Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Recommendation Summaries
FY 2014
Policy Level Request (Total)
FY 2015
2013-15
$74,990,000 $123,504,000 $198,494,000
1
Investing in Student Opportunities
$27,156,000
$47,523,000
$74,679,000
2
Expand & Enhance Opportunity Grant Program
$4,470,000
$5,697,000
$10,167,000
3
Student Achievement Initiative
$8,750,000
$8,750,000
$17,500,000
4
Transition Part-time Faculty to Full-time
$4,700,000
$4,700,000
$9,400,000
5
Faculty Increments
$3,400,000
$6,800,000
$10,200,000
6
Faculty & Exempt Peer Adjustment
$12,500,000
$25,300,000
$37,800,000
7
Align Exempt Staff Salary Increases with Faculty Increases
$3,200,000
$6,400,00
$9,600,000
8
Reduce Salary Gap Between Part-time & Full-time Faculty
$7,500,000
$15,000,000
$22,500,000
9
Implementation of Statewide Education Resources
$3,000,000
$3,000,000
$6,000,000
$314,000
$334,000
$648,000
TBD
TBD
TBD
10
Facilities Maintenance and Operations – Alternative Funding
11
Yakima Valley CC Collective Bargaining
Investing in Student Opportunities
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$27,156,000
$47,523,000
$74,679,000
To maintain state support for community and technical college enrollments above 2.0% of state
population, and to better position the system to serve the diverse and pressing needs of our
communities, this decision packages requests $74,679,000 in state funding to support increasing
enrollment targets by 4,000 FTEs in FY 2014 and an additional 3,000 FTEs in FY 2015 (for a biennial total
of 7,000 FTE). These enrollments will be dedicated to: promoting increased access to Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) majors and programs; promoting increased access to high
demand workforce programs aimed at closing the skills gaps identified in JLARC market analysis;
increasing programs and practices which accelerate basic skills students to the ‘tipping point’ and
beyond in college level work.
Expand & Enhance Opportunity Grant Program
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$4,470,000
$5,697,000
$10,167,000
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) requests $10.2 million to expand the
Opportunity Grant program by 600 FTEs and increase the award amount because of increased tuition
prices. The program brings together low-income students, colleges, and businesses to create skilled
employees, respond to employer identified workforce gaps and meet the students’ financial needs.
Low-income adults who enter high-wage, high-demand career pathways are eligible for financial support
up to 45 credits or three years of part-time enrollment.
Policy Level Request
Page 1
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Recommendation Summaries
Student Achievement Initiative
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$8,750,000
$8,750,000
$17,500,000
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) requests $17.5 million for the Student
Achievement Initiative. The State Board’s Student Achievement Initiative is a performance incentive
system for community and technical colleges. Its purposes are to improve public accountability by more
accurately describing how students advance in our colleges each year, and to provide incentives through
financial rewards to colleges for increasing rates of progression and completion.
Transition Part-time Faculty to Full-time
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$4,700,000
$4,700,00
$9,400,000
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $9.4 million to transition approximately
180 part-time faculty positions into full-time positions across the community and technical college
system. Research has shown those full-time faculties make critical connections with students that
improve student retention and completion.
Faculty Increments
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$3,400,000
$6,800,00
$10,200,000
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $10.2 million for faculty increments. To
stay effective, full- and part-time faculty must continuously update their knowledge, skills and abilities
to stay current with the latest innovations and advance their professional development. For such
efforts, a faculty member earns a salary step increase typically called an “increment.” However,
increments can be paid only if authorized by the Legislature. This request represents the estimated
funding needed to pay for increments earned in the 2013-15 biennium.
Faculty & Exempt Peer Adjustment
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$12,500,000
$25,300,00
$37,800,000
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $37.8 million to increase faculty and
administrative staff compensation rates to bring salary levels closer to their Global Challenge States peer
averages. This funding will reduce turnover and improve retention.
Policy Level Request
Page 2
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Recommendation Summaries
Align Exempt Staff Salary Increases with Faculty Increases
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$3,200,000
$6,400,00
$9,600,000
Salaries for exempt staff are initially established by aligning positions that are similar within the college
and the external job market. Once salaries are set, increases for exempt staff are limited to those
provided by the Legislature, which, since 2005, have mirrored the increases provided to classified staff
through statewide collective bargaining. Faculty are eligible for cost of living (COLA) increases through
Initiative 732, which is not linked to statewide collective bargaining levels. This has led to exempt staff
salaries slipping out of step with faculty. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
requests $9.6 million to link exempt salary COLAs with those of faculty to mitigate salary compression
and inversion issues between faculty and their administrators.
Reduce Salary Gap Between Part-time & Full-time Faculty
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$7,500,000
$15,000,00
$22,500,000
As state resources have diminished over the last four years, Washington’s community and technical
colleges – similar to national trends – have come to rely on part-time faculty as a way to maximize
instructional output while lowering costs. Some part-time faculty will always be needed to ensure a
comprehensive slate of course offerings. Part-time faculty allow colleges flexibility to offer courses
outside the expertise of full-time faculty, to offer more evening and off-campus courses, and to adjust
course offerings quickly in response to student and employer demand or to changes in funding. The
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $22.5 million to recognize the importance
of part-time faculty by moving the average annualized starting salary from 62% to 67% of the average
full-time faculty salary
Implementation of Statewide Education Resources
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$3,000,000
$3,000,00
$6,000,000
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) requests $6.0 million to build upon an
eLearning structure that is propelling the college system forward in its use of web-based, digital content:
the Open Course Library (OCL). This investment will reduce textbook costs for students and improve the
learning environment for CTC students, faculty and staff.
Policy Level Request
Page 3
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Recommendation Summaries
Facilities Maintenance & Operations- Alternative Funding
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$314,000
$334,000
$648,000
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $648,000 for the maintenance and
operation (M&O) of new instructional facilities constructed with non-state funds, in which prior
authorization from the State has been provided in the capital budget. Each facility is scheduled to be
occupied before July 1, 2015. M&O funding covers utilities, custodial, routine maintenance.
Yakima Valley Collective Bargaining Agreement
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
TBD
TBD
TBD
This is a placeholder for appropriations that may be needed to implement the Chapter 41.80 RCW
collective bargaining agreements (CBA) for the 2013-15 biennium applicable to Yakima Valley
Community College. OFM budget instructions require the State Board to submit a decision package for
Yakima Valley Community College, however, the September 10, 2012 submission due date is out of cycle
with the CBA due date.
Policy Level Request
Page 4
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Investing in Student Opportunities
Brief Description:
To maintain state support for community and technical college enrollments above 2.0% of state
population, and to better position the system to serve the diverse and pressing needs of our
communities, this decision packages requests $74,679,000 in state funding to support increasing
enrollment targets by 4,000 FTEs in FY 2014 and an additional 3,000 FTEs in FY 2015 (for a biennial total
of 7,000 FTE). These enrollments will be dedicated to: promoting increased access to Science,
Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) majors and programs; promoting increased access to high
demand workforce programs aimed at closing the skills gaps identified in JLARC market analysis;
increasing programs and practices which accelerate basic skills students to the ‘tipping point’ and
beyond in college level work.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$27,156,000
$47,523,000
$74,679,000
Support for Request:
The state’s community colleges and technical colleges (CTC) play an essential role in ensuring our
residents have access to higher education. Indeed, one of the systems guiding legislative mandates is to
“Offer an open door to [everyone], regardless of his or her academic background or experience, at a
cost normally within his or her economic mean.” 1 As the “open door” to higher education, the
legislature has consistently increased funding for the state enrollment targets for the CTC system. In
the seven biennia leading up to the 2009-11 biennium, the first budget built during the Great Recession,
the CTCs saw their target and funding for enrollments increase an average of 8,900 full-time equivalent
students (FTEs); an average of over 4,000 additional FTE per year. These increases give the colleges the
capacity to provide education services to their communities as the population of Washington increased
37% over same time period. More specifically, the increase in funded enrollments allowed the CTC’s
service level (i.e., the funded enrollments as a ratio of state population) to remain over 2%.
At current funded enrollment levels, and when compared to population projections for the 2013-15
Biennium, the CTC system’s service levels will drop below 2% for the first time in over 20 years.
1
Chapter 28B.50.020 RCW – Community and Technical Colleges - Purpose
Policy Level Request
Page 5
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Investing in Student Opportunities
Table 1 Community and Technical College Service Historic Service Levels
Enrollment
Target
Fiscal Year
1994
107,670
1995
110,386
1996
111,986
1997
114,326
1998
116,426
1999
118,526
2000
120,529
2001
123,762
2002
125,082
2003
128,222
2004
127,189
2005
128,885
2006
130,905
2007
133,307
2008
136,102
2009
139,237
2010
139,237
2011
143,046
2012
139,237
2013
139,237
2014
139,237
2015
139,237
Washington
Population
5,364,342
5,470,108
5,567,764
5,663,763
5,750,030
5,830,833
5,894,143
5,970,330
6,059,316
6,126,885
6,208,515
6,298,816
6,420,258
6,525,086
6,608,245
6,672,159
6,724,540
6,767,900
6,816,600
6,875,900
6,944,700
7,022,200
Service
Level
2.01%
2.02%
2.01%
2.02%
2.02%
2.03%
2.04%
2.07%
2.06%
2.09%
2.05%
2.05%
2.04%
2.04%
2.06%
2.09%
2.07%
2.11%
Proposed
Proposed
2.04%
Service
Target
2.03%
Level
2.00%
143,237
2.06%
1.98%
146,237
2.08%
To maintain state support for CTC enrollments above 2.0% and to better position the system to serve
the diverse and pressing needs of our communities, this decision packages requests $74,679,000 in state
funding to support increasing enrollment targets by 4,000 FTEs in FY 2014 and an additional 3,000 FTEs
in FY 2015 (for a total 7,000). These enrollments will be dedicated to: promoting increased access to
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) majors and programs; promoting increased access to
high demand workforce programs aimed at closing the skills gaps identified in JLARC market analysis;
increasing programs and practices which accelerate basic skills students to the ‘tipping point’ and
beyond in college level work.
The 7,000 additional FTE would be added at a weighted per student rate of $6,789 per year. This rate
represents state funding, which when combined with tuition revenues provides an average of $8,500
per student per year. This per student investment will allow colleges to:
Policy Level Request
Page 6
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Investing in Student Opportunities

Expand I-BEST programs – a pathway designed to accelerate students’ progress from basic skills
to certificate and degree level programs using contextualized learning and enhanced classroom
environments.

Promote additional access to basic skills ‘on-ramp’ programs that employ best practices for
accelerating students to college level programs of study. Move students farther, faster.

Provide wrap around services which increase student confidence and success as they navigate
their education. For many students, pursuing a college level degree or certificate is an unknown
path; investing in support services can reduce stress experienced by students and improve the
likelihood of completing their program.

Reflect the higher costs required to effectively educate STEM and High Demand Workforce
Students. The programs require unique learning environments (labs and specialized classrooms,
etc.) and lower student/faculty ratios.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 7
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Expand & Enhance Opportunity Grant Program
Brief Description:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) requests $10.2 million to expand the
Opportunity Grant program by 600 FTEs and increase the award amount because of increased tuition
prices. The program brings together low-income students, colleges, and businesses to create skilled
employees, respond to employer identified workforce gaps and meet the students’ financial needs.
Low-income adults who enter high-wage, high-demand career pathways are eligible for financial support
up to 45 credits or three years of part-time enrollment.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
$4,470,000
FY 2015
$5,697,000
Total
$10,167,000
Support for Request:
The Opportunity Grant program brings together low-income students, colleges, and businesses to meet
the students’ financial needs, create skilled employees, and respond to employer identified workforce
gaps. Grants are targeted to low-income adults who enter high-wage, high demand career pathways.
Grantees can receive financial support for up to 45 credits or three years of enrollment.
The SBCTC requests $10.2 million to serve an additional 600 FTES in the Opportunity Grant Program. In
addition, the request increases the average funding per FTES by 25% to $4,090. Approximately half of
the community and technical colleges maintain waiting lists for the program. Estimated unmet demand
within the CTC system is over 1,000 students. These students either delay enrollment or enroll at a
slower pace due to fewer student financial aid resources. These delays can jeopardize completion rates.
Background
In 2006, the Washington State Legislature appropriated $4 million to the State Board for Community
and Technical Colleges to create the Opportunity Grant pilot program. The 10 pilot programs showed
excellent results with 73 percent retention and approximately 843 low-income students participating in
training for high-wage, high-demand career pathways. The next year, the Legislature expanded the
Opportunity Grant program to all 34 community and technical colleges, providing an additional $7.5
million for a total of $11.5 million per year, with a goal of serving at least 2,000 FTES. Demand for the
program has been high, with 3,650 FTES served during the 2011-12 school year. Because of the high
demand, in 2009 the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges merged $1 million from the
Work-based Learning Program into the Opportunity Grant Program.
The Opportunity Grant program is a statutory program (RCW 28B.50.271-28B.50.272) and provides
students enrolled in the program funding for tuition and mandatory fees. In addition, students can
receive up to one thousand dollars per academic year for books, tools and supplies. At current rates,
students would be funded at $6,950 per year. Colleges have used the program in combination with
Policy Level Request
Page 8
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Expand & Enhance Opportunity Grant Program
other financial aid (e.g. Pell Grant), to serve as many students as possible. This has meant the average
funding available per student is less than 50% of current maximum amount, approximately $3,200.
The program continues to address two major economic issues confronting Washington State:

Low educational attainment curtails a person’s opportunities for employment and income
growth. Diminishing disposable income is a significant hurdle preventing low-income adults
from returning to school and progressing out of poverty.

Businesses, specifically those in the aerospace, health care fields, and manufacturing, face
dramatic staffing challenges and struggle to find skilled adults to fill job openings.
Currently funded at $25 million per biennium, the Opportunity Grants program addresses the
immediate financial needs of low-income adults pursuing education and employers seeking skilled
workers. To receive an Opportunity Grant, a student must be:

A Washington resident student

Enrolled in an Opportunity Grant-eligible program of study

Part of a family with an income at or below 200% of the federal poverty level

Complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Once attending, maintain a cumulative 2.0 grade point average
Eligible programs pathways include: accounting, aviation, office/admin/business management, allied
health/nursing, auto technology, truck driving, information technology, construction management,
criminal justice, early childhood education, manufacturing, engineering, and welding. Currently, allied
health is the most popular field of study for students in the Opportunity Grant program.
Results from the program continue to show high rates of student retention and success in targeting
funding to students most in need. Opportunity Grant participants are typically older and more diverse
than their peers receiving Pell Grants or who come from similarly challenged socio-economic
backgrounds.
Serving More Students
When the Opportunity Grant program was fully implemented in 2007, the goal was to serve 2,000 FTES.
Since that year, the demand for Opportunity Grants has more than doubled. The program served 3,650
FTES in the 2011-12 school year with another 750 students on waiting lists. The SBCTC is requesting
funding to increase the number of Opportunity Grant recipients by 300 FTES in FY14 and 600 FTES in
FY15. This would increase the number of students served by the community and technical colleges to
4,250 FTES.
Policy Level Request
Page 9
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Expand & Enhance Opportunity Grant Program
Keeping pace with tuition
When the Opportunity Grant began in 2007, annual tuition and fees at the community and technical
colleges was $2,676 per year. Since then, annual tuition and fees have increased by 50% to $4,000,
while total program funding has not increased. In the 2012 school year the Opportunity Grant program
served 3,650 FTES, for an average funding of $3,200 per FTES. To fully fund the Opportunity Grant at
the statutory allowable level would require $6,950 per FTES. This package will increase the average per
student funding amount for the Opportunity Grant program by 28% from $3,200 per FTES to $4,090 per
FTES. Increasing the funding per FTES will bring the award amount closer to current tuition rates and
maintain current funding levels for books/supplies, wrap-around services and mandatory student fees.
Financial support for low-skilled workers
The state’s approved Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) programs automatically
qualify for Opportunity Grant funding. Recent changes to federal student aid eligibility rules will
decrease the amount of financial aid available to I-BEST students. As of July 1, 2012, students who lack a
high school diploma or GED can no longer demonstrate their ability to do college-level work and,
therefore, will not qualify for financial aid. In the past, students proved their ability to benefit by either
passing a federally-approved ability to benefit test or successfully completing six credit hours of collegelevel courses. This federal student aid change disproportionally impacts the lowest-skilled adults,
working poor, dislocated workers, students of color, and immigrants. Elimination of the federal financial
aid source will significantly increase the demands for Opportunity Grant funds. Increasing Opportunity
Grant funding will allow these students to continue progress toward meaningful credentials and a viable
pathway to living wage jobs.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 10
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Student Achievement Initiative
Brief Description:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) requests $17.5 million for the Student
Achievement Initiative. The State Board’s Student Achievement Initiative is a performance incentive
system for community and technical colleges. Its purposes are to improve public accountability by more
accurately describing how students advance in our colleges each year, and to provide incentives through
financial rewards to colleges for increasing rates of progression and completion.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$8,750,000
$8,750,000
$17,500,000
Support for Request:
The SBCTC requests $17.5 million for the Student Achievement Initiative (SAI). The SAI is a performance
incentive funding system for community and technical colleges. Washington’s Community and Technical
College system is widely considered a national leader in performance funding. Its purposes are to
improve public accountability by more accurately describing how students advance in our colleges each
year, and to provide incentives through financial rewards to colleges for improving student outcomes.
This request supports accountability and student success. This initiative will create momentum for both
students and colleges. As colleges gain a better understanding of where students get stuck and
successfully move them through those hurdles, they will receive financial rewards. These fiscal
incentives are flexible and can be applied to proven academic strategies and wrap around services. The
outcome of investing in services that increase student success is hoped to create institutional
momentum that will yield additional rewards, which can be invested in additional strategies.
The State Board is in the process of a scheduled review of the metrics and methodologies used in the
performance funding model for the SAI. Areas of emphasis include improving the measurement of
student persistence from year to year and establishing meaningful milestones in the second year of a
student’s education. This work is expected to be completed December 2012. The requested funding
will be distributed to colleges for achieving significant milestones within the new metrics.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 11
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Transition Part-time Faculty to Full-time
Brief Description:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $9.4 million to transition approximately
180 part-time faculty positions into full-time positions across the community and technical college
system. Research has shown those full-time faculties make critical connections with students that
improve student retention and completion.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$4,700,000
$4,700,000
$9,400,000
Support for Request:
The ratio of full- to part-time faculty is an issue in Washington State and nationally, the result of colleges
and universities absorbing a greater number of students along with declining public financial support.
Colleges also rely on part-time faculty to provide the flexibility needed to offer classes when and where
students need them, allowing the colleges to quickly engage shifts in student, community, and business
needs. According to several research studies, the quality of part-time faculty classroom instruction is
equal to that provided by full-time faculty. However, there are growing concerns that the limited
availability of part-time instructors outside of the classroom, to advise students and respond to
questions affects student success.
In the fall of 2011, 53.1 percent of the state supported instruction was completed by full-time faculty,
while 46.9 percent was provided by part-time faculty. Five years ago, in fall 2007, full-time faculty
taught 55.8 percent of the state supported instruction.
The State Board requests $9.4 million to convert 180 faculty positions from part-time to full-time. The
funding would provide approximately 5 conversions per college district in the first year of the biennium,
increasing the percentage of courses taught by full-time faculty from 53 to 56 percent.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 12
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Faculty Increments
Brief Description:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $10.2 million for faculty increments. To
stay effective, full- and part-time faculty must continuously update their knowledge, skills and abilities
to stay current with the latest innovations and advance their professional development. For such
efforts, a faculty member earns a salary step increase typically called an “increment.” However,
increments can be paid only if authorized by the Legislature. This request represents the estimated
funding needed to pay for increments earned in the 2013-15 biennium.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$3,400,000
$6,800,000
$10,200,000
Support for Request:
A reasonable and predictable incentive system must be in place to encourage faculty to improve their
knowledge, skills and abilities in the rapidly evolving knowledge-based economy. The system has
developed and used a simple and equitable method to develop requests for increment appropriations.
The two-year college system recommends that the Legislature appropriate 0.8% of the faculty salary
base plus related benefits for the purpose of paying faculty increments. This level is based on the
historical average of annually earned increment obligations after use of turnover savings. When
combined with turn-over savings generated in the system, CTCs will have resources adequate to pay for
the increments earned in the 2013-15 biennium. To this end, it is important to retain the authority to
use turn-over savings for faculty increments as currently provided in the appropriations act (2011
Session Law, Volume 4, Chapter 50, pg. 4039 [Section 601, subsection 6a]).
“…the state board for community and technical colleges may use salary and
benefit savings from faculty turnover to provide salary increments and
associated benefits for faculty who qualify through professional development
and training.”
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 13
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Faculty & Exempt Peer Adjustment
Brief Description:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $37.8 million to increase faculty and
administrative staff compensation rates to bring salary levels closer to their Global Challenge States peer
averages. This funding will reduce turnover and improve retention.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$12,500,000
$25,300,000
$37,800,000
Support for Request:
Salary level is often cited as the reason for job offer rejections and for resignations. Teaching students
and operating a college campus are labor intensive activities, as salaries and benefits consume 82
percent of a college's state funded operating expenditures. Increasingly, colleges find it difficult to
attract and retain the talent needed to create and maintain learning environments conducive to
promoting student achievement.
Following the 2007 legislative session, the State Board established a constituent-based task force to
address difficulties in recruiting and retaining faculty and administrative staff. The group was tasked
with developing objective information and making recommendations to address full- and part-time
faculty and exempt staff compensation funding, market competitiveness, and flexibility to meet the
particular needs of colleges. Membership included state board members, trustees, presidents, labor
representatives (including full-time and part-time faculty from both WEA and AFT-Washington), and
State Board staff.
The task force reached consensus that current compensation rates prevent the community and
technical colleges from offering competitive salaries and impede their recruiting and retention efforts.
Included among Its findings:

Average faculty and administrative staff salaries across Washington’s community and technical
colleges are consistently lower than peer state averages.

When job candidates decline initial offers it is most often due to salary. When colleges suspend
searches, it is most often due to an inadequate candidate pool.

The turnover rate is 6.8 percent among full-time faculty, 12.4 percent among administrative
staff, and significantly higher for part-time faculty.

The problems of recruitment and retention will likely worsen as colleges compete with public
and private sector employees to replace the wave of "baby boomer" retirements.

Colleges’ ability to compete is further complicated by inadequate funding, regulations, and
current salary structures.
Policy Level Request
Page 14
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Faculty & Exempt Peer Adjustment
Data from the SBCTC Compensation Study Task Force found faculty salaries, adjusted for regional cost
differences, were lower than the national and regional average. When compared with other Global
Challenge States (GCS), comparison states selected by the Governor and Legislature, Washington state
average faculty salaries were 12.7 percent below the GCS average.
Nominal Salary
$75,000
COLI-Adjusted*
$72,644
$69,150
$70,000
$65,000
$59,930 $59,625
$60,000
$56,808
$57,760
$56,969
$58,572
$55,000
$50,537 $50,537
$50,000
$45,000
$40,000
$35,000
$30,000
WA SBCTC
(n=34)
National
(n=969)
GCS
(n=208)
MGT
(n=565)
Regional
(n=139)
Source: Comparison of 9-Month Equivalent Average Faculty Salary Levels by Peer Group, Nominal and COLI (Cost of Living Indices)-Adjusted*,
Weighted Average by Number of Faculty, 2006-07, IPEDS Data.
College administrative staff establishes the environments that allow great faculty and students to thrive.
They are responsible and accountable for scheduling courses that meet student and community needs,
making decisions that provide a secure and healthy environment for learning, ensuring funding is
expended consistent with state law, and providing the support services for student achievement. While
administrative staff leadership is essential to the success of an institution and students, a combination of
issues constrain or diminish a college’s ability to recruit and retain talented, experienced employees.
Also, with 67 percent of administrative staff being age 50 or older (31 percent age 60 or older), it’s
anticipated that colleges will find it increasingly difficult to compete for talent.
Data from the SBCTC Compensation Study Task Force also found administrative staff salaries, once
adjusted for regional cost differences, were lower than the national and regional average. Washington
state average administrative salaries were 14.2 percent below the GCS average.
Policy Level Request
Page 15
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Faculty & Exempt Peer Adjustment
State-Weighted Average Salary (1)
$130,000
State-Weighted, COLI-Adjusted Average Salary (1,2)
$118,872
$120,000
$110,000
$97,084
$100,000
$90,000
$85,037
$85,037
$80,000
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
WA SBCTC
(11 Posi ti ons)
GCS
(11 Posi ti ons)
Source: CUPA-HR 2007-08 Administrative Compensation Survey
The State Board requests $37.8 million to increase faculty and administrative staff compensation rates
to bring salary levels closer to their Global Challenge States peer averages. This funding will reduce
turnover and improve retention. This will allow for a more stable cohort of faculty and staff, improving
the colleges’ institutional memories, quality levels, and response to student needs.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 16
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Align Exempt Staff Salary Increases with Faculty Increases
Brief Description:
Salaries for exempt staff are initially established by aligning positions that are similar within the college
and the external job market. Once salaries are set, increases for exempt staff are limited to those
provided by the Legislature, which, since 2005, have mirrored the increases provided to classified staff
through statewide collective bargaining. Faculty are eligible for cost of living (COLA) increases through
Initiative 732, which is not linked to statewide collective bargaining levels. This has led to exempt staff
salaries slipping out of step with faculty. The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
requests $9.6 million to link exempt salary COLAs with those of faculty to mitigate salary compression
and inversion issues between faculty and their administrators.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$3,200,000
$6,400,000
$9,600,000
Support for Request:
College administrative staff establish the environments that allow great faculty and students to thrive.
They are responsible and accountable for scheduling courses that meet student and community needs,
making decisions that provide a secure and healthy environment for learning, ensuring funding is
expended consistent with state law, and providing the support services for student achievement. While
administrative staff leadership is essential to the success of an institution and students, a combination of
issues constrain or diminish a college’s ability to recruit and retain talented, experienced employees.
Administrative staff salaries are initially established through two mechanisms: an alignment of salaries
to similar positions within the college and market influences. However, once a salary is set, salary
increases are limited to those provided by the Legislature and those that occur through promotions.
Since 2005, the Legislature has aligned administrative staff salary increases with those resulting from
statewide classified collective bargaining. This has increased salary compression and inversion issues, as
employees covered by I-732 (all faculty as well as classified staff at technical colleges) historically receive
larger COLAs. As shown in the following graph, prior to FY 2002, faculty and administrative staff COLAs
were aligned. Since 2003, this difference has resulted in I-732 covered employees receiving 7.4 percent
greater cost-of-living salary adjustments than their supervisors and managers.
For example, for FY 2009 (the last year general salary increases and/or COLAs were funded for faculty
and exempt employees), the Legislature provided faculty with a 4.4 percent salary increase, whereas
administrative staff received a 2.0 percent increase. While this difference affects all administrative staff,
it impacts mid-managers the most and makes it difficult to recruit leaders from the faculty ranks.
Policy Level Request
Page 17
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Align Exempt Staff Salary Increases with Faculty Increases
General Salary Increases and/or COLAs for Faculty & Exempt Employees
5.0%
4.5%
4.0%
3.5%
3.0%
2.5%
2.0%
1.5%
1.0%
0.5%
0.0%
I-732 Covers Academic Employees
Faculty
Exempt
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 18
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Reduce Salary Gap Between Part-time and Full-time Faculty
Brief Description:
As state resources have diminished over the last four years, Washington’s community and technical
colleges – similar to national trends – have come to rely on part-time faculty as a way to maximize
instructional output while lowering costs. Some part-time faculty will always be needed to ensure a
comprehensive slate of course offerings. Part-time faculty allow colleges flexibility to offer courses
outside the expertise of full-time faculty, to offer more evening and off-campus courses, and to adjust
course offerings quickly in response to student and employer demand or to changes in funding. The
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $22.5 million to recognize the importance
of part-time faculty by moving the average annualized starting salary from 62% to 67% of the average
full-time faculty salary.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
$7,500,000
$15,000,000
$22,500,000
Support for Request:
In the past, SBCTC has sought legislative funding to improve pay levels for part-time faculty. Legislative
appropriations over the past six biennia have increased average part-time faculty salaries in relation to
pay levels for average full-time faculty. Yet, annualized part-time faculty salary levels continue to lag
behind full-time faculty, creating an inequitable situation and affecting competitiveness for talent in the
job market.
In constant dollars, the average full-time faculty salary has increased 2% over the past 5 years, from
$54,701 to $55,817. A part-time instructor teaching full-time earns, on average, $34,517 or 62 percent
of the amount paid to full-time. While the legislature has provided the funds that have improved parttime instructor salaries, part-time faculty are still paid less than full-time faculty, even after adjusting for
the additional full-time faculty responsibilities.
The State Board is asking the Legislature to commit to paying part-time faculty the same as full-time
faculty for their teaching responsibilities. This request recognizes the importance of part-time faculty by
moving the average annualized starting salary to 67% of the average full-time faculty salary. The State
Board requests $22.5 million to reduce the gap between part-time and full-time average annualized
salaries by 5 percent.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 19
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Implementation of Statewide Education Resources
Brief Description:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) requests $6.0 million to build upon an
eLearning structure that is propelling the college system forward in its use of web-based, digital content:
the Open Course Library (OCL). This investment will reduce textbook costs for students and improve the
learning environment for CTC students, faculty and staff.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
$3,000,000
FY 2015
$3,000,000
Total
$6,000,000
Support for Request:
The first strategy within the SBCTC Strategic Technology Plan is to “create a single system-wide suite of
online tools that provides all students with easy access to “anytime, anywhere” learning. The system is
currently involved in multiple processes to expand and improve the system-wide suite of tools including
a common learning management system that acts as a toolbox and allows colleges to efficiently manage
a variety of eLearning tools for all users. All students and faculty can be automatically given access to
the courses and resources they need. One set of tools being developed is a common library platform to
integrate and expand access to Open Course Library and other open resources. Once established our
colleges can add additional resources to the supply of instructional materials, thereby increasing
learning opportunities while decreasing the cost of textbooks for students.
The Open Course Library (OCL) project, partially funded by the Legislature, has already effectively
reduced the high cost of college textbooks for students. Using materials from commercial publishers,
students pay between $800 and $1,200 for textbooks each year—a cost that has risen 22% over the past
four years. Through OCL and other open resources the price is reduced to no more than $30 per course,
so students are able to purchase course materials at a fraction of the published textbook cost.
The Open Course Library project was designed to reduce textbooks costs for students and at the same
time increase faculty access to open resources. The project goal was to develop open materials for the
81 most common courses. The first 42 courses were completed October 2011, and the remaining
courses are on schedule to be completed by April 2013. The cost savings for students are considerable.
When the first 42 instructors who developed Open Course Library materials adopted the OCL materials
for one year, students saved $1.2 million. The total investment in those 42 courses was $1.1 million, so
student cost-savings will be much greater than the cost to develop the OCL materials.
While the development process is almost complete, the adoption process has just begun. Significant
work lies ahead to support faculty in their adoption of open materials for all courses and all students.
This request will provide assistance for faculty in finding, evaluating, adapting and managing open
resources. This is much different than and more work than adopting an existing publisher’s text and
auxiliary materials
Policy Level Request
Page 20
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Implementation of Statewide Education Resources
New instructional staff will establish resources and processes to reduce reliance on commercial
textbooks that are so costly to students. They will assist faculty in finding and creating open content and
auxiliary materials that will replace more expensive publisher materials. To expand the availability of
resources from which to develop open content, funding is requested for the CTC system to contract for
a common library platform, migrate existing materials to that platform at all colleges and integrate the
platform with learning management system for seamless access to materials for all faculty and students.
The new staff will support faculty in maximizing the use of the common integrated library system in
building a database of shared and open materials. College libraries already have materials that students
can use instead of expensive textbooks. If all libraries use the same library platform to manage their
collections, faculty and students would be able to access library materials from within their online
classrooms 24x7x365.
Funding will also be used to hire faculty to work outside of their contracts on the development of open
content that is downloadable to textbooks. These materials will be used for classroom instruction and
to build print-on-demand, customized textbooks. The end result is a significant cost-savings for
students, as course material prices are driven down. For instance, if each of the 55,000 CTC students
who take English Composition I each year were to save $100 on their textbook, those students would
save $5.5 million each year in textbook costs.
Staff coordinating the development, adoption and on-going use of open materials on each of the 34
community and technical college campuses will require $1.8m per year. In addition, 10 texts per year
will be developed and adopted for use by instructors across the community and technical college system
at a cost of $700,000 per year. This cost will fund the hiring of content-expert faculty to work outside
their existing contracts. Finally, to establish a unified Integrated Library System for staff and students,
$500,000 per year is required for system management.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 21
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Facilities Maintenance & Operations - Alternative Funding
Brief Description:
The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges requests $648,000 for the maintenance and
operation (M&O) of new instructional facilities constructed with non-state funds, in which prior
authorization from the State has been provided in the capital budget. Each facility is scheduled to be
occupied before July 1, 2015. M&O funding covers utilities, custodial, routine maintenance.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
$314,000
FY 2015
$334,000
Total
$648,000
Support for Request:
Predictable and stable M&O funding adds to the useful life of buildings and ultimately reduces capital
costs to the state. As stated in the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC) Higher
Education Facilities and Preservation Study presented to the Senate Ways and Means Committee in
2003: “ongoing and preventative maintenance funding in institutional operating budgets can reduce
demand for major repairs and replacements.”
The 2002 House Capital Committee Interim Workgroup on Higher Education Facilities Report (January
2003), found the community and technical colleges utilize their physical space well above recognized
standards. The report compared the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) classroom seat use
standard of 22 hours per week to the utilization rate of the community and technical colleges. Counting
only state-supported FTES, two-year colleges are using physical space at a rate of 32 hours per week,
substantially higher than other higher education institutions in the State. When including Running Start
and other contract students, the utilization rate increases, as facilities experience heavy use from early
morning to late evening and weekends. This level of use increases demand for janitorial services and
maintenance for community and technical college facilities.
Financial contracts may be used to acquire or develop property paid for from operating revenues,
pursuant to Chapter 39.94 RCW. These projects represent a combination of investment options to
secure needed space. Colleges have identified sources of funding ranging from cash, enterprise fund
balances, and State Treasurer Certificates of Participation (COPs) secured by student Services and
Activity (S&A) fees or other local revenue. These projects are on community college campuses and
represent major investments in instructional space. Alternative financing and direct acquisition have
provided opportunities to address critical programmatic and student support service needs that have
been difficult to acquire with capital budget funding levels.
New construction M&O funding is calculated at a rate of $6.54 per gross square foot for FY 2014 and
$6.70 per gross square foot for FY 2015. The new rate is calculated using 2011-13 funding rate adjusted
for inflation. M&O costs are based on the total of utilities, custodial, and routine maintenance. A
summary of the M&O funding request by district follows.
Policy Level Request
Page 22
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Facilities Maintenance & Operations - Alternative Funding
College
Facility Name
Edmonds Community College
Everett Community College
Seattle District
Spokane District
Beresford Building
Student Fitness Center
Building D Addition
Building 15 Addition
Instructional
GSF
20,596
13,130
5,000
11,100
2013-15 Funding
Request
$272,691
$173,841
$66,200
$134,865
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 23
Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
2013-15 Operating Budget Policy Level Request
Yakima Valley CC Collective Bargaining Agreement
Brief Description:
This is a placeholder for appropriations that may be needed to implement the Chapter 41.80 RCW
collective bargaining agreements (CBA) for the 2013-15 biennium applicable to Yakima Valley
Community College. OFM budget instructions require the State Board to submit a decision package for
Yakima Valley Community College, however, the September 10, 2012 submission due date is out of cycle
with the CBA due date of October 1, 2012.
Requested Funding by Fiscal Year
FY 2014
FY 2015
Total
TBD
TBD
TBD
Support for Request:
Under the Personnel System Reform Act of 2002, RCW 41.80.010(4), for the purposes of negotiating
collective bargaining agreements, when the agency employer is an institution of higher education, the
employer may be represented by their governing boards or the Governor or Governor’s designee.
Yakima Valley Community College elected to be represented by its Board of Trustees; the remaining
community colleges are represented by the Governor’s Labor Relations Office.
Under RCW 41.80.010(3), the collective bargaining agreement must be submitted to the Director of the
Office of Financial Management by October 1st. Additionally, under RCW 41.80.010(4), if appropriations
are necessary to implement the compensation and fringe benefits provisions of the bargaining
agreements, the Governor shall submit a request for such funds to the Legislature.
OFM budget instructions require a decision package for each collective bargaining agreement not
negotiated by the Labor Relations Office. This is a placeholder for appropriations that may be needed to
implement the Chapter 41.80 RCW collective bargaining agreement for Yakima Valley Community
College, which is due October 1, 2012 – three weeks after the September 10, 2012 operating budget
request submission deadline.
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs:
These costs are all ongoing.
Policy Level Request
Page 24