FINAL BILL REPORT

                   SB 6177

                           C 97 L 96

                      Synopsis as Enacted

Brief Description:  Changing provisions for degree granting institutions.

Sponsors:  Senators Bauer and Kohl; by request of Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Senate Committee on Higher Education

House Committee on Higher Education

Background:  All degree-granting institutions must have authorization from the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) to operate and to grant degrees.  Over time exemptions have been allowed for such things as branch campuses, long-time established independent institutions in Washington, and institutions accredited by an accrediting association.  With the guidance of the Attorney General, the HECB established a number of criteria in addition to the accrediting association recognition.  However, the Attorney General ruled that the additional criteria are not valid without a change in statute.

Summary:  The HECB may adopt additional criteria and is not required to grant a waiver from the degree-granting process based solely on its recognition by an accrediting association.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate    49 0

House     95 0

Effective:  June 6, 1996