Title 28B — Title 28B HIGHER EDUCATION

(1) The council, the state board for community and technical colleges, the council of presidents, the four-year institutions of higher education, the private independent higher education institutions, and the private career schools shall collaborate to carry out the following goa…

(1) The council may:(a) Recognize and endorse online, competency-based education as an important component of Washington's higher education system;(b) Work to eliminate unnecessary barriers to the delivery of online competency-based education by Western Governors University - Was…

(1) To the extent funds are appropriated for this purpose, the council, with input from the office of the superintendent of public instruction; the department of children, youth, and families; the department of commerce office of homeless youth prevention and protection programs;…

(1) The council's rules or other requirements for institutions to participate in state financial aid programs shall assure that contracts between postsecondary institutions participating in state financial aid programs, as defined in RCW 28B.10.287, and financial institutions or …

(1) The council shall adopt a centralized online statewide calculator tool for the purposes of estimating federal Pell grant and Washington college grant awards for all public four-year institutions of higher education in Washington state.(2) The tool must provide an estimate of …

(1) The council shall ensure that a postsecondary institution participating in the state student financial aid program has a gift equity packaging policy allowing for a student who receives a private scholarship to receive up to 100 percent of the student's unmet need, as determi…

(1) In collaboration with financial aid experts from public four-year and two-year institutions of higher education, as well as independent colleges in Washington state, the Washington student achievement council shall develop clear, consistent definitions for institutions of hig…

Subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the student achievement council shall conduct a statewide marketing campaign to increase awareness of the Washington college grant program established in chapter 28B.92 RCW. The student achievement council…

(1) The workforce education investment accountability and oversight board is established. The board consists of 18 members, as provided in this subsection:(a) Four members of the legislature consisting of the chairs and ranking minority members of the respective higher education …

(1) Subject to availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the postsecondary wrestling grant program is created. The purpose of the postsecondary wrestling grant program is to provide funding to institutions of higher education to establish or maintain interco…

(1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, each public four-year institution of higher education and a public tribal college located in Washington and accredited by the northwest commission on colleges and universities or another accreditin…

(1) All powers, duties, and functions of the higher education coordinating board are transferred to the student achievement council. All references to the executive director or the higher education coordinating board in the Revised Code of Washington shall be construed to mean th…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter:(1) "Council" means the student achievement council.(2) "Degree" means any designation, appellation, letters, or words including but not limited to "associate," "bachelor,…

(1) The council:(a) Shall adopt by rule, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, minimum standards for degree-granting institutions concerning granting of degrees, quality of education, unfair business practices, financial stability, and other necessary measures to protect citizens…

(1) A degree-granting institution shall not operate and shall not grant or offer to grant any degree unless the institution has obtained current authorization from the council.(2) Any person, group, or entity or any owner, officer, agent, or employee of such entity who willfully …

(1) An institution or person shall not advertise, offer, sell, or award a degree or any other type of educational credential unless the student has enrolled in and successfully completed a prescribed program of study, as outlined in the institution's publications. This prohibitio…

All degree-granting institutions subject to this chapter shall file information with the council as the council may require.[ 2012 c 229 s 546; 1986 c 136 s 5.]Notes:Effective date—2012 c 229 ss 101, 117, 401, 402, 501 through 594, 601 through 609, 701 through 708, 801 through 82…

The council shall impose fees on any degree-granting institution authorized to operate under this chapter. Fees shall be set and revised by the council by rule at the level necessary to approximately recover the staffing costs incurred in administering this chapter. Fees shall be…

(1) The council may require any degree-granting institution to have on file with the council an approved surety bond or other security in lieu of a bond in an amount determined by the council.(2) In lieu of a surety bond, an institution may deposit with the council a cash deposit…

The council may suspend or modify any of the requirements under this chapter in a particular case if the council finds that:(1) The suspension or modification is consistent with the purposes of this chapter; and(2) The education to be offered addresses a substantial, demonstrated…

(1) Complaints may be filed with the council under this chapter by a person claiming loss of tuition or fees; other loss or injury due to misrepresentation of educational programs, accreditation, support for or statistics relating to job placement, or measurements of student debt…

(1)(a) The council may deny, revoke, or suspend the authorization of any degree-granting institution authorized to operate under this chapter that is found to be in violation of this chapter.(b) The council may not delegate to any other state its authority to oversee and enforce …

Any person, group, or entity or any owner, officer, agent, or employee of such entity who willfully violates any provision of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than one hundred dollars for each violation. Each day…

A degree-granting institution, whether located in this state or outside of this state, that conducts business of any kind, makes any offers, advertises, solicits, or enters into any contracts in this state or with a resident of this state is subject to the jurisdiction of the cou…

If any degree-granting institution discontinues its operation, the chief administrative officer of the institution shall file with the council the original or legible true copies of all educational records required by the council. If the council determines that any educational re…

If a student or prospective student is a resident of this state at the time any contract relating to payment for education or any note, instrument, or other evidence of indebtedness relating thereto is entered into, RCW 28B.85.150 shall govern the rights of the parties to the con…

A note, instrument, or other evidence of indebtedness or contract relating to payment for education for a degree is not enforceable in the courts of this state by a degree-granting institution or holder of the instrument unless the institution was authorized to offer the degree u…

The attorney general or the prosecuting attorney of any county in which a degree-granting institution or agent of the institution is found may bring an action in any court of competent jurisdiction for the enforcement of this chapter. The court may issue an injunction or grant an…

The council may seek injunctive relief, after giving notice to the affected party, in a court of competent jurisdiction for a violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter. The council need not allege or prove that the council has no adequate remedy at law. Th…

(1) A degree-granting institution authorized to operate under this chapter must:(a) Present data about its completion rates, employment rates, loan or indebtedness metrics, or its graduates' median hourly and annual earnings, the posted data consistent with the data posted on the…

A violation of this chapter or the rules adopted under this chapter affects the public interest and is an unfair or deceptive act or practice in violation of RCW 19.86.020 of the consumer protection act. The remedies and sanctions provided by this section shall not preclude appli…

The remedies and penalties provided for in this chapter are nonexclusive and cumulative and do not affect any other actions or proceedings.[ 1986 c 136 s 19.]

(1) It is unlawful for a person to:(a) Grant or award a false academic credential or offer to grant or award a false academic credential in violation of this section;(b) Represent that a credit earned or granted by the person, in violation of this section, can be applied toward a…

(1)(a) For the purpose of providing relief to students impacted by the voluntary or involuntary closure of schools regulated under this chapter, the council shall establish, maintain, and administer a student achievement council tuition recovery trust fund created in RCW 28B.85.2…

The student achievement council tuition recovery trust fund is created in the custody of the state treasurer. All receipts from fees imposed on schools licensed under this chapter and RCW 28B.85.230 must be deposited into the fund. Expenditures from the fund may be used only for …

The council may utilize its authority to waive state requirements for institutions participating in interstate reciprocity agreements for online or distance education if:(1) Such waivers are consistent with federal regulations and requirements for state authorization pursuant to …

This act shall take effect July 1, 1986.[ 1986 c 136 s 24.]

A degree-granting institution registered under chapter 188, Laws of 1979, as amended, as of June 30, 1986, is not required to apply for authorization under chapter 28B.85 RCW until the expiration date of such registration.[ 1986 c 136 s 22.]

This chapter shall not apply to any approved branch campus of a foreign degree-granting institution in compliance with chapter 28B.90 RCW.[ 1993 c 181 s 7.]

The legislature finds that it has previously declared in *RCW 28B.107.005 that it is important to the economic future of the state to promote international awareness and understanding, and in RCW 1.20.100, that the state's economy and economic well-being depends heavily on foreig…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.(1) "Approved branch campus" means a foreign degree-granting institution's branch campus that has been approved by the student achievement council to operate in the state.…

A foreign degree-granting institution that submits evidence satisfactory to the council of its authorized status in its country of domicile and its intent to establish an educational facility in the state is entitled to operate a branch campus as defined in RCW 28B.90.010. Upon r…

A branch campus of a foreign degree-granting institution previously found by the council to be exempt from chapter 28B.85 RCW may continue to operate in the state. However, within one year of July 25, 1993, the institution shall provide evidence of authorization as required under…

Community and technical colleges shall provide financial aid application due dates and information on whether or not financial aid will be awarded on a rolling basis to their admitted students at the time of acceptance. State universities, regional universities, and The Evergreen…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Council" means the student achievement council.(2) "Financial aid" means either loans, grants, or both, to students who demonstrate financial need enrolled or accepted…

The office shall be cognizant of the following guidelines in the performance of its duties:(1) The office shall be research oriented, not only at its inception but continually through its existence.(2) The office shall coordinate all existing programs of financial aid except thos…

In awarding need grants, the office shall proceed substantially as follows: PROVIDED, That nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent the office, in the exercise of its sound discretion, from following another procedure when the best interest of the program so dictate…

Beginning with the 2015-2017 omnibus appropriations act and each biennium thereafter, reductions in tuition levels resulting from section 3, chapter 36, Laws of 2015 3rd sp. sess. will allow the legislature to reduce Washington college grant program appropriations by an equal amo…

Under rules adopted by the council, the provisions of *RCW 28B.92.060(3) shall not apply to eligible students, as defined in RCW 28B.10.017, and eligible students shall not be required to repay the unused portions of grants received under the state student financial aid program.[…

Institutions of higher education are encouraged to review their policies and procedures regarding financial aid for students taking a less-than-half-time course load, and to implement policies and procedures providing students taking a less-than-half-time course load with the sam…