28B.50.901 - Regional higher education consortium management and leadership--Everett Community College--Educational plan.

Regional higher education consortium management and leadership — Everett Community College — Educational plan.

(1) The legislature finds that access to baccalaureate and graduate degree programs continues to be limited for residents of North Snohomish, Island, and Skagit counties. Studies conducted by the state board for community and technical colleges, the higher education coordinating board, and the council of presidents confirm that enrollment in higher education in this geographic region lags enrollment in other parts of the state, particularly for upper division courses leading to advanced degrees. The higher education consortium created to serve the region has not been able to successfully address the region's access needs. The university center model of service delivery, centered on a community college campus with a single point of accountability, has proven more effective in developing degree programs and attracting students.

     (2) Therefore the legislature intends to refocus the consortium by assigning management and leadership responsibility for consortium operations to Everett Community College. Everett Community College shall collaborate with community and business leaders, other local community colleges, the public four-year institutions of higher education, and the higher education coordinating board to develop an educational plan for the North Snohomish, Island, and Skagit county region based on the university center model. The plan should provide for projections of student enrollment demand, coordinated delivery of lower and upper division courses, expanded availability of baccalaureate degree programs and high demand degree and certificate programs in the region, and a timeline and cost estimates for moving the physical location of the consortium to the college campus. The college shall submit preliminary recommendations to the higher education and fiscal committees of the legislature by December 1, 2005.

[2005 c 258 § 13.]

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