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Policy & Research

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Strategic Action Plan (SAP)

The Strategic Action Plan provides an annual state policy snapshot and WSAC priorities to make significant progress toward the state's educational attainment goal. SAP strategies include: 

  • Affordability: Removing financial barriers
  • Enrollment: Creating clear and accessible education pathways
  • Student Supports: Ensuring postsecondary basic needs security for student persistent and completion
  • Completion: Helping students persist and earn a credential

Learn more and view the Strategic Action Plan.

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Research & Reports

Feature Publication: Improving a Chatbot to Increase Financial Aid Applications - Washington State provides financial aid for college or career training for all eligible students, yet the use of this aid remains low. In 2019, WSAC launched OtterBot, an interactive, artificial-intelligence (AI) enabled chatbot. OtterBot provides students and their parents or guardians with real-time, always accessible guidance about the financial aid and enrollment processes. In 2022, the Optimizing Texting Technology through Engagement Research with Students (OTTERS) project was launched. OTTERS, funded by the Capital One Foundation, was led by MDRC and WSAC in collaboration with Mainstay. The study looks at ways to improve the chatbot to better support students and families. This report covers the first two phases of the project: User Research (Phase 1) and Redesign and Testing (Phase 2). The process, tools, and methodologies from this project are applicable to any setting where there is an interest in using chatbots as an intervention.

View this and more of WSAC’s research and reports.
 

 

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Data Dashboards

Our interactive Data Dashboards allow users to explore postsecondary attainment data, FAFSA completion data, and more.

Explore WSAC's data dashboards.

 

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Regional Challenge Grants

Regional Challenge Grants invest in the formation and growth of cross-sector partnerships that are committed to increasing educational attainment in their communities.

Learn more about regional partnerships.