S-2320.1          _______________________________________________

                        SECOND SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5557

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State of Washington              54th Legislature             1995 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Ways & Means (originally sponsored by Senators Sutherland, Bauer, Wood, Palmer and Kohl)

Read first time 03/06/95.

Creating a distance learning degree pilot program.

     AN ACT Relating to assessment of prior experiential learning programs in higher education; creating new sections; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds and declares that:

     Providing greater flexibility and access to undergraduate degree programs for the working adult population is of vital importance to the expansion of economic opportunities for individuals and families.

     Existing degree programs are not providing the needed flexibility for many working adults.  In order to provide greater access to a larger portion of the working adult population, more creative alternatives to the traditional time and place-bound educational delivery system must be developed.

     As demonstrated in other states, the opportunity for working adult students to earn college credit for clearly demonstrating important knowledge that they have attained in the workplace is a key element for providing greater access to undergraduate degree programs.  These credit-for-prior-learning-experience opportunities have also been shown to be most effective when they are offered as a component of distance learning programs.  Many institutions of higher education in Washington provide opportunities to earn credit for prior learning experience, but they are not adequately included as a component of distance learning programs.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The higher education coordinating board shall contract with one or more public higher education institutions to provide access to higher education on a pilot project basis in Clark county beginning in the fall term of 1995.  The access will be provided through a distance learning degree program that contains an opportunity for students to earn credits for prior experiential learning in a portfolio-based credit for prior experiential learning opportunity structured by the guidelines and standards set forth by the northwest association of schools and colleges.

     The higher education coordinating board shall monitor and evaluate the pilot project baccalaureate degree program and shall report to the senate and house of representatives higher education committees by December 1, 1997.  Elements in the report shall include but not be limited to the number of students served, the number of degrees granted, the ability of the credit for prior learning component to be self-sustaining, and the satisfaction of the students, graduates, and the employer community.

     In order to best meet the needs of the citizens of southwest Washington, the higher education coordinating board will work together with the administrations of local public higher education institutions and the local business community in developing the pilot project.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  If specific funding for the purposes of this act, referencing this act by bill number, is not provided by June 30, 1995, in the omnibus appropriations act, this act shall be null and void.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and shall take effect immediately.

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