Expansion of branch campuses? Bad idea.

I’m not big on the expansion of branch campuses in Washington State. For me, that plan seems to be much more an ego-trip for local government officials than a necessity for our higher education program.

Is there a shortage of slots in our college system? Perhaps. But have we explored the idea of reducing our foreign student and out of state load… as well as revisiting the quaint little program that allows illegal aliens to receive the in-state tuition rate?

Year after year, the demand to expand these branches into 4-year campuses continues… though those making that demand almost uniformly have a title in front of their name.

Now, we'll have a scenario where WSU Vancouver will offer English 101… exactly like Clark College will offer English 101… just for a great deal more money.

The question is this: will an expanded program at WSU Vancouver result in a better student? A cheaper, more efficient higher education system?

Of course not.

So, in this era of scare economic resources, why do we emphasize expanding our branch campuses… which will require the expense of expanding the physical plant at these campuses… and the costs related to that expansion… so they can, in effect, compete with our community colleges?

With scarce higher education dollars available, the sensible course is to utilize the funds available for improving what we already have… not attempting to worsen the funding problem by engaging in a pound-foolish expansion program.

Make efficient use of scarce higher education dollars

Mar 21, 2005 - 07:05:24 am PST

The presidents of the state's six public universities have warned Washington legislators of a looming crisis in higher education, absent increases in state funding. But significant funding increases are unlikely with the Legislature facing a $1.5 billion budget gap. It's been clear for some time that the best we might expect from lawmakers this session is that they do no harm.

It may well be too much to expect. A little more than a week ago, the state House approved and sent to the Senate a bill allowing the University of Washington's Tacoma branch campus and Washington State University's branch campus in Vancouver to begin adding freshmen and sophomore courses to the upper division course offerings.

This proposed expansion of the WSU and UW branches to four-year institutions is troubling only because of its timing. We've long favored establishing a four-year university in Southwest Washington, but not at the sacrifice of quality at existing institutions. And we fear that's what this legislation could mean.

Washington colleges and universities are hurting from years of inadequate state appropriations. They've been starved for well over a decade of the public resources needed to maintain quality and grow with the state's population.

More...