| |
Mid-Columbia lawmakers
ecstatic over House vote to expand WSU Tri-Cities into four-year
institution
WSU Tri-Cities is a step closer to becoming the state’s next public
baccalaureate institution following the House of Representatives’
approval today of House Bill 2867. The vote delighted the four
representatives serving the Tri-Cities, who were quick to credit
community members and organizations for the bill’s progress.
“Southeast Washington has higher education needs, and the Mid-Columbia
has the resources and talents to meet those needs. A full-fledged
four-year university is a cornerstone of the effort to ensure a
prosperous future for our communities as work at Hanford is scaled back,
and it’s because of overwhelming community support that we were able to
bring this bill before the House today,” said Rep. Larry Haler,
R-Richland, lead Republican sponsor of HB 2867.
HB 2867 would direct WSU Tri-Cities, which has provided upper-division
courses since 1989, to prepare a plan for expanding into a four-year
institution by the start of the 2007 academic year. The legislation
would allow for the admission of lower-division students directly into
programs beyond the biotechnology field.
Rep. Shirley Hankins said the legislation would combine the strengths of
Richland’s WSU Tri-Cities, Pasco’s Columbia Basin College and Richland’s
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to offer extraordinary hands-on
learning opportunities.
“This is our opportunity to take advantage of all those scientists, all
that knowledge in the Tri-Cities, to create Washington’s own institute
of technology,” said Hankins, R-Richland, noting more than 900 people
with doctoral degrees are employed by PNNL.
“A lot of people have worked for a long time to turn WSU Tri-Cities into
a four year school,” said Rep. Bill Grant, D-Walla Walla. “The bill we
passed today testifies to their dedication to bring more education
opportunities and jobs to southeast Washington.”
Rep. Maureen Walsh
said the benefits of expanding WSU Tri-Cities would have benefits far
beyond the Tri-Cities area.
“This helps diversify our economy not only locally – but statewide. It’s
an important shot in the arm to help get folks trained in different
areas. This is especially important as our region continues to grow,”
said Walsh, R-Walla Walla, whose 16th Legislative District stretches
from her home city to Pasco.
“A lot of people worked very long and hard at the local level to make
this bill possible and they deserve credit. It’s a momentous day for all
of them and I’m happy I could play a part in helping their efforts come
to fruition.”
“Our effort has a theme – bridging the future – and we’re a step closer
now to realizing that future,” said Haler. He and Hankins serve most of
Benton County as part of the 8th Legislative District.
Haler told House members that Frank Armijo, president of Richland-based
Lockheed Martin Information Technology, deserves “as much credit as
anyone here” for the bill’s passage in the House. Armijo heads the
TRIDEC-led community effort to organize support for the expansion of WSU
Tri-Cities.
He also thanked HB 2867’s prime sponsor, Rep. Phyllis Kenney, D-Seattle,
chairwoman of the House Higher Education Committee. Kenney, a Yakima
Valley native, referred to the bill as embodying a “unique partnership”
between CBC, WSU and the Tri-Cities community.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
|
|