Brief Description: Making certain apprenticeship courses at community and technical colleges graded courses.

Sponsors: Representatives Veloria, Kenney, Conway, Cox, Hunt, Clements, Morrell, Kessler, Simpson, Wood and Berkey.

Hearing Date: 2/4/03

Staff: Barbara McLain (786-7383).

Background:

Apprenticeship Programs: Apprenticeship programs enable individuals to learn trades and occupations through a combination of on-the-job training and related and supplemental instruction. Most apprenticeship programs contract with a community or technical college to provide the program's related and supplemental instruction. For the 2001-02 academic year, 24 community and technical colleges provided instruction for nearly 12,000 apprentices (about 2,600 full-time equivalent students).

Related and Supplemental Instruction (RSI): RSI courses are considered "ungraded" courses in the community and technical college system. According to rules adopted by the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges (State Board), ungraded courses include courses where the primary intent is other than providing academic credit toward a higher degree or courses not offered primarily as an integral part of a lower-division curriculum. Most RSI courses are graded as "Pass/Fail."

Even though some colleges have developed special associate degrees for apprentices, the fact that RSI is considered ungraded may be perceived as a barrier for students to receive full credit and recognition within a degree program for their apprenticeship courses.

Tuition Waiver: State statute permits the State Board to establish tuition for any ungraded courses. Under its rule-making authority, the State Board has defined RSI courses as ungraded and then established a tuition waiver where apprentices pay one-third of the usual cost of tuition and fees for RSI courses.

Summary of Bill:

Community and technical colleges are directed to grade related and supplemental instruction for apprentices in the same manner as other courses providing academic credit applicable to an associate degree.

The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges is statutorily permitted to establish tuition fees for related and supplemental instruction courses.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on January 27, 2003.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.