Brief Description: Authorizing associate degree pathways for persons in apprenticeship programs at community and technical colleges.

Sponsors: Representatives Veloria, Kenney, Conway, Cox, Hunt, Clements, Morrell, Campbell, Kessler, Simpson, Wood and Berkey.

Hearing Date: 2/4/03

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

Apprenticeship Programs: Apprenticeship programs enable individuals to learn trades and occupations through a combination of on-the-job training and related and supplemental instruction. Programs are sponsored by joint employer and labor groups, individual employers, or employer associations. Sponsoring groups make up the apprenticeship committee that oversees the program. All programs must be approved by the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council. The end product of an apprenticeship is a certificate of "journeyman status," a nationally recognized standard within the specific occupational field of the apprentice.

Community and Technical Colleges: Most apprenticeship committees contract with a community or technical college to provide the program's related and supplemental instruction. For the 2001-02 academic year, 24 community and technical colleges provided instruction for nearly 12,000 apprentices (about 2,600 full-time equivalent students).

Associate Degrees: Fourteen colleges have created agreements within the college that allow apprentices to count portions of their related and supplemental instruction toward a special associate degree. Four of the largest programs offer a Multi-Occupational Trades Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree for apprentices in the trades. Once the student reaches journey status, only a few additional courses (usually in general education such as English, writing, or college-level math) are needed to receive the AAS. The number of additional courses may vary according to the level of rigor within the apprenticeship program, and the degree is specific to the apprentice's particular trade.

Ten colleges only offer a special associate degree for apprentices in certain fields (usually for educational paraprofessionals). The remaining 10 colleges with apprenticeship programs do not currently have an associate degree pathway specifically for apprentices.

Summary of Bill:

An apprenticeship committee can recommend to the Washington State Apprenticeship and Training Council (Council) that an associate degree pathway be developed for the committee's apprenticeship program. The Council first consults with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and considers the extent that apprentices in the program are likely to pursue a degree. If the Council agrees that apprentices would benefit from the opportunity, it can then request that a community or technical college develop the associate degree pathway.

A community or technical college that receives such a request from the Council must develop a degree pathway for apprentices. The college must ensure to the maximum extent possible that related and supplemental instruction provided within the apprenticeship program is credited toward the degree, and that other degree requirements are not redundant. The college must complete the associate degree pathway within six months of receiving a request.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 27, 2003.

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