BILL REQ. #:  H-0296.1 

Read first time 01/23/13.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to an online higher education transfer and student advising system; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.77 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.77 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By September 1, 2014, the council, in conjunction with the state board for community and technical colleges, the workforce training and education coordinating board, the four-year institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and for-profit institutions of higher education shall establish and maintain a statewide online transfer and student advising system that integrates information related to programs, advising, registration, admissions, and transfer. The system must be easily accessible to all Washington high school students and their parents or guardians, higher education students, faculty, counselors, advisors, and other professional staff. The purpose of the system is to:
     (a) Assist students to access higher education program information easily and speed completion of their education programs by clarifying and simplifying the process for researching programs, resources, and transferability of courses; and
     (b) Improve efficiency of service delivery to students for institutions of higher education.
     (2) The online transfer and student advising system must:
     (a) Integrate with web sites maintained by the council, the state board for community and technical colleges, the workforce training and education coordinating board, institutions of higher education, and other web sites to provide an inventory of postsecondary degrees and certificates available in the state, including online options; and outline educational requirements for various occupations, including labor market information;
     (b) Specify educational requirements, admissions requirements, and prerequisites for all postsecondary programs;
     (c) Identify course options that meet the requirements of a selected path toward a degree or certificate;
     (d) Provide registration and admissions information for institutions of higher education;
     (e) Provide a method for students to assess which courses and programs are transferrable from one institution of higher education to another; and which programs will transfer with credit towards completion of their chosen degree or certificate; and
     (f) Provide information regarding student financial aid and other services that assist students to research, access, and complete degrees and certificates.
     (3) The council, the state board for community and technical colleges, the workforce training and education coordinating board, the four-year institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions of higher education, and for-profit institutions of higher education shall sign a memorandum of understanding that specifies roles and responsibilities regarding the design, implementation, promotion, development, maintenance, and analysis of the effectiveness of the online transfer and student advising system.