
(2) The successors of the trustees initially appointed shall be 37
appointed by the governor to serve for a term of five years except 38
that any person appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the 39
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expiration of any term shall be appointed only for the remainder of 1
the term. Each member shall serve until a successor is appointed and 2
qualified. 3
(3) Every trustee shall be a resident and qualified elector of 4
the college district. No trustee may be an employee of the community 5
and technical college system, a member of the board of directors of 6
any school district, or a member of the governing board of any public 7
or private educational institution. 8
(4) Each board of trustees shall organize itself by electing a 9
chair from its members. The board shall adopt a seal and may adopt 10
such bylaws, rules, and regulations as it deems necessary for its own 11
government. ((Three)) A majority of members of the board shall 12
constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may adjourn from time to 13
time and may compel the attendance of absent members in such manner 14
as prescribed in its bylaws, rules, or regulations. The district 15
president, or if there be none, the president of the college, shall 16
serve as, or may designate another person to serve as, the secretary 17
of the board, who shall not be deemed to be a member of the board.18
(5) Each board of trustees shall follow procedures for open 19
public meetings in chapter 42.30 RCW. Each board shall provide time 20
for public comment at each meeting. 21
(6) Members of the boards of trustees may be removed for 22
misconduct or malfeasance in office in the manner provided by RCW 23
28B.10.500. 24
Sec. 3. RCW 28B.50.102 and 2012 c 148 s 3 are each amended to 25
read as follows: 26
(1) Boards of trustees for each college district ((, by majority 27
vote, may)) shall establish a sixth trustee that shall be filled by a 28
student. The governor shall select each student member from a list of 29
candidates, of at least three and not more than five, submitted by 30
the associated student governments or their equivalent of the college 31
district. The student member shall hold his or her office for a term 32
of one year, beginning July 1st and ending June 30th, or until the 33
student member's successor is appointed and qualified, whichever is 34
later. The student member shall be a full-time student in good 35
standing at a college within the college district at the time of 36
appointment and throughout the student's term. If the student member 37
fails to be enrolled at the college full -time or forfeits his or her 38
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academic standing, the student member is disqualified and a new 1
student member must be appointed. 2
(2) A student appointed under this section shall excuse himself 3
or herself from participation or voting on matters relating to the 4
hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel or any 5
other matters pertaining to collective bargaining agreements.6
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 28B.50 7
RCW to read as follows: 8
A student government representative shall be given an opportunity 9
to provide an in-person report at each regular board of trustees 10
meeting. 11
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 28B.35 12
RCW to read as follows: 13
A student government representative shall be given an opportunity 14
to provide an in-person report at each regular board of trustees 15
meeting. 16
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 28B.20 17
RCW to read as follows: 18
A student government representative shall be given an opportunity 19
to provide an in-person report at each regular board of regents 20
meeting. 21
NEW SECTION. Sec. 7. A new section is added to chapter 28B.30 22
RCW to read as follows: 23
A student government representative shall be given an opportunity 24
to provide an in-person report at each regular board of regents 25
meeting. 26
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8. A new section is added to chapter 28B.40 27
RCW to read as follows: 28
A student government representative shall be given an opportunity 29
to provide an in-person report at each regular board of trustees 30
meeting. 31
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