WSU Regents to Consider New Student Government

PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University regents will consider Friday a constitution and
by-laws of a new student government for students enrolled in distance education programs.
The board meeting is scheduled to begin a 1:30 p.m. in the Lewis Alumni Centre.
According to T.L. “Les” Purce, vice president for Extended University Affairs, WSU is believed to be
the only traditional institution that has expanded student government to distance students.
Planning for the Associated Students of Washington State University-Extended Degree Program began
in 1997. A committee was formed to explore establishing a student government designed to meet the
specific needs of WSU students who earn their degrees at a distance. With constitutions for ASWSU and
branch campus student government serving as models, EDP students developed a web-based organization
allowing students throughout the country to participate.
The objectives of the organization, according to the constitution preamble, are “to specifically
represent the unique and particular interests, needs and welfare of students in the WSU Extended Degree
Programs on issues affecting student life; and to supplement and complement the formal education of these
degree programs delivered at a distance.”
Regents will also consider the 1999-01 biennial operating budget request covering new and expanded
programs at WSU Spokane being developed in partnership with other institutions. Requested is $5.7
million to create the Spokane Health Sciences Consortium with new degree programs, to establish other
programs that are in demand in the community and to expand enrollment in existing programs.
The funding would increase enrollments by 205 full-time students in the second year of the biennium.
Programs under the health sciences umbrella would bring nearly 50 new students. Business administration
specialties of insurance, real estate and hotel and restaurant administration would add another 60 students,
and computer engineering and creative writing programs add another 16. Expanding existing programs in the
design disciplines and pharmacy will add an another 75 students in the second year of the biennium.
Regent committee meetings are to begin at 9 a.m. in the French Administration Building, and members
will tour research laboratories, including the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility in Fulmer Hall at 11 a.m.
Purchase of a $1.4 million NMR spectrometer is also on the regents’ agenda.
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