The NAICU U-CAN consumer-information initiative is designed to give, in a common format, prospective students and their families concise, Web-based consumer-friendly information on individual private colleges and universities.  Now with over 500 participating colleges and universities, U-CAN launched on September 26.

ICW's new resource to help students plan for college includes financial aid information, application advice, planning calendars and other information that will help students achieve their academic goals.

Independent Colleges of Washington (ICW) is the association of the 10 private, liberal arts, nonprofit colleges in the state. ICW's member institutions share a commitment to high-quality, academically rigorous learning and to an education that emphasizes critical thinking, lifelong learning, ethics, leadership, and community service.

ICW's mission is to expand opportunity and choice for students by promoting the value and vitality of high-quality, academically rigorous independent higher education, and by broadening access through enhanced student aid.

The mission is accomplished by

• Advocating public policy that supports students and recognizes independent colleges as vital partners in the state;
• Raising funds primarily for student financial aid at member colleges;
• Increasing the visibility of ICW and the independent higher education sector;
• Coordinating collaborative activities that benefit students and member institutions.

Member colleges are

• High-quality, providing academically rigorous higher education with small classes taught by faculty;
• Successful, conferring a quarter of the state's baccalaureate and higher degrees, with most students (75 percent) graduating in four years;
• Diverse in programs and missions, student body demographics, and geographical choices;
• Community contributors as students and graduates become dedicated leaders, participate actively in public service, benefit society with solid foundations in reasoning, ethical and social skills, and make their communities better places;
• Economic contributors that save taxpayers money and are employment forces in their communities.