Participating Washington Public Four-Year Universities Launch Guaranteed Admissions Program

Washington ranks 47th in the nation in participation in four-year public higher education at the undergraduate level for U.S. population ages 20-34, and approximately 40 percent of Washington high schools do not attend a college after high school. At the…

A Farewell from COP’s Executive Director

There's a trick to the 'graceful exit.' It begins with the vision to recognize when a job, a life stage, or a relationship is over--and let it go. It means leaving what's over without denying its validity or its past…

The Pell Grant: 50 Years of Opportunities

"I would never have had the chance to pursue my goals without the help of the Pell Grant. To me, the Pell Grant means opportunity." — L.T., Eastern Washington University student and Pell Grant recipient June 23, 2022 marks the…

Celebrating the Return of In-Person Commencement Ceremonies

The end of this academic year marks an exciting time for our member institutions, as they celebrate a return to in-person commencement ceremonies after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. COP is thrilled to see the return of…

Washington’s Public 4-Year Sector: Serving Those Who Served

This year marks the 154th observance of Memorial Day. What began as “Decoration Day” in 1868 to commemorate Civil War soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery, has become a national holiday to remember those who have died in service of our…

Growing Number of Americans with Some College, No Credential

According to a recent report from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, by July 2020, the number of Americans with some college and no credential had reached 39 million. This is an increase of 3.1 million from 2019. Nearly every…

The ROI of a Four-Year College Degree

Recent news stories have highlighted skepticism shared by young people about postsecondary education. These trends include an uptick in the number of those taking gap years between high school and college, surveys showing that college students are stressed and questioning…

Welcoming WWU’s New Provost and Executive Vice President

Dr. Brad Johnson COP congratulates Dr. Brad Johnson who last week was named provost of Western Washington University, effective August 1, 2022. Dr. Johnson has been a professor of Physics at Western since 1997 and has served as Dean of…

Budget Expands Cybersecurity Degree Options as Cyber Threats Grow

Recent geopolitical events – including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine – have elevated the need to protect our nation’s systems and networks. President Biden recently warned companies about possible Russian cyberattacks, and urged them to ensure their own protection. The president’s…

2022 Legislative Session Recap

Thursday, March 10th marked Sine Die for the 2022 legislative session. The Latin term, meaning “without a day”, describes the day that legislators adjourn proceedings. The phrase signals that legislators don’t plan to return until the next session. The legislators…