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The most current data and information available is presented throughout this report to highlight the Key Facts about Washington’s postsecondary institutions, including faculty, students, budgets, and financial aid. 

It provides valuable information on the ways higher education serves our state and its people.

View by chapter:

Introduction & Quick Facts

Chapter I: Foundations

The Washington State Legislature is responsible for making laws, formally known as the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Oftentimes the laws that they make require agencies to do something new or to change the way something is done. Agencies then develop processes and procedures for putting those laws into action. These processes and procedures are known as rules and are codified in the Washington Administrative Code (WAC).

At the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), most WACs focus on financial aid program management or authorization of institutions and degree programs.

2012 HECB Meeting Schedule

The College Bound Scholarship program encourages low-income, middle school students to choose a path that will lead to educational success after high school.

The Higher Education Coordinating Board will be replaced by the Student Achievement Council July 1, 2012. The Council will no longer have responsibility for approval of academic programs for the state’s public four-year universities. It will continue to have the responsibility for regular program review and will maintain a listing of programs offered by the public institutions.   

The following items address changes in the program review and approval process.

Master planning helps the state ensure continuity in its oversight of higher education by providing a long-range roadmap for the types of degree programs and delivery systems needed to meet dynamic economic challenges and changing demographics.

The HECB participates in Washington’s legislative process by sponsoring legislation and providing information and analysis used to develop new laws.

HECB reports and and analysis cover performance and accountability, financing, governance, tuition policy, financial aid, system design, new degree development, program review, and many other timely subjects.