Since 1953, Idaho has partnered with WICHE to serve the state’s higher education priorities through regional collaboration, resource-sharing, sound public policy, and innovation.

WICHE Commissioners

WICHE…

Provides Idaho a strong return on investment

• 2,152 Idaho residents saved over $19 million this year through the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) and the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP). These WICHE programs provide significant student savings on nonresident tuition at more than 170 Western U.S. public colleges and universities.
• In 2019-20, WICHE Student Access Programs provided Idaho a remakarkable 12,226 percent return on investment, relative to the state’s annual WICHE dues.
• Idaho students and their families have saved $208.4 million since the state first began participating in WUE.
• The Master Property Program (MPP) helps institutions reduce their insurance premiums and improve their coverage. The MPP includes more than 170 campuses with total insured values of over $100 billion. The College of Idaho is a member institution.

Helps Idaho attract students from other states

• WUE and WRGP incentivized 3,809 students this year to invest their tuition dollars in Idaho.

Bolsters Idaho’s health workforce

• Idaho’s behavioral health workforce benefits from the Psychology Internship Consortium, a program facilitated by WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program (BHP). The consortium supports the preparation and retention of doctoral-level psychologists in rural and underserved areas of Idaho.

Increases Idahoans’ higher education access and affordability

• North Idaho College is one of more than 30 college and university members of Interstate Passport® Network, which—by enabling block transfer of lower-division general education—reduces frustrating nontransfer of credits that students may encounter when transferring out-of-state.

Helps Idaho allocate resources efficiently with data and policy analysis

• WICHE offers various data and policy resources to support better-informed decision-making. WICHE’s research projects and collaborations cover postsecondary completion, closing attainment gaps, adult learners, and multistate data-sharing to support educational planning and workforce development.
• WICHE staff serve as expert resources and provide technical assistance on finance, financial aid, articulation and transfer, strategic planning, student demographics, and more.
• Our website features Benchmarks, an interactive dashboard featuring the most recent data available on the West’s progress in improving access to, success in, and the financing of higher education, as well as other useful resources.
• WICHE’s quadrennial Knocking at the College Door report is the foremost U.S. resource for projections of college-ready students. An abundance of information can be found on the Knocking website, including publications, reports, projections data, interactive data dashboards, recorded webinars, presentations, and the Idaho’s state profile.

Fosters Idea Sharing

• WICHE’s Legislative Advisory Committee provides valuable insights on trends and promising practices to Idaho’s legislative leaders as they build partnerships with leaders in other Western states.
• Boise State University, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, and University of Idaho are members of the Western Academic Leadership Forum (the Forum), a consortium of academic officers at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral institutions and chief executives and academic officers for systems and state governing boards. Laura Woodworth-Ney, executive vice president and provost, Idaho State University, is a member of the Forum executive committee. Likewise, the College of Southern Idaho and North Idaho College are members of the Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders (the Alliance), the sister consortium for academic leaders at two-year institutions and related state governing and coordinating boards. Lita Burns, vice president for instruction, North Idaho College, is a member of the Alliance executive committee. Both the Forum and the Alliance are hubs for the exchange of ideas and information, sharing resources and expertise, and collaboration on regional initiatives.
• Boise State University, College of Eastern Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, and University of Idaho are all members of WCET (WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies), the leader in the practice, policy, and advocacy of technology-enhanced learning in higher education. WCET’s growing membership includes almost 400 institutions, higher education agencies and systems, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and corporations in all U.S. states and several Canadian provinces. Through its Frontiers blog, convenings, and active online discussions, WCET keeps members informed of the latest in policy change, regulations, and trends in educational technology. WCET also offers a host of resources related to educational technology and faculty support, including advice and guidance for institutions on how to transition their face-to-face offerings to emergency online alternatives and how to increase quality in these courses over time. Boise State University’s Virtual Reality Nursing Simulation won the WCET Outstanding Work (WOW) award in 2015, which recognizes effective and innovative uses of technology to address specific needs in higher education.
• The State Authorization Network (SAN) provides institutional support in managing regulations related to online courses and programs. Boise State University, College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, Idaho State University, Lewis-Clark State College, North Idaho College, and University of Idaho are all members.
• At the outset of the recent outbreak of COVID-19, WICHE quickly reacted, shifted to remote work, and continues to advance our mission. WICHE is facilitating peer-to-peer videoconferences for higher education leaders to connect and identify solutions to common challenges, to follow legislation passed in response to the crisis, and to identify emergency funding for students and higher education institutions. The WICHE BHP is hosting webinars that offer guidance to support the mental well-being of their students, and WCET is providing updates and resources to help institutions address issues that arise due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Visit WICHE’s COVID-19 resources page for up-to-date information.