ICW in Action

Serving students across the state of Washington

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What Students Say

Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) is committed to expanding access to higher education for all students by advocating for inclusive, diverse campus environments and emphasizing the vital contributions of Washington’s private, not-for-profit, liberal arts colleges and universities.

We actively engage in policy advocacy, foster strategic partnerships, and mobilize resources to support our students’ academic and personal success. Through these efforts, we aim to empower students to excel during their college journey and become impactful leaders in their communities, ensuring equitable educational opportunities continue to grow and evolve.

Gonzaga Universtiy

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Heritage University

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Pacific Lutheran University

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Saint Martin's University

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Seattle Pacific University

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Seattle University

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University of Puget Sound

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Whitman College

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Whitworth University

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Gonzaga Universtiy • Heritage University • Pacific Lutheran University • Saint Martin's University • Seattle Pacific University • Seattle University • University of Puget Sound • Whitman College • Whitworth University •

Engaging State & Federal Policymakers

In today’s evolving economy, a growing percentage of adults entering the workforce require a postsecondary degree to remain competitive. Approximately 436,000 jobs will be available in Washington between 2021 and 2031, 72% of which will require education beyond high school, according to a study from The Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce. Washington’s private, liberal arts colleges and universities play a vital role in preparing students for their futures, imparting valuable skills such as problem-solving and determination, to create well-rounded, capable graduates who can tackle anything.

ICW actively collaborates with government agencies and businesses to offer financial aid and academic resources, ensuring students can attend the campus that best meets their individual needs. Thanks to donor support and strategic investments, ICW makes a broad spectrum of educational opportunities accessible across Washington’s independent colleges, preparing students for the workforce of tomorrow.

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Digital display at a conference for the Independent Colleges of Washington, announcing a session on 'Higher Education and the National Landscape' featuring Barbara K. Mistick, with reception at 5:00 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m., and including a photo of Barbara K. Mistick.

ICW hosted a salon dinner for ICW Board members, campus presidents and trustees focused on the national landscape for higher education, featuring Barbara Mistick, president of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU).

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ICW President and CEO Terri Standish-Kuon joined colleagues from the Association of Washington Business in September 2024 for a conversation on meeting workforce needs during the Policy Summit, and then in December 2024 for a D.C. fly-in where Pell Grants, campus-based aid programs, and ICW’s tax policy priorities were on the agenda. 

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Group of seven professionals holding college and university pennants, standing indoors in front of a screen displaying a landscape with rolling hills, with American and state flags behind them.
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During the NAICU Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in February 2025, an ICW delegation met with members of Washington’s Congressional delegation, including U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, and new Congressional delegation members U.S. Representative Michael Baumgartner (WA-5) and U.S. Representative Emily Randall (WA-6).

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Screenshot of a legislative hearing with a woman speaking at a desk, and a presentation slide indicating 72% of projected job openings in Washington through 2031 will need post-secondary credentials or degrees.

The Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship programs were created to assure Washington’s economy has the graduates needed to meet the workforce needs for our future AND to assure that hard-working Washington students are not left behind because of their families’ financial constraints. The state budget decisions made this year specific to students attending ICW member campuses tragically undermine those objectives. ICW will continue advocating on behalf of all Washington students so that they will be able to attend the college or university that best meets their personal needs and aspirations, regardless of their income.

Students at WA’s private colleges could see financial aid slashed • Washington State Standard

Four young women standing in front of the historic state capitol building, holding banners representing different universities.
Four students standing in front of a large domed government building, holding signs for colleges and universities, with trees and parked cars in the background.
Two smiling people, a woman and a man, holding a red Seattle University pennant. The woman is wearing a black blazer and patterned blouse, and the man is dressed in a grey suit with a red tie. They are standing indoors in a warmly lit room.
A virtual meeting with people in a house hearing titled 'House Postsecondary Education & Workforce' on January 21, 2025, at 2:45 PM.

ICW’s educational fellowship supports students in learning about policy making and the state legislative process. Fellows met regularly across five months, and during their time in Olympia, they met with legislators and staff.

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ICW named 24 state Senators and Representatives in eight Legislative Districts Economic and Community Vitality Champions, noting their service in districts where ICW member campuses do the most purchasing from local businesses. Each Champion received a custom plaque from ICW Board members in Olympia during the 2025 legislative session. Statewide, ICW member campuses generate a combined $2.2 billion of economic impact, and support 22,000 direct and indirect jobs.

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ICW champions the Washington State Legislative Internship Program, and makes it possible for campus presidents making trips to Olympia during the Legislative Session to visit with their current students who are participating in the program.

Sustaining Communities of Practice

Our organization fosters a network of collaboration among our member campuses by supporting numerous communities of practice to facilitate engagement through in-person events, virtual meetings, and other strategic partnerships.

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ICW partnered with U.S. Bank to host an event for career advisors at our member campuses to discuss how to provide students with financial literacy resources, job interviewing tips, and creating a realistic household budget for new graduates.

A group of people sitting around a conference table at a meeting, with a large monitor displaying the logo of the Independent Colleges of Washington.
A large conference room filled with people seated around a long table, watching a presentation on a wall-mounted screen. The table has laptops, water bottles, coffee cups, and name tags. A woman is standing at the front near the screen, speaking. Sunlight streams through large windows revealing greenery outside. A laptop in the foreground displays the logo of Independent Colleges of Washington.

With support from The Council of Independent Colleges, ICW hosted a “Meeting the Moment” gathering where campus provosts and CFOs discussed planning for the 2026 legislative session, state tax policies, federal developments, how campuses are using and teaching about artificial intelligence, supporting the humanities, and more.

Championing Postsecondary Transitions

ICW member campuses share a goal of on helping Washington achieve its 70% attainment goal, with a special focus on supporting students who are furthest from opportunity. We are champions on behalf of all Washington students so that they will be able to attend the college or university that best meets their personal needs and aspirations, without regard to their financial circumstances.

Recognizing that each student’s educational needs are distinct, ICW member colleges provide comprehensive support—including financial assistance, behavioral health services, basic needs resources, and academic tutoring—to foster an inclusive environment where every student feels a sense of belonging and can meet their academic goals.

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ICW actively participates in the work of the Washington Council for High School-College Relations (WCHSCR). In the fall, we joined with admissions colleagues from member campuses for WCHSCR workshops in Bothell, Cheney, Pasco, Tacoma, and Vancouver to provide information to high school counselors and community-based organization professionals who offer college advice.

Zoom meeting screenshot showing multiple participants with various backgrounds, some with organization logos, including Val Sundby, Sheila Steiner, Mary Jo Hartman, Melissa Hill, Jacob Garcia, Clay Schwenn, Anna Nikolaeva Olson, Patrick Delaford, Chris Sogge, Kayley Cruz, Robin Pickering, Joel Thome, Kerry Levett, Joslin Boroughs, Renuka Prabhakar, Kristi Lagrutta, Julie Garver, Dr. Jill Edwards, and others in a video conference.

ICW partners with colleagues across higher education sectors to consider ways of streamlining transfer degrees, in this case taking a fresh look at the Pre-Nursing Major-Related Program.

A panel discussion at the Independent Colleges of Washington event with four people on stage, including a man in a suit speaking into a microphone, and a large screen behind them displaying the ICCW logo and Wi-Fi info.

During the fall meeting of the ICW Board of Directors at Whitman College in Walla Walla, ICW Board members Scott Friedman and Susana Reyes moderated a panel with Ricky Gonzalez (President, Associated Students of Whitman College), Richie Martinez, (Columbia Basin College, and Eastern Regional Coordinator for the Washington Student Engagement Network), and Eva Maxwell (Walla Walla High School). The conversation focused on ways to promote a college-going culture in Washington, with special emphasis on reaching and supporting students from historically underserved communities.

Through its Strengthening Transfer Pathways to the Liberal Arts initiative, ICW helps its member campuses meet regularly with colleagues at the state’s community and technical colleges to identify ways to smooth the path to private, not-for-profit four-year colleges in Washington for students who wish to enroll from two-year campuses in the state.

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ICW member campus enrollment officers participate in statewide Digital Transcript discussions.

Supporting Students Through Strategic Partnerships

With your support, ICW has continued to champion access to higher education for Washington students through a diverse array of named and competitive scholarship funds, including the Leaders for Tomorrow Scholarship and the Transfer Pathways Fund. During FY 2023-24, our partners and donors contributed more than $1.3 million in student financial aid, in-kind support, and strategic investments, demonstrating their strong commitment to expanding educational opportunities.

ICW's member campuses remain dedicated to increasing post-secondary access for all students, whether first-generation college attendees or transfer students from community and technical colleges. As part of our network of institutions, students receive the resources they need to feel supported on campus, excel in their studies, and thrive as members of their communities.

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ICW presented the Stanley O. McNaughton Leadership Award to the Washington State Auto Dealers Association (WSADA) for its exceptional commitment to supporting the students. The award was accepted by WSADA Executive Vice President Vicki Giles Fabré, who was joined by Matthew Phillips, the 2024- 2025 WSADA President and CEO of the Car Pros Automotive Group.

A man and woman shaking hands on a stage with a wooden podium that has a Council of Independent Colleges banner, in a conference room setting.
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The Council of Independent Colleges held its annual conference for State Councils in Seattle in April, where ICW Board member Richard Bangert was honored with the Charles W.L. Foreman Award for his steadfast dedication to independent colleges. Former ICW President and CEO Violet Boyer was on hand to join in the celebration.

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Group of five women standing in line for photo shoot with a man in front of a green screen, with professional lighting and camera equipment. The woman at the end holds a red
Group of diverse young college students smiling and holding banners from various universities, including Gonzaga, Seattle Pacific University, Whitman College, and University of Puget Sound, in an indoor setting.
Group of people filming a video in a studio with green screen. One person is speaking, others are observing or holding notes. Equipment includes cameras, microphones, and lighting.

Students from ICW member campuses gathered in Seattle for a day of filming to share their stories of appreciation for the Washington College Grant and College Bound Scholarship programs. The student relayed how financial aid has made a big impact on their higher education journeys, and why supporting the Washington College Grant is essential to making it more accessible for students to earn a postsecondary degree.

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As part of its commitment to the College Promise Coalition in Washington, ICW proudly supports the Washington Student Engagement Networks (WA-SEN), a Gates Foundation-funded initiative that provides 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. Through WA-SEN students emphasize the importance of student financial aid programs in ensuring that the state of Washington achieves its 70% post-secondary attainment goal. WA-SEN hosts a range of programs, from lessons in student advocacy, to a special program this fall celebrating Constitution Day.

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“Coming from a family with an average income but high dreams, your support means the world to me.”

— Agnila D., Class of 2026