28B.10.920 - Performance agreements -- Generally.

Performance agreements — Generally.

(1) As used in this section and RCW 28B.10.921 and 28B.10.922, a performance agreement is an agreement reached between the state and the governing board of an institution of higher education and approved by the legislature using the process provided in RCW 28B.10.922.

     (2) The purpose of a performance agreement is to develop and communicate a six-year plan developed jointly by state policymakers and an institution of higher education that aligns goals, priorities, desired outcomes, flexibility, institutional mission, accountability, and levels of resources.

     (3) Beginning in 2008, performance agreements shall be pilot-tested with the public four-year institutions of higher education.

[2008 c 160 § 2.]

Notes: Findings -- Intent -- 2008 c 160: "(1) The legislature finds that in the last ten years, significant progress has been made to identify and monitor accountability and performance measures in higher education, both internally in institutions and externally in the legislative and state policymaking environment.

     (2) However, the legislature further finds that opportunities exist to promote greater visibility of performance measures among policymakers and among the public consumers of higher education. Policy decisions, including decisions about resource allocation, should be made with greater knowledge and a shared understanding about the tradeoffs between resources, flexibility, and desired outcomes. A forum should be created to allow discussion among policymakers and institution leaders about setting outcome-oriented priorities, targeting of investments, linking operating and capital planning, and creating a longer-term view than the biennial budget cycle typically permits.

     (3) Therefore, the legislature intends to implement a process for such discussions, agreements, and planning to occur. The process of crafting higher education performance agreements will be pilot-tested over a six-year period with the public four-year institutions of higher education beginning in 2008." [2008 c 160 § 1.]