Brief Description: Expanding the applied baccalaureate degree pilot program.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Higher Education (originally sponsored by Senators McAuliffe, Tom, Rockefeller, Shin, Oemig, Berkey, Brandland, Fairley, Pflug, Delvin, Rasmussen, Kohl-Welles, Keiser, Zarelli, Prentice, Eide, Kline, Hobbs, Clements and Kilmer).

Senate Committee on Higher Education
Senate Committee on Ways & Means
House Committee on Higher Education
House Committee on Appropriations

Background: In 2005 the Legislature authorized four applied baccalaureate degree pilot programs at community or technical colleges. Six colleges submitted proposals. Bellevue Community College, Olympic College, Peninsula College, and South Seattle Community College were selected as sites for the pilot projects. Upper division students will begin these programs in the fall of 2007.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) selected the participating institutions based upon: their capacity to commit resources, their ability to engage faculty to develop and deliver the curriculum, the demand for the programs in their service area, the cost-effectiveness for students, and whether the program filled a gap in options offered by a public four-year institution in the geographic area.

Summary: By February 2008, the SBCTC must select up to three additional colleges to develop and offer programs of study leading to an applied baccalaureate degree. At least one must be a technical college. Students may not enroll in upper division courses before the fall of 2009.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      45   3
House      96   0   (House amended)
Senate      47   0   (Senate concurred)

Effective: June 12, 2008