The Institute
The Institute for Higher Education Leadership & Policy (IHELP) seeks to enhance leadership and policy for higher education
in California and the nation, with an emphasis on community colleges in recognition of their importance to providing an
educated and diverse citizenry and workforce. Our work is aimed at producing information and services relevant to policy
makers, practitioners, and educators. We believe that policy matters, and our work is intended to contribute to the
development of state policies that ensure access to and success in California’s public higher education institutions
as a means of ensuring the continued social and economic health of the state.
IHELP is located at California State University, Sacramento. As part of the 23-campus California State University,
the Institute has access to the expertise of the nation's largest university system. The Institute's location in the state
capital provides ready access to policy makers and educators and a unique opportunity to participate in and influence public
discourse on higher education policy and practice.
Established in 2001 with initial funding from the California State University Chancellor, the Institute receives financial
support from foundations and non-profit organizations including the James
Irvine Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
IHELP has been credited as being highly influential in shifting the policy conversation toward student success in the California Community Colleges and, more directly, in shaping the policies that govern the colleges. We have helped raised awareness among California’s lawmakers of the need to provide better policy leadership to ensure that the state’s postsecondary institutions address the needs of the state to increase educational attainment and sustain a competitive workforce. The influence of IHELP research has extended well beyond the borders of the state. Through our work, IHELP has earned a reputation for the following:
- We find the nexus of research and evaluation findings with policy for purposes of identifying prospects for systemic change.
- We provide actionable recommendations.
- We produce highly accessible and clear policy reports and briefs.
- We produce a prolific amount of high quality work with a very small staff.
- Our work has influence on decision leaders.
The following link is a chronological “greatest hits” selection of IHELP's work conveying what we have produced and the impact that each report has had. All these reports are available in our Publications section of this website, and many are available in hard copy.