About NASH
The National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) is the only national organization dedicated to the needs and opportunities of public higher education systems and supporting system leaders.
About NASH
The National Association of Higher Education Systems was founded in 1979 for the purpose of seeking improvement in the organization and governance of public higher education systems. NASH – originally known as the National Association of System Heads – serves as a forum for the exchange of views and information among its members and on leveraging the power of systems to advance change and positive outcomes in public higher education.
Systemness, or the idea that the whole can be more than the sum of its parts, is the fundamental concept that drives our work. Rather than seeing systems as collections of disparate actors, we believe that systems can be coordinated players that leverage their power to convene and facilitate, along with their governing and policy-making authority, to build collaborations to support students and campuses, rather than trying to mediate competitive actions.
NASH has defined a public higher education system as a group of two or more colleges or universities, each having substantial autonomy and headed by a chief executive or operating officer, all under a single governing board that is served by a system chief executive officer.
Together, public university systems educate approximately three-quarters of the nation’s students in public, four-year higher education institutions, and a significant proportion of students seeking two-year degrees. How these systems are organized—that is, multiple institutions operating with a single system governing board and chief executive—makes them particularly well-positioned to tackle issues critical to the future of their states. NASH mobilizes expertise within participating systems and partners with other organizations to leverage the power of systems to advance prosperity for the nation.
Our Mission
NASH activates the power of systems to cultivate a more accessible, resilient, and innovative postsecondary sector that enables students and communities to thrive.
Our Vision
Systemness unlocks the power of postsecondary education to advance prosperity for the nation.
Strategic Priorities
Champion the power of public higher education systems to serve as key agents of change in shaping the future of postsecondary education.
NASH creates and shares resources to help operationalize systems’ transformative potential, advocates for systems with policymakers and key partners, and serves as a voice for systems in the postsecondary landscape. These efforts advance a greater understanding of systems and their potential to drive large-scale change.
Enhance the capacity of public higher education systems to identify and respond to emerging student, community, and state needs.
NASH offers professional development, facilitates NASH Improvement Communities, and provides tailored technical assistance to address sector-wide issues. As a result, system leaders understand how to leverage systemness to advance their goals and have the tools to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement to meet the needs of their students, communities, and states.
Foster community amongst NASH members to maximize the impact of public higher education systems.
NASH amplifies the reach of systems, fostering peer networks that serve as a foundation for collective impact. By harnessing our members’ range of perspectives and expertise, we tackle shared challenges, exchange best practices, and expand our influence on the postsecondary sector.
Download the NASH Annual Report to learn more.
Accomplishments: Five Years of Impact and Innovation
Over the past five years, NASH has transformed the role of higher education systems by turning the concept of systemness into a driving force for national impact. We’ve expanded our scope and deepened our effectiveness through strategic initiatives and practices that serve students, institutions, and states.
Key accomplishments include:
Championing Systemness
Proved that systems are more than the sum of their parts—driving outcomes and value at scale by aligning campuses around shared goals.
Driving Student Success
Set bold targets to increase credential and degree completion, reduce student debt, and advance social mobility across diverse student populations.
Launching Action-Oriented Communities
Brought together systems through communities of practice to collectively tackle shared challenges with urgency and focus.
Innovating for Impact
Applied improvement science and collective impact models to break down barriers and fast-track solutions in complex educational environments.
Convening for Change
Hosted national convenings that build community, disseminate knowledge, and scale proven strategies across systems.
Generating and Sharing Knowledge
Produced influential research and publications to inform system-level leadership and strategy.
Joining for Collective Impact
Welcomed new members including community and technical college systems to enable cross-system collaboration, enhance our reach, and amplify our potential for scale.
Building Strategic Partnerships
Raised funding and forged collaborations with NGOs, government agencies, and education providers to amplify system-wide change.
Developing System Leaders
Delivered high-impact professional development programs to strengthen the leadership capacity of system executives and emerging changemakers.
Championing Systemness
Proved that systems are more than the sum of their parts—driving outcomes and value at scale by aligning campuses around shared goals.
Driving Student Success
Set bold targets to increase credential and degree completion, reduce student debt, and advance social mobility across diverse student populations.
Launching Action-Oriented Communities
Brought together systems through communities of practice to collectively tackle shared challenges with urgency and focus.
Innovating for Impact
Applied improvement science and collective impact models to break down barriers and fast-track solutions in complex educational environments.
Convening for Change
Hosted national convenings that build community, disseminate knowledge, and scale proven strategies across systems.
Generating and Sharing Knowledge
Produced influential research and publications to inform system-level leadership and strategy.
Joining for Collective Impact
Welcomed new members including community and technical college systems to enable cross-system collaboration, enhance our reach, and amplify our potential for scale.
Building Strategic Partnerships
Raised funding and forged collaborations with NGOs, government agencies, and education providers to amplify system-wide change.
Developing System Leaders
Delivered high-impact professional development programs to strengthen the leadership capacity of system executives and emerging changemakers.
Championing Systemness
Proved that systems are more than the sum of their parts—driving outcomes and value at scale by aligning campuses around shared goals.
Driving Student Success
Set bold targets to increase credential and degree completion, reduce student debt, and advance social mobility across diverse student populations.
Launching Action-Oriented Communities
Brought together systems through communities of practice to collectively tackle shared challenges with urgency and focus.
Innovating for Impact
Applied improvement science and collective impact models to break down barriers and fast-track solutions in complex educational environments.
Convening for Change
Hosted national convenings that build community, disseminate knowledge, and scale proven strategies across systems.
Generating and Sharing Knowledge
Produced influential research and publications to inform system-level leadership and strategy.
Joining for Collective Impact
Welcomed new members including community and technical college systems to enable cross-system collaboration, enhance our reach, and amplify our potential for scale.
Building Strategic Partnerships
Raised funding and forged collaborations with NGOs, government agencies, and education providers to amplify system-wide change.
Developing System Leaders
Delivered high-impact professional development programs to strengthen the leadership capacity of system executives and emerging changemakers.
Together, these efforts reflect NASH’s commitment to helping systems lead transformational change and deliver on the full promise of public higher education.