Committee hears arguments for and against state review of low‑enrollment university programs

Senate Bill 5,909 would require governing boards of public baccalaureate institutions to identify undergraduate degree programs that average fewer than 10 graduates per academic year over the most recent five‑year period, and subject programs on that list for three consecutive years to a discontinuance review with specified considerations.

Michelle Alishahi briefed the bill’s requirements, the discontinuance review process, and reporting obligations to the legislature. Staff summarized fiscal notes showing indeterminate impacts for several universities; Central Washington University estimated additional staff time and costs and UW warned of potential tuition‑revenue loss.

Eastern Washington University’s representative, David Burai, supported the bill as improving accountability and aligning programs with student and workforce demand. Faculty and student representatives including Beth Ebel (University of Washington), Matthew Altman (Central Washington University faculty representative), and Moe Khosrajii (student lobbyist) opposed the bill, arguing universities already have processes to review low‑enrollment programs, the bill could inject politics into academic decisions, create unnecessary bureaucracy and costs, and risk losing programs valued by non‑majors.

Committee members asked for data on past program closures and how institutions manage program reviews; faculty said they would provide information. No vote was taken at the hearing stage.