Schmidt proposes
pilot program to allow certain community and technical
colleges to offer four-year degrees
"Lake
Washington Technical College could be in the running for this
pilot program."
February
11, 2005
OLYMPIA
- Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek,
proposed legislation this week that creates a pilot program
allowing certain community and technical colleges to offer
four-year baccalaureate degrees.
“With
the increasing demand and stress placed on our traditional
four-year universities, we must take a look at every available
option to ensure our students have the best educational
opportunities possible,” Schmidt said. “Businesses
and industry analysts are telling us we need more skilled
workers for the economy to continue growing. In my mind,
this is just one portion of the overall solution to higher
education access and affordability. It also starts the
process of Washington having a four-year poly/tech school.”
Schmidt’s
proposal, Senate Bill 5867, will allow three community
colleges and one technical college in Washington state to
develop and offer programs leading to a four-year
baccalaureate degree. However, the bill also contains
language to firmly establish community and technical colleges
as independent, unique and separate from the common school
system, and “never to be considered for conversion into
four-year liberal arts colleges.”
“Washington
is known as one of the tech-leading states in the nation,”
Schmidt said. “But many of our students end up taking
too many classes they don’t need or want while seeking a
degree in a high-tech field. I think this is a way to
help streamline the process while maintaining the integrity
and purpose of our higher education system as a whole.”
If
his bill passes, Schmidt said the King-Snohomish county region
could be an immediate benefactor of his proposal.
“There’s
nothing in stone, that’s for sure, but there are serious
indications that the Lake Washington Technical College could
be in the running for this pilot program,” Schmidt added.
“It’s in an ideal location to serve Puget Sound’s
high-tech industry.”
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