Washington Governor Jay Inslee and Washington Student Achievement Council announce membership in the Complete College America Alliance of States
OLYMPIA, WA. (NOV. 9, 2022) — Washington Governor Jay Inslee today announced that the state of Washington has officially joined the Complete College America (CCA) Alliance, a coalition of states, systems, institutions of higher education and other organizations committed to increasing the number of students who successfully complete college and attain degrees and credentials.
“Our state’s strategic action plan to increase educational attainment is built upon the belief that an affordable and supportive educational environment will encourage more Washingtonians to enroll in programs and complete credentials. Ensuring equitable access and success for all students is central to the strategic framework,” said Governor Inslee. “Washington is firmly committed to pursuing our goals for educational attainment and college completion for all residents in our state. We believe that partnering with Complete College America will help us get there.”
According to the most recent research from the National Student Clearinghouse, there are 1.1 million Washingtonians with “some college credit, who have not yet earned a college degree or certificate. Washington employers are projected to add 373,000 new jobs through 2027, 70% of which will require some type of postsecondary credential beyond high school.
The announcement was made by the office of Governor Inslee with support from the Washington Student Achievement Council, a cabinet-level state higher education agency working to raise educational attainment in Washington State. Joining the Alliance aligns with the state’s ambitious postsecondary attainment goal of ensuring that 70 percent of Washingtonians earn a postsecondary credential of economic and educational value by 2023.
“Our state is committed to making college more affordable and accessible, while also implementing proven reforms in student support and career preparation to ensure every learner has the resources and support to complete college on time,” said Michael Meotti, executive director of the Washington Student Achievement Council. “Joining the CCA Alliance will help us to accelerate and sustain our progress — and ensure that we can make good on the promise of college access and completion.”
The work with the CCA Alliance is part of a statewide push to expand access to higher education and economic mobility, particularly for students from under-resourced families. Through this partnership, CCA will assist the state in crafting and aligning policies with evidence-based practices proven to boost on-time college completion.
“Washington has a well-deserved reputation as a leader in ensuring that every resident and every family has affordable access to a world-class education—from its visionary investments in early childhood education to its bold commitment to access and success in public higher education,” said Dr. Yolanda Watson Spiva, president of Complete College America. “We are honored to welcome Washington State to the Alliance. Their addition will bring critical new momentum to the college completion movement at a time when the stakes for postsecondary learners and our nation are so high.”
As an Alliance member, Washington will join with other states working collaboratively to advance policies and practices designed to improve student success and college completion, particularly for students from historically excluded backgrounds and from under-resourced households. Higher education leaders in Washington will be able to share new learnings and receive guidance and support in crafting policies aligned with the state’s priorities.
To schedule an interview with a representative from the Office of Governor Jay Inslee, the Washington Student Achievement Council, or Complete College America, please email media@completecollege.org.
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About WSAC: The Washington Student Achievement Council is committed to increasing educational opportunities and attainment in Washington.
About Complete College America: Complete College America (CCA) builds movements for scaled change and transforms institutions through data-driven policies, student-centered perspectives, and equity-driven practices. Since its founding in 2009, CCA connects a national network of forward-thinking state and higher education leaders and introduces bold initiatives to help states and institutions confront inequities, close institutional performance gaps, and increase college completion rates, especially for marginalized and historically excluded students.
Contact Information: media@completecollege.org
