BILL REQ. #:  S-0581.1 

Read first time 02/03/11.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education & Workforce Development.

     AN ACT Relating to recognition of lower division courses 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) The higher education coordinating board and the state board for community and technical colleges shall convene a work group including representatives from each of the institutions of higher education to establish a single set of common course numbers and common course descriptions for all common lower division courses at all institutions of higher education. Lower division courses are those first and second year courses numbered between ninety-nine and three hundred, including internships, cooperative learning, field experiences, individual research, special seminars, and independent studies.
     (2) A course shall be identified as common between institutions of higher education if the course descriptions in the official college course catalogs are similar enough to be accepted as equivalent for transfer purposes to meet degree requirements. Once identified as common, a course must have the same course number and be accepted as equivalent at each institution.
     (3) By August 2013, each institution of higher education shall formally adopt the common course numbers and specifically identify them in all course catalogs and publications. Unique courses with no equivalent at another institution or at some but not all institutions must have common course numbers at all institutions that do have equivalent courses and the limitations shall be noted in all course catalogs and publications.