Board members to take action on system-wide accessible technology policy
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The State Board for Community and Technical Colleges will convene its regular business meeting on Thursday, March 24 from 8 a.m. to noon. Board members will take up a system-wide accessible technology policy and hear an update on the system’s math strategic plan.
The accessible technology policy is the college system’s plan to support colleges as they provide access to educational technology for people with disabilities. The policy states that the 34 community and technical colleges will provide appropriate, effective and integrated access to technology for students, employees and community members. The policy also formalizes the role the State Board and colleges play in complying with federal and state disability laws, and it authorizes the formation of an accessible technology implementation team.
Board members will also hear an update on the Math Strategic Plan, which was approved by the State Board in May 2015. Washington was one of five states chosen by the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas to find ways of helping students complete math courses. The project, called Mathematics Pathways to Completion, promotes and supports varying ways for students to complete math courses through efforts at the state, college and classroom levels.
The Board will also hear progress reports on creating the system’s next capital budget request, updating policies on how colleges count enrollments, and implementing a new software system called ctcLink.
Prior to its regular business meeting, the Board will hold a study session on Wednesday, March 23 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Board members will hear an update on the Legislature’s progress on the 2016 supplemental budget and its effect on the system’s 2017 state budget allocation. They will also hear a presentation on ways in which changes to the Student Achievement Initiative and selection of high-demand programs would affect the new allocation model.
The study session and business meeting will be held at the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges office, Cascade conference room, 1300 Quince Street SE in Olympia. The State Board’s agenda and background materials are posted at the State Board website.
Both meetings are open to the public.
