Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

Higher Education Committee

SSB 5664

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning the Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Shin, Hobbs, Nelson, Rockefeller, Litzow, Chase, Tom, Zarelli, Brown, Kilmer, Delvin and Murray).

Brief Summary of Substitute Bill

  • Changes the name of Lake Washington Technical College to the Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

Hearing Date: 3/14/11

Staff: Madeleine Thompson (786-7304).

Background:

Lake Washington Technical College.

Lake Washington Vocational Technical Institute was part of the Lake Washington School District from 1949 to 1991 offering a variety of postsecondary vocational programs. Legislation enacted in 1991, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5184, converted the state's vocational-technical institutes to technical colleges. Lake Washington Vocational Technical Institute became Lake Washington Technical College.

Lake Washington Technical College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities at the associate degree level and has been granted candidacy at the baccalaureate degree level. Lake Washington Technical College offerings include basic skills transition, high school programs, certificates of proficiency and completion, apprenticeships, associates degrees (technical and transfer), professional and technical direct transfer agreements, incumbent and displaced worker training, and continuing education. Lake Washington Technical College is currently the only technical college in the state the offers an applied baccalaureate degree (Bachelor of Technology in Applied Design.)

Legislation enacted in 2010, Substitute Senate Bill 6355, gave authority to implement provisions of the Higher Education Coordinating Board's (HECB) System Design Plan. Among its several provisions, the legislation removed the pilot status of applied baccalaureate degrees offered at community and technical colleges. A community or technical college wanting to offer an applied baccalaureate degree must apply to both the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the HECB to have new degrees offerings approved.

Summary of Bill:

The name of Lake Washington Technical College is changed to Lake Washington Institute of Technology.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.