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Bill would let community and technical colleges advertise online courses beyond district lines; sponsors pitch virtual‑campus step
Summary
Senate Bill 5,663 would let community and technical colleges disseminate unsolicited enrollment information statewide for courses offered entirely online, removing a rule that limits advertising to local service districts.
Senate Bill 5,663 would allow Washington’s community and technical colleges to distribute unsolicited course and enrollment information beyond their statutory service districts for courses offered entirely online, while still prohibiting colleges from competing for enrollment with one another.
Saranda Ross, counsel to the committee, explained that current State Board rules prohibit advertising outside service districts and that the bill would allow information distribution specifically for fully online offerings. Senator Vandana Slater, sponsor, said the change is a modest, targeted step toward building a broader online “virtual campus” so students can more easily find and enroll in courses offered anywhere in the state. “Education shouldn't be based on your zip code. It should be based on your potential,” Slater said.
Witnesses described California’s experience with a course‑sharing portal. Dr. Marina Amini, executive director of the California Virtual Campus, said California’s portal now supports tens of thousands of cross‑enrollments and makes it possible for students to enroll in required online courses in minutes. Dr. Cathy Cox, a Washington higher‑education professional, urged support and said broader access to online courses would help close credential gaps.
State Board staff and community college representatives said all 34 community and technical colleges already offer robust online options; Arlen Harris of the State Board said the board will work in the interim to develop a one‑stop listing of online and in‑person offerings. Melissa Beard, director of legislative affairs for the Council of Presidents, said she was neutral on the current substitute and asked that language referring to “other public institutions of higher education” be restored to section 2, subsection 3; she expressed concern about language removed on the Senate floor.
Representatives questioned whether the rule change was necessary if the State Board could amend rules or pursue implementation by intercollegiate agreement; SBCTC witnesses said the bill provides clarity and a statutory hook for colleges to pursue a virtual campus model.
The committee heard both proponents and technical/system witnesses; no formal vote was taken at the hearing.
