(1) Beginning in April 2000, representatives of the public baccalaureate institutions designated by the council of presidents, in consultation with representatives of the community and technical colleges and representatives of the higher education coordinating board, shall convene an interinstitutional group to begin to: (a) Develop a definition of information and technology literacy; (b) develop strategies or standards by which to measure the achievement of information and technology literacy; and (c) develop a financial assessment of the cost of implementation.

     (2) The baccalaureate institutions shall provide the house of representatives and senate committees on higher education with a progress report in January 2001.

     (3) By the end of January 2002, the baccalaureate institutions shall deliver to the house of representatives and senate committees on higher education a report detailing: (a) The definition of information and technology literacy; (b) strategies or standards for measurement; (c) institutionally specific plans for implementation; and (d) an evaluation of the feasibility of implementation taking into consideration cost.

     (4) If the legislature determines that implementation is feasible, the public baccalaureate institutions shall pilot test strategies to assess and report on information and technology literacy during the 2002-03 academic year.

     (5) By the end of January 2004, the institutions shall report to the house of representatives and senate committees on higher education the results of the 2002-03 pilot study.

     (6) Implementation of assessment strategies shall begin in the academic year 2003-04.

     (7) The higher education coordinating board shall report results to the house of representatives and senate committees on higher education in the 2005 legislative session.

[2000 c 166 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- 2000 c 166: "The legislature finds that competence in information literacy and fluency in information technology are increasingly important in the workplace as well as in day-to-day activities. The legislature finds that to prepare students to meet the challenges of the workforce and society, students must be able to effectively manage and apply information from a variety of sources. In addition, the legislature finds that institutions of higher education have the opportunity to provide students with a framework and approach to use information and technology effectively." [2000 c 166 § 1.]