The Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) is charged with overseeing state higher education resources, guided by two goals: (1) Increasing opportunities for students to earn degrees; and (2) Developing a higher education system responsive to the state's economic needs. Key strategies include the development of new planning tools and the integration of previously separate approval processes for new degree programs with the purchases and leases of major off-campus facilities. The goal of the Program and Facility Approval Policies and Procedures is to develop a process for program approval that provides clear criteria for program approval and offers ample opportunity for interested parties to provide feedback on program proposals. The revised policies and procedures provide institutions and the HECB with two new planning tools: (1) Statewide and regional assessment of student, employer, and community needs for degrees and education; and (2) Program and facility inventory that identifies academic degree program offerings and the facilities where programs are offered for both public and private institutions. Policies reflect the board's vision of allowing off-campus programs to develop progressively from teaching sites to learning centers and, under certain circumstances, into new colleges or universities. Seven areas of approval authority are assigned to the board: (1) New degree programs by a four-year institution; (2) Creation of any off-campus programs by a four-year institution; (3) Purchase or lease of major off-campus facilities by a four-year institution or a community or technical college; (4) Creation of higher education centers and consortia; (5) New degree programs and creation of off-campus programs by an independent college or university in collaboration with a community or technical college; (6) Applied baccalaureate degree programs developed by a community or technical college under Section 6 of HB 1794; and (7) Agreements between a community or technical college and one or more regional universities, branch campuses, or state colleges to offer baccalaureate degree programs under the pilot program established in Section 12 of HB 1794. The board delegates to the executive director the authority to review and update this document as needed to incorporate policy changes adopted by the board and Legislature. The publication contains two appendixes: (1) Glossary of Key Terms; and (2) Draft Forms.