For 70 years, Independent Colleges of Washington has championed educational opportunity. Every day, we work to highlight the essential role of private, not-for-profit, liberal arts-based colleges and universities in bringing diversity and quality higher education to the state of Washington. We believe championing inclusive practices for faculty and staff is a natural extension of our members’ goal to foster inclusive student bodies.
Through policy engagement, fundraising, and strategic partnerships we address barriers to higher education, supporting students on our campuses from exploration to graduation, and ensuring our campuses thrive so they can continue to make a difference in the communities they call home.
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Engaging State & Federal Policymakers
Business leaders and policymakers agree: Ever greater numbers of high school graduates and adults need to earn a degree to meet the demands of our economy. Companies see value in the liberal-arts education our campuses deliver, from the ability to work well in a team, solve problems, and clearly communicate to the strong work ethic our students have had the opportunity to develop—our students stand out to employers across many sectors across the state.
Thanks to support from donors and partnerships with government, students are given the financial and academic support to make their educations feasible. When students can attend the campus with their preferred academic program of study and mix of support and community, they are more likely to earn a degree. With targeted investments, we can reduce the need for student and family borrowing and leverage the full range of educational opportunities available across Washington’s higher education ecosystem.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
The importance of Pell Grants to talent and workforce development in Washington was center stage when Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) president Terri Standish-Kuon joined the annual D.C. fly-in organized in December 2022 by the Association of Washington Business (AWB). ICW is fortunate to have AWB President Kris Johnson and dozens of community and corporate leaders serve as Board members.
Independent Colleges of Washington brings the voice of member campuses and of their students to policy discussions. We are a trusted resource for policymakers and their staffs.
Students from each ICW member campus recorded videos to share their stories of how the Washington College Grant and other student aid such as Pell Grants and ICW scholarships are supporting their aspirations. Check out all the videos here.
ICW supports its campus presidents in Olympia during the Legislative Session for visits with lawmakers and with current students who are participating in the Washington State Legislative Internship Program.
Student voices are central to ICW’s work, and this year we were thrilled to support Heritage University senior Julian Licea and Saint Martin’s University sophomore Cher Abigail Aguilar Henriquez in sharing their perspectives with lawmakers.
Gonzaga University president Thayne McCulloh and University of Puget Sound president Isiaah Crawford serve on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). ICW engages with NAICU and the American Council on Education, the Washington Congressional delegation, and the U.S. Department of Education on issues involving student aid to tax policy and regulation.
The ICW Board met with Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck, Senators Andy Billig and Emily Randall, Representative Alex Ybarra during its spring meeting in April 2023.
ICW hosted ACE’s Senior Director, Government Relations Emmanual Guillory in late May and early June for campus visits and discussions with campus leaders on innovative retention practices and on pending federal regulations
Sustaining Communities
of Practice
Independent Colleges of Washington brings together colleagues from across member campuses to share best practices and advance professional development. We annually support dozens of communities of practice, and this year brought together academic and fiscal leaders for in-person gatherings. We also seek opportunities to build networks beyond our campuses.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Chief financial officers gathering at Seattle University in October 2022 and at the University of Puget Sound in May 2023. Discussions focused on cybersecurity, campus safety, and opportunities to reduce costs. Academic leaders from across Independent Colleges of Washington member campuses gathered at Pacific Lutheran University in November 2022 and at Gonzaga University in June 2023 for conversations around attracting, retaining, and graduating students, with a focus on equity.
Supporting Students Through Strategic Partnerships
Independent Colleges of Washington’s longstanding partners support of the association’s general scholarship fund, the Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarships, along with more than a dozen competitive and named scholarships. Our donors and friends have made FY 2021-22 one of the most significant in recent times, collectively providing more than $900,000 in scholarship and in-kind support.
Through ICW, member campuses also work together to achieve shared goals on a statewide scale, whether supporting students from one of Washington’s 34 community and technical colleges in transferring to an ICW campus or preparing students to actively participate in educating policymakers about the importance of investments in student aid. Additional strategic partnerships, such as the Coalition for College Savings, assist campuses with national purchasing agreements.
RECENT HIGHLIGHTS
Long-time donors celebrated with students at the ICW spring Board meeting hosted by Saint Martin’s University. Each year, ICW raises hundreds of thousands of dollars to directly support student scholarships.
ICW proudly offers 15 different named and competitive scholarships to students attending member campuses.
Strengthening Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts initiative focuses on smoothing the path to liberal arts disciplines at private, not-for-profit four-year colleges in Washington for students who wish to enroll from two-year campuses in the state. Through cross-sector workgroups across multiple campuses and collaborative work with transfer policy colleagues, faculty are reviewing curricula and institutional practices to support students. In November 2022, ICW faculty and staff met with faculty and staff from community college partners to share best practices.
Washington Student Engagement Networks (WA-SEN) creates opportunities for students from independent colleges and universities, community and technical colleges, and public baccalaureate institutions to share their stories and perspectives to educate policymakers. WA-SEN emphasizes the importance of student financial aid programs in ensuring that the state of Washington achieves its goal of 70% postsecondary attainment. Organized as an extension of College Promise Coalition and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, WA-SEN is administered by Independent Colleges of Washington.
Celebrating Community Impact
From cultivating a sense of belonging, to supporting students with their individual needs, whether academic or behavioral health support, or support for nutrition and housing, ICW campuses offer a well-rounded suite of services to help students be successful on their higher education journeys.
