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IHEP History
In 1993, the Institute for Higher Education Policy (IHEP) was established to provide policy-relevant research to promote college access and success for underserved students. The genesis of the organization grew out of a desire to explore questions of access to postsecondary education from an independent perspective, building on the previous experience of founders Jamie P. Merisotis and Colleen T. O’Brien at The National Commission on Responsibilities for Financing Postsecondary Education.
At that time, IHEP’s agenda was groundbreaking and transformative. Since then, IHEP has become one of the most effective voices for educating policymakers and postsecondary leaders on strategies for and solutions to our nation’s most pressing education challenges. IHEP has leveraged its research, policy expertise, innovative initiatives, and high-profile convenings to improve the condition of access and success for all college students. IHEP has partnered with close to 400 postsecondary institutions to foster and support on-the-ground efforts to increase student success. IHEP has also collaborated with many organizations inside and outside higher education to build broad-based support for our work on behalf of underserved students.
IHEP has led the field in identifying the access and success challenges facing our nation and offering innovative policy solutions for federal, state, and institutional decision-makers positioned to enact change. Our contributions to the postsecondary community are significant, and we proudly acknowledge our imprint on issues of college access and success.
Highlighting 20 Years of Impact Timeline: This timeline highlights just a few of our contributions per year to offer a sampling of our 20 years of impact in the field of higher education policy
20th Anniversary
In 2013, IHEP celebrated its 20th anniversary, which provided an opportunity to reflect on our accomplishments while simultaneously laying the foundation for future work. As part of our anniversary efforts, IHEP announced the IHEP Champions of Access and Success Awards to honor the postsecondary institutions and individuals who have successfully advanced strategies that increase opportunity, persistence, and degree completion for undeserved students.