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. Through this program the boards 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.

[1999 c 169 § 5; 1996 c 41 § 1; 1991 c 98 § 2.]