Council of Presidents

Representing Washington State's Public Baccalaureate Institutions

 

About Us

The Council of Presidents (COP) is a voluntary association of the presidents of Washington State's six public baccalaureate degree granting institutions, established by a duly executed Interlocal Cooperation Agreement. This association provides a forum for the presidents and senior administrators of the six public baccalaureate degree granting institutions to convene, share views, debate issues of common interest, and where possible, achieve consensus on issues affecting higher education. The Council of Presidents fosters coordination and collaboration among the public baccalaureate institutions as well as with other partners in the broad education community.

The organization funds a modest office and staff in Olympia, Washington, to coordinate various interinstitutional groups and activities undertaken to provide a focused response on behalf of the public baccalaureate sector relative to issues of common interest, and to promote the interests of that sector. The Evergreen State College serves as the fiscal agent for the Council of Presidents. An annual budget is funded equally by each of the six participating member institutions.

The COP and its staff cooperate with a number of state agencies and the legislature and its staff to provide information and assistance in higher education public policy development.  As a member of the broad higher education community in Washington, the Council of Presidents and its staff cooperates and collaborates with other education partners, constituencies, and associations.

 

...Fast Sector Fact: Washington ranks 5th in the nation in state student grant aid funding per undergraduate enrollment...Fast Sector Fact: It took 12 years for our institutions to restore actual enrollments to the level they enjoyed prior to the budget reductions of 1982...Fast Sector Fact: Only 6.2% of public baccalaureate full-time employees hold executive or administrative managerial positions....Fast Sector Fact: Washington State public baccalaureate institutions award more bachelor’s degrees per FTE than any other state.... Fast Sector Fact: Students who attend Washington’s public baccalaureate institutions are sixth in the nation in degree completion in 4 years or less....Fast Sector Fact: Washington State Faculty produce 1 more degree each year per faculty member than faculty in the Global Challenge States........

 

Map to Council of Presidents' office