About the Coalition
Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good is a community of higher education institutions committed to advancing the public purpose of colleges and universities, educating students for the workforce and civic leadership, and working in partnership to cultivate vital and sustainable communities.
Read more about our objectives and priorities in our 3-year strategic plan!
Our History
The Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good (formerly Washington Campus Compact) grew out of Western Washington University’s steadfast commitment to community and civic engagement. Terry Pickeral, SMART Program Director, and Rachel Vaughn, WWU undergraduate, with support from the Office of the President at WWU, established Washington as one of the first state affiliates of the national Campus Compact. In the mid-1990's, leadership of Washington Campus Compact shifted to Jennifer Door (now Jennifer Hine), who led the organization for nearly 30 years. During her tenure, the Coalition intentionally grew to represent an increasing number of higher education institutions throughout the state. In the early 2020’s, Jennifer led the organization’s disaffiliation from the national Campus Compact, choosing to disseminate state-wide resources to benefit the state’s higher education ecosystem. Rachel Vaughn returned to the Coalition in early 2025, after Jennifer’s retirement.
WACC initially focused on integrating service‑learning directly into academic courses. Over time, its mission expanded to include broader community engagement, community–campus partnerships, and statewide efforts to address social issues affecting Washington communities.
Key milestones include launching WACC’s first AmeriCorps program in 1994, maintaining AmeriCorps involvement throughout most of its history, securing funding for student legislative advocacy, and establishing student fellowship programs. Another major achievement was creating the Western Regional Continuums of Service conference. Last held in March of 2025 at Seattle University, this conference strengthened collaboration across the Western region.
our impact
Washington Campus Coalition for the Public Good was founded in 1992. Over its 30-year history, the Coalition has partnered with campuses and communities to leverage local, state and federal resources to address critical community needs and advance the public purpose of higher education in Washington state and beyond.