BILL REQ. #:  S-1239.1 

Read first time 02/11/13.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to self-supporting, fee-based programs at four-year institutions of higher education; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.15 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.15 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) When a decision is made to establish a new self-supporting, fee-based degree program or change a degree program that is supported by state funding to a program that is self-supporting and fee-based, the governing boards of the state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College shall notify enrolled and prospective students and undergraduate and graduate student government associations at least six months before implementation with an estimate of tuition and fees.
     (2) The governing boards of the state universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen State College shall each establish a committee comprising of administrators, faculty, and students to create criteria upon which to base decisions for moving state-supported degree programs to self-supporting programs.
     (a) Criteria to be considered must include, but not be limited to, the following:
     (i) Whether moving the program to a self-supporting program will result in the loss of student financial aid;
     (ii) Whether the program prepares students for careers in public service, such as public health, nursing, and librarianship, among others;
     (iii) Whether the program is designed to serve professional advancement, and serves students who are already employed and on a career track; and
     (iv) The median income in the field of preparation.
     (b) The committee that creates the criteria for establishing self-supporting, fee-based programs shall establish a process for moving self-supporting, fee-based degree programs that do not meet the criteria to programs that receive state funding.