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Completion Strategies in the West: Coordination, Collaboration, and Structures

WICHE analysis identified a key theme in how states are approaching a systematic completion agenda: states recognize opportunities for cross-institutional collaboration and are adapting and developing structures to better support student success. States are prioritizing this coordination and are modifying structures and state-level decision-making to address barriers to student progress through higher education.

Examples of these efforts include cross-institution collaboration through course sharing, supporting coordination on key policy areas, and state-level decision-making that adjusts and evolves state-level structures such as data systems and funding models to align with completion priorities. Collectively, these strategies and adaptations create opportunities for states to leverage policies and practices to build a higher education system that better supports students and equips leaders with data and evidence to make more informed decisions.

These strategies are explored across three resources.

  • Check out the recent edition of WICHE Insights, Completion Strategies in the West: Coordination, Collaboration, and Structures, to learn more about how states in the WICHE region are developing and implementing strategies that support cross-institutional collaboration and coordination, using data and evidence to support decision-making, and adapting systems and structures to support college completion.
  • A forthcoming accompanying research summary will provide an overview of research and evidence of the key strategies and policies states are prioritizing to promote cross-institutional collaboration and coordination.
  • See below for a dashboard of selected collaboration and coordination strategies by state.

Publications

WICHE Insights

Completion Strategies in the West: Collaboration, Coordination, and Structures

February 24, 2026

This edition of WICHE Insights highlights how the states, territories, and freely associated states in the WICHE region are supporting student success through collaborative and coordinated strategies as well as adapting structures to better support postsecondary student success. Highlighted strategies include, course sharing, coordinate policy development and implementation, adjustments to existing structures (i.e. data systems and funding).

Download PDF

Collaboration and Coordination Strategies Across the Region

This dashboard highlights the strategies states are prioritizing to support coordination and cross-institutional collaboration. Use the filter on the right to view by academic success strategy. State-by-state scans of completion strategies can be viewed on the state completion profiles.

For questions, please contact:

Colleen Falkenstern

Director of Evidence and Strategic Initiatives, Policy Analysis and Research


303.541.0313

cfalkenstern@wiche.edu

Christina Sedney

Director of Policy and Strategic Initiatives, Policy Analysis and Research


303.541.0238

csedney@wiche.edu