Senate committee backs 10-year continuation for WICHE, highlighting student savings and program services

The Arizona Senate Education Committee of Reference voted to recommend a 10-year continuation of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE).

Demi Michelau, president of WICHE, told the committee that WICHE — created under the Western Regional Education Compact — runs three main student-access programs: the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) and the Professional Student Exchange Program (PSAP). Michelau said WUE saved students across the region more than $615 million in the 2024–25 academic year and that 2,360 Arizona students used WUE to attend other Western states while 5,094 students from the region attended Arizona institutions.

Michelau outlined PSAP’s role in helping states address health-care workforce shortages and said Arizona students saved nearly $4 million through PSAP in 2024–25; she added WICHE’s cooperative contracts and data resources provide additional state-level savings and analytic value.

A committee motion to recommend continuation for 10 years, until July 1, 2036, passed by voice vote.

The recommendation will be forwarded as part of the sunset review process for legislative consideration.

Speakers quoted include Demi Michelau of WICHE.