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

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

3. Overview of My Tour

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

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

9. 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

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

11. 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

12. And it was Fun!

13. Perhaps the Best Moment…

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

15. Challenges and Opportunities
They are often one in the same

16. 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.”

17. 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

18. Perspectives on Community Colleges

19. 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,

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

21. 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!

22. What I’ve Learned So Far

23. 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

24. I’m Not Alone!

25. Thank you, Pat Shea!

26. Now…What Do You Want me to Know?

27. President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
Demarée Michelau
President Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education