Olympia…The Senate today gave final legislative approval to a bill authorizing expansion of the Washington State University campus into a four-year campus and sent it to the governor for signature. Governor Gregoire has indicated she will sign the measure.

“This is a great day for the Tri-Cities,” said Sen. Jerome Delvin (R-Richland). “The Tri-Cities was tasked by the Legislature last year to come up with a workable plan, and we came up with one. It was a very special thing to see the community come together the way it did.”

HB 2867 allows WSU's Tri-Cities campus in Richland to become a full 4-year campus beginning in 2007. Currently, it offers upper division courses only. The bill also makes possible much closer cooperation between WSU Tri-Cities, Columbia Basin College in Pasco and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland. WSU and PNNL hope to increase collaboration on research projects, share some facilities and have lab scientists teach at the school.

“Now the real work begins,” Delvin said. “WSU, Columbia Basin College and the national laboratory will start implementing the plan the community has developed so we can be ready for the 2007 academic year. It is an exciting time,” he added.

Delvin also thanked his 8th district seatmates, Reps. Larry Haler and Shirley Hankins, for their efforts to get the bill through the House.