BILL REQ. #:  S-3578.2 

Read first time 01/13/10.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to expanding the higher education system upon proven demand; amending RCW 28B.50.020, 28B.50.810, 28B.76.020, 28B.76.230, 28B.120.005, 28B.120.010, and 28B.120.020; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that state institutions of higher education are currently providing a high quality educational experience for the citizens of the state. The legislature further finds that there is additional underutilized physical capacity at the state's institutions of higher education that could and should be exploited before additional major capital investments are considered. The legislature further finds that postsecondary educational opportunities for Washington residents must be expanded in order for the citizens and the state to remain significant participants in the global economic marketplace, but that such expansion must be systematically approached and based upon the proven demands of the citizens and the marketplace. The legislature intends to provide a systematic mechanism for communities and the state to identify educational programs and capital investments needed to expand the state's higher education system upon demand.

Sec. 2   RCW 28B.50.020 and 2009 c 64 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the dramatically increasing number of students requiring high standards of education either as a part of the continuing higher education program or for occupational education and training, or for adult basic skills and literacy education, by creating a new, independent system of community and technical colleges which will:
     (1) Offer an open door to every citizen, regardless of his or her academic background or experience, at a cost normally within his or her economic means;
     (2) Ensure that each college district shall offer thoroughly comprehensive educational, training, and service programs to meet the needs of both the communities and students served by combining high standards of excellence in academic transfer courses; realistic and practical courses in occupational education, both graded and ungraded; community services of an educational, cultural, and recreational nature; and adult education, including basic skills and general, family, and workforce literacy programs and services;
     (3) Provide for basic skills and literacy education, and occupational education and technical training at technical colleges in order to prepare students for careers in a competitive workforce;
     (4) Provide or coordinate related and supplemental instruction for apprentices at community and technical colleges;
     (5) Provide administration by state and local boards which will avoid unnecessary duplication of facilities or programs; and which will encourage efficiency in operation and creativity and imagination in education, training, and service to meet the needs of the community and students;
     (6) Allow for the growth, improvement, flexibility and modification of the community colleges and their education, training, and service programs as future needs occur; and
     (7) Establish firmly that((, except on a pilot basis)) as provided under RCW 28B.50.810, community colleges are, for purposes of academic training, two year institutions, and are an independent, unique, and vital section of our state's higher education system, separate from both the common school system and other institutions of higher learning((, and never to be considered for conversion into four-year liberal arts colleges)).

Sec. 3   RCW 28B.50.810 and 2008 c 166 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) ((By April 2006,)) The college board ((shall)) may select ((four)) community or technical colleges to develop and offer programs of study leading to ((an)) applied baccalaureate degrees. ((At least one of the four pilot programs chosen must lead to a baccalaureate of applied science degree which builds on an associate of applied science degree. The college board shall convene a task force that includes representatives of both the community and technical colleges to develop objective selection criteria.
     (2) By February 2008, the college board shall select up to three colleges to develop and offer programs of study leading to an applied baccalaureate degree. At least one of the colleges selected must be a technical college. The college board shall use the objective selection criteria developed under subsections (1) and (3) of this section to make the selection.
     (3))) Colleges may submit ((an)) applications to ((become a pilot college under this section)) the college board. The college board and the higher education coordinating board shall review the applications and select the ((pilot)) colleges using objective criteria, including, but not limited to:
     (a) The college demonstrates the capacity to make a long-term commitment of resources to build and sustain a high quality program;
     (b) The college has or can readily engage faculty appropriately qualified to develop and deliver a high quality curriculum at the baccalaureate level;
     (c) The college can demonstrate demand for the proposed program from a sufficient number of students within its service area to make the program cost-effective and feasible to operate;
     (d) The college can demonstrate that employers demand the level of technical training proposed within the program, making it cost-effective for students to seek the degree; and
     (e) The proposed program fills a gap in options available for students because it is not offered by a public four-year institution of higher education in the college's geographic area.
     (((4))) (2) Subject to legislative appropriation, a college selected ((as a pilot college)) under this section may develop the curriculum for and design and deliver courses leading to an applied baccalaureate degree. However, degree programs developed under this section are subject to approval by the college board under RCW 28B.50.090 and by the higher education coordinating board under RCW 28B.76.230 before a ((pilot)) college may enroll students in upper division courses. ((A pilot college approved under subsection (1) of this section may not enroll students in upper division courses before the fall academic quarter of 2006. A pilot college approved under subsection (2) of this section may not enroll students in upper division courses before the fall academic quarter of 2009.))
     (3) If it is anticipated that the total number of applied baccalaureate degrees awarded at any particular college will exceed ten percent of the total degrees awarded by the college or before the total number of applied baccalaureate degrees at any particular college is permitted to exceed ten percent of the colleges total number of degrees awarded, the process in RCW 28B.76.020 and 28B.76.230 applies.

Sec. 4   RCW 28B.76.020 and 1985 c 370 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((For the purposes of this chapter:)) The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Board" means the higher education coordinating board((; and)).
     (2) "Four-year institutions" means the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, Western Washington University, and The Evergreen State College.
     (3) "Mission change" means a change that: (a) Results in over ten percent of a community or technical college's total degrees awarded to be in applied baccalaureate programs under RCW 28B.50.810; or (b) allows an institution of higher education to offer a new level of degree, such as two-year colleges offering applied baccalaureate degrees or branch campuses or regional universities offering doctoral programs.

Sec. 5   RCW 28B.76.230 and 2005 c 258 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The board shall develop a comprehensive and ongoing assessment process to analyze the need for additional degrees and programs, additional off-campus centers and locations for degree programs, ((and)) consolidation or elimination of programs by the four-year institutions, and proposed mission changes. Proposed mission changes may be identified by the board, any public institution, or by any other public or private entity.
     (2) As part of the needs assessment process, the board shall examine:
     (a) Projections of student, employer, and community demand for education and degrees, including liberal arts degrees, on a regional and statewide basis;
     (b) Current and projected degree programs and enrollment at public and private institutions of higher education, by location and mode of service delivery; and
     (c) Data from the workforce training and education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges on the supply and demand for workforce education and certificates and associate degrees.
     (3) Every two years the board shall produce, jointly with the state board for community and technical colleges and the workforce training and education coordinating board, an assessment of the number and type of higher education and training credentials required to match employer demand for a skilled and educated workforce. The assessment shall include the number of forecasted net job openings at each level of higher education and training and the number of credentials needed to match the forecast of net job openings.
     (4) The board shall determine whether certain major lines of study or types of degrees, including applied degrees or research-oriented degrees, shall be assigned uniquely to some institutions or institutional sectors in order to create centers of excellence that focus resources and expertise.
     (5) The following activities are subject to approval by the board:
     (a) New degree programs by a four-year institution;
     (b) Creation of any off-campus program by a four-year institution;
     (c) Purchase or lease of major off-campus facilities by a four-year institution or a community or technical college;
     (d) Creation of higher education centers and consortia;
     (e) New degree programs and creation of off-campus programs by an independent college or university in collaboration with a community or technical college; ((and))
     (f) Applied baccalaureate degree programs developed by colleges under RCW 28B.50.810; and
     (g) Mission changes.
     (6) Institutions seeking board approval under this section must demonstrate that the proposal is justified by the needs assessment developed under this section. Institutions must also demonstrate how the proposals align with or implement the statewide strategic master plan for higher education under RCW 28B.76.200.
     (7) The board shall develop clear guidelines and objective decision-making criteria regarding approval of proposals under this section, which must include review and consultation with the institution and other interested agencies and individuals.
     (8) The board shall periodically recommend consolidation or elimination of programs at the four-year institutions, based on the needs assessment analysis.
     (9) In the case of proposed mission changes, the needs assessment process under subsection (2) of this section constitutes a threshold inquiry. If the board determines that the need for the proposed mission change has not been justified, the inquiry is concluded. If the board determines that the need for the proposed mission change has been sufficiently established, the board, in consultation with any directly involved institutions and other interested agencies and individuals, shall proceed to examine the viability of the proposal using criteria including, but not limited to:
     (a) The specific scope of the project including the capital investment requirements, the number of full-time equivalent students anticipated, and the number of academic programs planned;
     (b) The existence of an efficient and sustainable financial plan;
     (c) The extent to which existing resources can be leveraged;
     (d) The current and five-year projected student population, faculty, and staff to support the proposed programs, institution, or innovation;
     (e) The plans to accommodate expected growth over a twenty-year time frame;
     (f) The extent to which new or existing partnerships and collaborations are a part of the proposal; and
     (g) The feasibility of any proposed innovations to accelerate degree production.
     (10) After the board completes its evaluation of the proposed mission change using the needs assessment under subsection (2) of this section and viability determination under subsection (9) of this section, the board shall make a recommendation to either proceed with the proposed mission change, modify the proposed mission change and proceed, or not proceed with the proposed mission change. The board's recommendation shall be presented to the governor and the legislature.

Sec. 6   RCW 28B.120.005 and 1999 c 169 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature finds that encouraging collaboration among the various educational sectors to meet statewide productivity and educational attainment needs as described in the system design plan developed by the higher education coordinating board will strengthen the entire educational system, kindergarten through twelfth grade and higher education. The legislature also recognizes that the most effective way to develop innovative and collaborative programs is to encourage institutions to develop them voluntarily, in line with established state goals. Through a system of competitive grants, the legislature shall encourage the development of innovative and collaborative and cost-effective solutions to issues of critical statewide need, including:
     (1) Raising educational attainment and deliberatively planning for the expansion of the system of higher education in a cost-effective manner after sufficient student and employer demand has been demonstrated;
     (2) Recognizing needs of special populations of students, including access and completion efforts targeting underrepresented populations;
     (((2))) (3) Furthering the development of learner-centered, technology-assisted course delivery, including expansion of online and hybrid coursework, open courseware, and other uses of technology;
     (((3))) (4) Furthering the development of competency-based measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for awarding degrees and certificates; ((and
     (4))) (5) Increasing the collaboration among both public and private sector institutions of higher education; and
     (6) Improving productivity through innovations such as accelerated programs and alternative scheduling.

Sec. 7   RCW 28B.120.010 and 1999 c 169 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     The Washington fund for innovation and quality in higher education program is established. The higher education coordinating board shall administer the program ((for the purpose of awarding grants in which a four-year institution of higher education is named as the lead institution. The state board for community and technical colleges shall administer the program for the purpose of awarding grants in which a community or technical college is named as the lead institution)) and shall work in close collaboration with the state board for community and technical colleges and other local and regional entities. Through this program the higher education coordinating board((s)) may award on a competitive basis incentive grants to state public institutions of higher education or consortia of institutions to encourage ((cooperative)) programs designed to address specific system problems. ((Grants shall not exceed a two-year period.)) Each institution or consortia of institutions receiving the award shall contribute some financial support, either by covering part of the costs for the program during its implementation, or by assuming continuing support at the end of the grant period. ((Strong priority will be given to proposals that involve more than one sector of education, and to proposals that show substantive institutional commitment.)) Institutions are encouraged to solicit nonstate funds to support these cooperative programs.

Sec. 8   RCW 28B.120.020 and 1999 c 169 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     The higher education coordinating board shall have the following powers and duties in administering the program for those proposals in which a four-year institution of higher education is named as the lead institution and fiscal agent:
     (1) To adopt rules necessary to carry out the program;
     (2) ((To establish one or more review committees to assist in the evaluation of proposals for funding. The review committee shall include individuals with significant experience in higher education in areas relevant to one or more of the funding period priorities and shall include representatives from both the four-year and two-year sectors of higher education;
     (3))) To award grants no later than September 1st in those years when funding is available by June 30th;
     (((4))) (3) To establish each biennium specific guidelines for submitting grant proposals consistent with RCW 28B.120.005 and consistent with the strategic master plan for higher education, the system design plan, the overall goals of the program and ((consistent with)) the guidelines established by the state board for community and technical colleges under RCW 28B.120.025. ((During the 1999-01 biennium the guidelines shall be consistent with the following desired outcomes of:
     (a) Minority and diversity initiatives that encourage the participation of minorities in higher education, including students with disabilities;
     (b) K-12 teacher preparation models that encourage collaboration between higher education and K-12 to improve the preparedness of teachers, including provisions for higher education faculty involved with teacher preparation to spend time teaching in K-12 schools;
     (c) Collaborative instructional programs involving K-12, community and technical colleges, and four-year institutions of higher education to develop a three-year degree program, or reduce the time to degree;
     (d) Contracts with public or private institutions or businesses to provide services or the development of collaborative programs;
     (e) Articulation and transfer activities to smooth the transfer of students from K-12 to higher education, or from the community colleges and technical colleges to four-year institutions;
     (f) Projects that further the development of learner-centered, technology-assisted course delivery; and
     (g) Projects that further the development of competency-based measurements of student achievement to be used as the basis for awarding degrees and certificates.))
     After June 30, 2001, and each biennium thereafter, the board shall determine funding priorities for ((collaborative)) proposals for the biennium in consultation with the governor, the legislature, the office of the superintendent of public instruction, the state board for community and technical colleges, the workforce training and education coordinating board, higher education institutions, educational associations, and business and community groups consistent with statewide needs;
     (((5))) (4) To solicit grant proposals and provide information to the institutions of higher education about the program; and
     (((6))) (5) To establish reporting, evaluation, accountability, monitoring, and dissemination requirements for the recipients of the grants awarded by the higher education coordinating board.