BILL REQ. #: H-1837.3
State of Washington | 62nd Legislature | 2011 Regular Session |
READ FIRST TIME 02/17/11.
AN ACT Relating to expanding opportunities in higher education in north Puget Sound; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1 (1) The legislature finds that access to
baccalaureate and graduate degree programs continues to be limited for
residents of north Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties. Studies
conducted by the state board for community and technical colleges, the
higher education coordinating board, and the council of presidents
confirm that enrollment in higher education compared to demand in this
geographic region lags behind enrollment in other parts of the state,
particularly for upper division courses leading to advanced degrees.
(2) The legislature also finds that access to high employer demand
programs of study is imperative for the state's global competitiveness
and economic prosperity, particularly those degrees in the science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields that align with the
workforce skill demands of the regional economy, that support the
aerospace industry, and provide skilled undergraduate and graduate
degree engineers required by the largest employers in the aerospace
industry cluster.
(3) The legislature finds that meeting the long-range goal of
greatly expanded access for the population of the region to the widest
array of baccalaureate and graduate programs can best be accomplished
by assigning responsibility to a research university with multiple
experiences in similar settings.
(4) Washington State University shall create a strategic plan for
establishing a branch campus in Everett. The strategic plan shall be
developed with the collaboration of the University Center at Everett
Community College and all the institutions of higher education that
provide baccalaureate degrees at the University Center, and community
leaders. This plan shall be submitted to the legislature by December
1, 2012. The plan shall address the following:
(a) Meeting projected student enrollment demands of north
Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties for baccalaureate, graduate, and
certificate programs;
(b) Meeting employers' needs for skilled workers by expanding high
employer demand programs of study, with an initial emphasis by
Washington State University on undergraduate and graduate engineering
degree programs in a variety of engineering disciplines such as civil,
mechanical, aeronautical, and aerospace manufacturing;
(c) Building on degree programs already offered at the University
Center at Everett Community College; and
(d) Collaborating with the University Center at Everett Community
College in relation to degree offerings; lower and upper division
coordination to maximize student opportunities and resources; classroom
space and equipment; and ongoing collaboration to meet the higher
education needs of the region.
(5)(a) Washington State University shall convene a coordinating and
planning council to oversee the development of the strategic plan in
subsection (4) of this section.
(b) The following individuals comprise the coordinating and
planning council:
(i) The president of Washington State University, or the
president's designee;
(ii) The provost of Washington State University, or the provost's
designee;
(iii) The president of Everett Community College;
(iv) The director of the University Center at Everett Community
College;
(v) Two representatives of other institutions of higher education
that offer baccalaureate or graduate degree programs at the University
Center at Everett Community College;
(vi) A community leader appointed by the president of Everett
Community College;
(vii) A community leader appointed by the president of Washington
State University; and
(viii) A community leader appointed by the mayor of Everett.
(c) The coordinating and planning council may alter its own
composition by agreement of all the members.
(6) Washington State University shall complete implementation of
the strategic plan by July 1, 2014, unless otherwise directed by the
legislature.
(7) The coordinating and planning council in subsection (5) of this
section shall consult with the higher education coordinating board to
ensure the strategic plan in subsection (4) of this section is in
alignment with the system design plan.
(8) Washington State University shall establish at least one high
employer demand baccalaureate degree program at the University Center
at Everett Community College by December 1, 2012.