FINAL BILL REPORT

                 EHB 2952

                         C 113 L 00

                     Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Requiring a study of distance education.

Sponsors:  Representatives Edmonds, Kenney, Gombosky, Esser, Lantz, Pflug, Veloria, Edwards and Santos.

House Committee on Higher Education

Senate Committee on Higher Education

Background:

According to the Higher Education Coordinating Board's 2000 Master Plan, Washington's system of higher education needs to provide opportunities for approximately 70,000 additional full-time enrollments by 2010.  One strategy to meet this significant growth is to expand distance education opportunities.  Distance education can provide new ways to learn and may conserve space in the long run.  However, faculty and staff need training in using these new technologies and infrastructure and equipment must be installed and maintained.

Summary of Bill:

The Higher Education Coordinating Board, State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, the Office of Financial Management, and the state institutions of higher education, working collaboratively, must conduct a study regarding distance education and report to the Legislature no later than January 2001.  The study must address the following elements related to distance education:

$definitions for the different modes of distance education;

$the impacts on capital needs and facility utilization;

$the impacts on instruction and faculty, as well as student, technological, and administrative support services;

$the obstacles in providing instruction via distance delivery;

$the cost factors associated with different distance delivery modes;

$the  role of the K-20 network;

$strategies to create efficiencies through partnerships and collaborations; and

$the implications on access to higher education.

Votes on Final Passage:

House970

Senate450

Effective:June 8, 2000