WSR 14-05-057

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed February 14, 2014, 3:46 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Tuition and fees charged to students enrolled in competency-based degree programs, WAC 131-28-025 Method of assessing tuition and fee charges.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 28B.15.067.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The community and technical colleges are piloting competency-based degree programs in which students will earn academic credits based on demonstration of meeting course competencies rather than on seat time. Tuition will be charged based on a flat rate per term rather than on credits. The state board for community and technical colleges is responsible for setting tuition rates for the community and technical college system. Under current rules, tuition must be charged on a per credit rate. A rule change is needed to allow the state board to adopt a flat tuition rate for competency-based programs.

Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.

Process for Developing New Rule: Normal rule making.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Denise Graham, 1300 Quince Street S.E., P.O. Box 42495, Olympia, WA 98504, phone (360) 704-4350, e-mail dgraham@sbctc.edu.

February 14, 2014

Beth Gordon

Executive Assistant

and Rules Coordinator