BILL REQ. #:  S-1751.1 

READ FIRST TIME 02/22/13.   

     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) Specify course options or pathways that meet the requirements of a degree or certificate;
     (d) Provide registration and admissions information for institutions of higher education;
     (e)(i) 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
     (ii) Make specific accommodations to address the unique transfer opportunities for students transferring both to and from The Evergreen State College, which may include providing transfer policy information specific to the college;
     (f) Provide information regarding student financial aid and other services that assist students to research, access, and complete degrees and certificates; and
     (g) Build on and use data gathered from existing institutional data systems, such as the degree audit reporting system and institutional web sites, to minimize new technical requirements, costs, and staffing impacts at institutions of higher education.
     (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.