Kohl-Welles appointed to prestigious education post

OLYMPIA – Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles, D-Seattle, has been appointed to the board of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

“It’s a genuine honor to be asked to serve in this capacity,” Kohl-Welles said. “As a longtime and ardent supporter of higher education, I am eager to work with my peers to improve education opportunities and access for students throughout the region.”

Kohl-Welles has been a member of WICHE’s legislative advisory committee for several years. She is a member of the Senate Early Learning, K-12 & Higher Education Committee and served as chair, ranking minority member and vice chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee between 1995 and 2004.

WICHE promotes resource sharing among the higher education systems of the West. It was created by the Western Regional Education Compact, which was adopted in the 1950s. Presently 15 states are members of WICHE, which is governed by three governor-appointed commissioners from each state. Kohl-Welles joins fellow commissioners Rep. Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, D-Seattle, and James Sulton, Jr., executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Washington receives a number of benefits from its WICHE membership. Last year, Washington students and their families saved $16.4 million in tuition by participating in the Western Undergraduate Exchange, one of WICHE’s three student exchanges. These programs help outbound students and their families save money through reduced tuition arrangements. In return, Washington public colleges and universities are able to increase enrollment in programs with extra seats by enrolling students from other WICHE states.

Kohl-Welles’ WICHE term expires in 2009.

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