Touring the WICHE Region: Perspectives from Its New President Western Alliance of Community College Academic Leaders Annual Meeting Demarée Michelau April 4, 2019

Today’s Agenda Overview of My Tour Challenges and Opportunities Perspectives on Community Colleges What I’ve Learned So Far

Overview of My Tour

The Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education - WICHE An interstate compact formed 65 years ago Codified in state law

States and U.S. Pacific Territories and Freely Associated States Join WICHE 1951 Colorado Montana New Mexico Oregon Utah 1952 Arizona 1953 Idaho Wyoming 1955 Washington Alaska California 1959 Hawaiʻi Nevada 1980s South Dakota (1985) North Dakota (1988) 2012 The CNMI Guam

WICHE’s Role in the Region Promotes access and excellence in higher education for all citizens of the West through: Regional collaboration Resource sharing Sound public policy Innovation

Fiduciary Responsibility Hire and Fire the President WICHE Commission Governed by a 48-member Commission Fiduciary Responsibility Hire and Fire the President Provide Strategic Direction

Workplan Priority Areas Finance Access and Success Workforce and Society Technology and Innovation Accountability Workplan Priority Areas

How the Commission Conducts its Business Semiannual Meetings (May 20-21, 2019 – Bismarck, ND) Policy Analysis and Research Committee Programs and Services Committee Executive Committee Nominating Committee Audit Committee

WICHE’s Programmatic Units Programs and Services Policy Analysis and Research Behavioral Health Program WCET – WICHE Cooperative for Educational Technologies

States I’ve Visited This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

And it was Fun!

Perhaps the Best Moment…

And simultaneously…. to help articulate a vision for WICHE Developing a strategic communications plan Staff Commissioners External Partners

Challenges and Opportunities They are often one in the same

The Federal Government – A Challenge or Opportunity? Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act Negotiated Rulemaking Accreditation Substantive Interaction Definition of Reciprocity College Transparency Act Executive Order “to enhance the quality of postsecondary education by making it more affordable, more transparent, and more accountable. Institutions of higher education (institutions) should be accountable both for student outcomes and for student life on campus.”

State Level – A Challenge or Opportunity? Shifting Political Environments and Shifting Priorities Nine New Governors (AK, CA, CO, ID, NM, NV, SD, Guam, WY) Uncertain Budgets Alaska

Perspectives on Community Colleges

One-Third of all Public Two-Year Students in the U. S One-Third of all Public Two-Year Students in the U.S. are Enrolled in the West Source: IPEDS 12-Month Enrollment Survey, 2016-17

Total Students in the West 6.5 Million A Majority of Undergraduates in the West are Enrolled at Public Two-Year Institutions, 2016-17 Total Students in the West 6.5 Million Source: IPEDS 12-Month Enrollment Survey, 2016-17

The Context… The Spotlight is on you! Legislators want higher education to be more connected to the workforce – that’s what you do! Growth in Technology and its Impact – you can be nimble! Emphasis is on adults more than ever – you do that best! Changing demographics will emphasize serving underserved students – you’re on! The Spotlight is on you!

What I’ve Learned So Far

What I’ve Learned So Far Being out and about is vital to understanding the region With 9 new governors, there is a lot of shifting It’s going to take time to settle Some of the conversations are the same but the states really are different Open educational resources Many people know only one aspect of WICHE

I’m Not Alone!

Thank you, Pat Shea!

Now…What Do You Want me to Know?

President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education Demarée Michelau President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education dmichelau@wiche.edu 303.541.0201 www.wiche.edu