(1) By April 2006, the college board shall select four community or technical colleges to develop and offer programs of study leading to an applied baccalaureate degree. 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 application to become a pilot college under this section. The college board shall review the applications and select the pilot colleges using objective criteria, including:

     (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) 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.

[2008 c 166 § 2; 2005 c 258 § 6.]

NOTES:

     Findings -- Intent -- 2008 c 166: "The legislature finds that the six colleges that developed proposals for the applied baccalaureate degree pilot programs exhibited exemplary work preparing proposals. The proposals were consistent with the legislature's vision for expanding bachelor's degree access and with the principals and criteria developed by the college board. The legislature recognizes that the authorization for the pilots was limited in number and therefore not all the proposals were able to be approved. The legislature values the work that has been done and intends to provide authority for additional pilots so as not to lose the good work that has been done." [2008 c 166 § 1.]

     Findings--Intent -- 2005 c 258: See note following RCW 28B.45.014.