Washington State University honored for Transformational Change Initiative projects

The Transformational Change Initiative - launched by Washington State University in 2016 to bolster overall student success - was recently recognized by the American Council on Education.

WSU was one of two universities to receive the ACE/Fidelity Institutional Transformation Award at an event today in Washington D.C. The award honors institutions that use novel approaches to quickly address emergent hurdles with a $10,000 prize.

"This recognition honors Washington State University's deliberate commitment to expanding academic excellence and opportunity," said WSU President Betsy Cantwell. "Through our Transformational Change Initiative, we have furthered our public service mission by increasing retention and degree completion across the WSU system and by building sustainable practices to carry this progress forward for the next generation."

WSU won the category for intuitions with more than 12,000 students, while California State University Monterey Bay was recognized among schools with fewer than 12,000 student.

"Each year, this award celebrates institutions that confront real challenges with creativity, discipline, and a deep commitment to student success," said ACE President Ted Mitchell. "Washington State University's research-informed, human-centered approach has strengthened student resilience and retention across a complex, multi-campus system, while Cal State Monterey Bay's decisive leadership and equity-driven reforms delivered meaningful gains in completion and social mobility. These institutions exemplify how intentional strategy and sustained focus can translate into lasting impact for students."

Read more - Transformational Change Initiative eyes future of systemwide impact

Driven by empirical research and data, TCI is a multi-faceted approached to ensuring students receive the support they need along their educational journeys and emerge ready for impactful careers. The program also helps faculty develop more supportive approaches to teaching.

TCI is comprised of three core programs: Letting Go and Staying Connected, LAUNCH and LIFT. The first is an effort to support parents sending their children off to college, providing them with several tools to assist in the transition, including a handbook that's distributed to thousands of parents each year.

LAUNCH helps students find and engage with experiential learning opportunities, find valuable mentors and obtain skills training outside of the classroom. Finally, LIFT is a longstanding program that helps faculty enhance classroom techniques using evidence-based interventions and collaboration with their peers.