Title 28B — Title 28B HIGHER EDUCATION

(1) At the conclusion of any negotiation processes as provided for in RCW 28B.52.030, any matter upon which the parties have reached agreement shall be reduced to writing and acted upon in a regular or special meeting of the boards of trustees, and become part of the official pro…

A board of trustees or an employee organization that enters into a negotiated agreement under RCW 28B.52.030 may include in the agreement procedures for binding arbitration of the disputes arising about the interpretation or application of the agreement including but not limited …

(1)(a) An employee's written, electronic, or recorded voice authorization to have the employer deduct membership dues from the employee's salary must be made by the employee to the exclusive bargaining representative. If the employer receives a request for authorization of deduct…

(1) Upon authorization of an employee within the bargaining unit and after the certification or recognition of the bargaining unit's exclusive bargaining representative, the employer must deduct from the payments to the employee the monthly amount of dues as certified by the secr…

Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit any academic employee from appearing in his or her own behalf on matters relating to his or her employment relations with the college district.[ 1991 c 238 s 149; 1971 ex.s. c 196 s 4.]

The commission shall conduct mediation activities upon the request of either party as a means of assisting in the settlement of unresolved matters considered under this chapter.In the event that any matter being jointly considered by the employee organization and the board of tru…

The commission may adjudicate any unfair labor practices alleged by a board of trustees or an employee organization and shall adopt reasonable rules to administer this section, except that a complaint must not be processed for any unfair labor practice occurring more than six mon…

Boards of trustees of college districts or any administrative officer thereof shall not discriminate against academic employees or applicants for such positions because of their membership or nonmembership in employee organizations or their exercise of other rights under this cha…

(1) It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer:(a) To interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed by this chapter;(b) To dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any employee organization or contribute fina…

The right of college faculty to engage in any strike is prohibited. The right of a board of trustees to engage in any lockout is prohibited. Should either a strike or lockout occur, the representative of the faculty or board of trustees may invoke the jurisdiction of the superior…

The commission shall adopt reasonable rules and regulations for the administration of employer-employee relations under this chapter. The boards may request the services of the commission to assist in the conduction of certification elections as provided for in RCW 28B.52.030.[ 1…

Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to annul or modify, or to preclude the renewal or continuation of, any lawful agreement heretofore entered into between any college district and any representative of its employees.[ 1991 c 238 s 153; 1971 ex.s. c 196 s 8.]

Contracts or agreements, or any provision thereof entered into between boards of trustees and employees organizations pursuant to this chapter shall not be affected by or be subject to chapter 34.05 RCW.[ 1971 ex.s. c 196 s 9.]

The privilege established by RCW 5.60.060(11) shall apply to all employee organizations covered by this chapter and in all proceedings authorized by this chapter.[ 2023 c 202 s 3.]Notes:Findings—2023 c 202: See note following RCW 5.60.060.

Nothing in chapter 28B.52 RCW as now or hereafter amended shall compel either party to agree to a proposal or to make a concession, nor shall any provision in chapter 28B.52 RCW as now or hereafter amended be construed as limiting or precluding the exercise by each college board …

With respect to the community and technical colleges faculty awards trust program, the permissible scope of collective bargaining under this chapter shall be governed by RCW 28B.50.843.[ 1991 c 238 s 155; 1990 c 29 s 6.]Notes:Severability—1990 c 29: See note following RCW 28B.50.…

With respect to the community and technical colleges part-time academic employees, the permissible scope of collective bargaining under this chapter shall be governed by RCW 28B.50.4893 and 28B.50.489.[ 2000 c 128 s 4.]Notes:Construction—2000 c 128: "Nothing contained in this act…

*RCW 41.56.065 applies to this chapter.[ 2023 c 204 s 3.]Notes:*Reviser's note: This RCW reference has been corrected to reflect the reorganization of chapter 41.56 RCW by 2025 c 290 s 2.

Except as otherwise expressly provided in this chapter, this chapter shall not be construed to deny or otherwise abridge any rights, privileges, or benefits granted by law to employees. This chapter shall not be construed to interfere with the responsibilities and rights of the b…

The primary mission of institutions of higher education is the creation and dissemination of knowledge. Institutions of higher education must be mindful that in providing goods and services for fees, they may be competing with local private businesses.It is the intent of the legi…

For the purposes of this chapter:(1) "Institutions of higher education" or "institutions" mean those institutions as defined in RCW 28B.10.016(4).(2) "Commercial activity" means an activity which provides a product or service for a fee which could be obtained from a commercial so…

Institutions of higher education in consultation with local business organizations and representatives of the small business community are required to develop:(1) Comprehensive policies that define the legitimate purposes under which the institutions shall provide goods, services…

(1) The following criteria shall be considered in developing policies in regard to providing goods, services, or facilities to persons other than students, faculty, staff, patients, and invited guests:(a) The goods, services, or facilities represent a resource which is substantia…

This chapter shall not apply to the initiation of or changes in academic or vocational programs of instruction in the institutions' regular, extension, evening, or continuing education programs, or the fees therefor, fees for services provided in the practicum aspects of instruct…

The legislature finds that the provision of customized training is critical to attracting and retaining businesses, and that the growth of many businesses is limited by an unmet need for customized training. The legislature also finds that workforce training not only helps busine…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Board" means the state board for community and technical colleges.(2) "Costs of training" and "training costs" means the direct costs experienced under a contract with…

(1) The Washington customized employment training program is hereby created to provide training assistance to employers locating or expanding in the state.(2)(a) Application to receive funding under this program must be made to the board in a form and manner as specified by the b…

(1) All payments received from a participant in the Washington customized employment training program created in RCW 28B.67.020 must be deposited into the employment training finance account, which is hereby created in the custody of the state treasurer. Only the state board for …

This chapter, being necessary for the welfare of the state and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect its purposes. Insofar as the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any general or special law, or parts thereof, the provisions of t…

This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect June 30, 2017.[ 2017 c 21 s 4.]

The western regional higher education compact, recommended by the western governors' conference on November 10, 1950, for adoption by the states or territories of Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Alaska and Hawa…

The terms and provisions of the compact referred to in RCW 28B.70.010 are as follows:WESTERN REGIONALHIGHER EDUCATION COMPACTArticle IWHEREAS, The future of this Nation and of the Western States is dependent upon the quality of the education of its youth; andWHEREAS, Many of the …

Upon ratification and approval of the western regional higher education compact by any four or more of the specified states or territories in addition to this state, the governor of this state is authorized and directed to execute said compact on behalf of this state and to perfo…

(1) The governor shall appoint the members, for this state, of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, which is created under the provisions of Article III of the western regional higher education compact.(2) The qualifications and terms of office of the members o…

When said compact becomes operative the governing board of each institution of higher education in this state, to the extent necessary to conform with the terms of the contractual agreement, subject to the limitations of RCW 28B.15.910, may exempt from payment all or a portion of…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Council" means the council for higher education.(2) "Four-year institutions" means the University of Washington, Washington State University, Central Washington Univer…

(1) The office of student financial assistance is created within and under the direction of the student achievement council.(2) The purpose of the office is to administer state and federal financial aid and other education services programs, including the advanced college tuition…

The office shall have authority to adopt rules as necessary to implement this chapter.[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 103; 1985 c 370 s 8. Formerly RCW 28B.80.370.]Notes:Effective date—2011 1st sp.s. c 11 ss 101-103, 106-202, 204-244, and 301: See note following RCW 28B.76.020.Intent—201…

As part of the state needs assessment process conducted by the *board in accordance with **RCW 28B.76.230, the *board shall, in collaboration with the professional educator standards board, assess the need for additional degree and certificate programs in Washington that speciali…

(1) The *board must establish boundaries for service regions for institutions of higher education as defined in RCW 28B.10.016 implementing professional educator standards board-approved educator preparation programs. Regions shall be established to encourage and support, not exc…

(1) The office shall administer any state program or state-administered federal program of student financial aid now or hereafter established.(2) Each of the student financial aid programs administered by the office shall be labeled an "opportunity pathway." Loans provided by the…

(1) The office must provide a financial aid counseling curriculum to institutions of higher education with Washington college grant recipients. The curriculum must be available via a website. The curriculum must include, but not be limited to:(a) An explanation of the Washington …

(1) The investment of funds from all scholarship endowment programs administered by the office shall be managed by the state investment board.(2) The state investment board has the full power to invest, reinvest, manage, contract, sell, or exchange investment money in scholarship…

The highway worker memorial scholarship account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. Moneys received from legislative appropriations and transfers, private donations, public or private gifts and grants, conveyances, and other sources may be deposited into the account…

The office is authorized to receive and expend federal funds and any private gifts or grants, such federal funds or private funds to be expended in accordance with the conditions contingent in such grant thereof.[ 2011 1st sp.s. c 11 s 109; 1985 c 370 s 22; 1975 1st ex.s. c 132 s…

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5963.SL) ***(1) The state financial aid account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. The primary purpose of the account is to ensure that all appropriations designated for financial aid through statewide student financial aid programs are …

*** CHANGE IN 2026 *** (SEE 5998-S.SL) ***The Washington opportunity pathways account is created in the state treasury. Expenditures from the account may be used only for programs in chapter 28A.710 RCW (charter schools), chapter 28B.12 RCW (state work-study), chapter 28B.50 RCW …

In addition to administrative responsibilities assigned in this chapter, the office shall administer the programs set forth in the following statutes: RCW 28A.600.100 through 28A.600.150 (Washington scholars); chapter 28B.85 RCW (degree-granting institutions); chapter 28B.92 RCW …

For the purposes of RCW 28B.76.555 through 28B.76.590, "private donation" includes assessments by commodity commissions authorized to conduct research activities including but not limited to research studies authorized under RCW 15.66.030 and 15.65.040.[ 2004 c 275 s 19; 1989 c 1…

The legislature recognizes that quality in the state's public four-year institutions of higher education would be strengthened by additional partnerships between citizens and the institutions. The legislature intends to foster these partnerships by creating a matching grant progr…