ICW's public policy agenda centers on creating a higher education network that ensures students can attend the high-quality college that best serves their interests, needs, and aspirations.

The driving principles include:

• Student focus - increase funding for student aid. A recent study show that financial aid packages in general, and state need-based grant programs in particular, markedly contribute to college choice, family affordability, and student success. (The report, Financing Higher Education Today)
• Maximize all higher education resources - include independent colleges and universities in the state's growth plan. If sufficient student aid is available, ICW colleges can accommodate 7,000 more students by 2012.
• Acknowledge the importance of a liberal arts education and the economic needs of the state - employers consistently say liberal arts graduates are the most employable because they can adapt. Additionally, ICW colleges confer 37% of teaching degrees and 37% of baccalaureate and higher nursing degrees earned in Washington each year.

NAICU's Together We Can document is a quick and cogent explanation of our goals for this year.