BILL REQ. #:  H-3552.2 

Read first time 01/13/12.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to requiring quarterly academic advising for students at institutions of higher education; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) By September 1, 2012, and within allocated resources, institutions of higher education shall require students to meet with an academic advisor at least once per quarter for the purpose of assisting each student to articulate the student's educational program goals, identify program requirements, track the student's progress, and promote completion of the student's degree or certificate.
     (2) In order to increase program completions, each student must meet with an academic advisor when the student has completed seventy-five percent of the requirements needed to obtain his or her degree or certificate and identify those requirements remaining to be completed.
     (3) Academic advising meetings may take place either in person or through digital synchronous contact such as on the phone or using a real time web application.
     (4) Institutions of higher education shall require academic advisors and students to sign a form that outlines the student's educational goals and progress towards program completion.
     (5) When possible, institutions of higher education are encouraged to implement methods and tools to improve advising, including applications used by award-winning schools such as an online student advisor data portal that houses educational plans, maps student transcripts against program requirements, provides early warning flags for poor performance or attendance, and determines proximity to completion.
     (6) The successor agency to the higher education coordinating board shall consult with the state board for community and technical colleges and the four-year institutions of higher education to evaluate student advising practices and impact on student retention and completion and report to the governor and the legislature by December 1, 2014.