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How WICHE Advances its Mission

Our Vision

WICHE envisions a future where regional collaboration among the states and Pacific Islands strengthens the West through higher education and workforce development.

 

Our Mission

WICHE works collaboratively to expand educational access and excellence for all residents of the West. By promoting innovation, cooperation, resource sharing, and sound public policy, WICHE strengthens higher education’s contributions to the region’s social, economic, and civic life.

 

The Workplan

Each May, WICHE’s 48-member commission develops and approves the organization’s annual Workplan. The Workplan outlines the diverse set of activities, projects, and initiatives that the WICHE Commission has prioritized for the fiscal year beginning July 1, all of which are intended to advance WICHE’s mission.

 

Our Strategic Priorities

WICHE undertakes its work in the following five areas, identified and approved by the WICHE Commission in its annual Workplan:

 

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Supporting alignment of appropriations, tuition, and financial aid policy and practice across institutional, state, and federal levels to reduce cost barriers and expand postsecondary opportunity.

Expanding access to and success in postsecondary education by developing and sharing evidence-based strategies and technologies.

Partnering across sectors (including health, behavioral health, business, and industry) to strengthen education-to-workforce pathways and meet regional talent needs so communities can thrive.

Advancing innovation in teaching and learning, leadership, student supports, technology, and the policies and practices that expand postsecondary access and success and the value of credentials.

Strengthening data quality, transparency, and analytic capacity to develop shared measures to assess the value of postsecondary education and its impact across the West, including outcomes beyond workforce measures, so decision-makers can improve how they invest time, effort, and resources.