State and Regional Needs Assessment

In 2004, the governor and legislature enacted House Bill 3103 to revise and update the roles and responsibilities of the Higher Education Coordinating Board. The legislation specifically directed us to “develop a comprehensive and ongoing process to analyze the need for additional degrees and programs, additional off-campus centers and locations for degree programs, and consolidation or elimination of programs by the (public) four-year institutions.”

In response to this charge and consistent with the board’s 2004 Strategic Master Plan for Higher Education, the board completed a State and Regional Needs Assessment Report in October 2005.  The report, in conjunction with the board’s analysis of institutional roles and missions, will guide academic program and facility planning and approval.

The legislation also requires us to assess the gap between the number of forecasted net job openings at each level of higher education and the number of prepared workers with the appropriate training and credentials.  The board will conduct this analysis every two years, in collaboration with the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges and the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board.  Elements of this assessment are included in the 2005 State and Regional Needs Assessment Report and are the subject of a separate joint report, A Skilled and Educated Workforce.

Reports

State and Regional Needs Assessment Report (February 2006 revised)

A Skilled and Educated Workforce: An assessment of the number and type of higher education and training credentials required to meet employer demand (January 2006)

State Laws

State statute - RCW 28B.76.230

Resources

See also:

Statewide Role and Mission for Higher Education (July 2006)

Higher Education Needs in Snohomish, Island and Skagit Counties

May 2005 Washington State Occupational Forecast with HECB Analysis of Training Levels by Occupation

Long-term Occupational Projections (ESD)

Progress 2004 - A Report of the Health Care Personnel Task Force (WTECB)

Educator Supply and Demand in Washington State (OSPI)

For more information:
Randy Spaulding
360.753.7823