Higher ed. accreditation

AN ACT Relating to modifying higher education accreditation 1
standards; amending RCW 28B.85.020 and 28B.85.040; and providing an 2
effective date. 3
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:4
Sec. 1. RCW 28B.85.020 and 2013 c 218 s 3 are each amended to 5
read as follows: 6
(1) The council: 7
(a) Shall adopt by rule, in accordance with chapter 34.05 RCW, 8
minimum standards for degree-granting institutions concerning 9
granting of degrees, quality of education, unfair business practices, 10
financial stability, and other necessary measures to protect citizens 11
of this state against substandard, fraudulent, or deceptive 12
practices. The rules shall require that an institution operating in 13
Washington: 14
(i) Be accredited; 15
(ii) Have applied for accreditation and such application is 16
pending before the accrediting agency; 17
(iii) Have been granted a waiver by the council waiving the 18
requirement of accreditation; or 19
(iv) Have been granted an exemption by the council from the 20
requirements of this subsection (1)(a); 21
H-0523.2
HOUSE BILL 1572
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Pollet, Entenman, Reed, and Nance
Read first time 01/24/25. Referred to Committee on Postsecondary
Education & Workforce.
p. 1 HB 1572
(b) Shall recognize accrediting agencies that maintain rigorous 1
standards for institutional eligibility, including requirements 2
related to institutional effectiveness, student learning, assessment, 3
governance, academic independence, administrative and fiscal 4
responsibility, and transparency. Such recognition:5
(i) May be independent from the recognition or approval of 6
accrediting agencies by other entities, including the United States 7
department of education; and8
(ii) May not rely solely on reciprocity agreements between states 9
that do not hold similar minimum standards;10
(c) May investigate any entity the council reasonably believes to 11
be subject to the jurisdiction of this chapter. In connection with 12
the investigation, the council may administer oaths and affirmations, 13
issue subpoenas and compel attendance, take evidence, and require the 14
production of any books, papers, correspondence, memorandums, or 15
other records which the council deems relevant or material to the 16
investigation. The council, including its staff and any other 17
authorized persons, may conduct site inspections, the cost of which 18
shall be borne by the institution, and examine records of all 19
institutions subject to this chapter; 20
(((c))) (d) May negotiate and enter into interstate reciprocity 21
agreements with other state or multistate entities if the agreements 22
are consistent with the purposes in this chapter as determined by the 23
council; 24
(((d))) (e) May enter into agreements with degree-granting 25
institutions of higher education based in this state, that are 26
otherwise exempt under the provisions of ((subsection (1)))(a) of 27
this ((section)) subsection, for the purpose of ensuring consistent 28
consumer protection in interstate distance delivery of higher 29
education; 30
(((e))) (f) Shall develop an interagency agreement with the 31
workforce training and education coordinating board to regulate 32
degree-granting private vocational schools with respect to degree and 33
nondegree programs; and 34
(((f))) (g) Shall develop and disseminate information to the 35
public about entities that sell or award degrees without requiring 36
appropriate academic achievement at the postsecondary level, 37
including but not limited to, a description of the substandard and 38
potentially fraudulent practices of these entities, and advice about 39
how the public can recognize and avoid the entities. To the extent 40
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feasible, the information shall include links to additional resources 1
that may assist the public in identifying specific institutions 2
offering substandard or fraudulent degree programs.3
(2) Financial disclosures provided to the council by degree-4
granting private vocational schools are not subject to public 5
disclosure under chapter 42.56 RCW. 6
Sec. 2. RCW 28B.85.040 and 2012 c 229 s 545 are each amended to 7
read as follows: 8
(1) An institution or person shall not advertise, offer, sell, or 9
award a degree or any other type of educational credential unless the 10
student has enrolled in and successfully completed a prescribed 11
program of study, as outlined in the institution's publications. This 12
prohibition shall not apply to honorary credentials clearly 13
designated as such on the front side of the diploma or certificate 14
and awarded by institutions offering other educational credentials in 15
compliance with state law. 16
(2) No exemption or waiver granted under this chapter is 17
permanent. The council shall periodically review exempted degree-18
granting institutions and degree-granting institutions granted a 19
waiver, and continue exemptions or waivers only if an institution 20
meets the statutory or council requirements for exemption or waiver 21
in effect on the date of the review. 22
(3) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section, this 23
chapter shall not apply to: 24
(a) Any public college, university, community college, technical 25
college, or institute operating as part of the public higher 26
educational system of this state; 27
(b) Institutions that have been accredited by an accrediting 28
association recognized by the council for the purposes of this 29
chapter: PROVIDED, That those institutions meet minimum exemption 30
standards adopted by the council; and PROVIDED FURTHER, That an 31
institution, branch, extension, or facility operating within the 32
state of Washington which is affiliated with an institution operating 33
in another state ((must be a separately accredited member institution 34
of any such accrediting association to qualify for this exemption)):35
(i) Has continuously offered degree programs in the state for 10 36
years or more;37
(ii) Has been continuously authorized to offer degree programs in 38
its home state for 20 years or more;39
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(iii) Has been continuously accredited as a degree-granting 1
institution for 10 years or more by an accrediting association 2
recognized by the council and the secretary of the United States 3
department of education, and maintains such accreditation status;4
(iv) Maintains eligibility to participate in Title IV financial 5
aid programs;6
(v) Is recognized for its extensive academic research and 7
innovation, doctoral programs, and advanced facilities and resources; 8
and9
(vi) Maintains ongoing compliance with the requirements for 10
authorization specified in this chapter. If an institution fails to 11
maintain compliance with such requirements, the council may:12
(A) Deny an application for exemption; or13
(B) Suspend or withdraw an existing exemption;14
(c) Institutions of a religious character, but only as to those 15
education programs devoted exclusively to religious or theological 16
objectives if the programs are represented in an accurate manner in 17
institutional catalogs and other official publications;18
(d) Honorary credentials clearly designated as such on the front 19
side of the diploma or certificate awarded by institutions offering 20
other educational credentials in compliance with state law; or21
(e) Institutions not otherwise exempt which offer only workshops 22
or seminars and institutions offering only credit-bearing workshops 23
or seminars lasting no longer than three calendar days.24
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. Section 1 of this act takes effect 25
December 1, 2026.26
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