The National Association of Higher Education Systems (NASH) is the association of the chief executives of the college and university systems of public higher education in the United States.

Formed in 1979 for the purpose of seeking improvement in the organization and governance of public higher education systems, NASH serves as a forum for the exchange of views and information among its members and on leveraging the power of systems to advance innovation and change in public higher education.

NASH systems include multiple four-year institutions, and several also include two-year institutions. Together, public university systems educate approximately three-quarters of the nation’s students in public, four-year higher education 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’s areas of focus include:

– Taking Student Success to Scale (TS3)

– Student Success & Attainment

– Institutional Research

– Strengthening the K-Career Pipeline

– Advancing Alternative Delivery

– Student Mobility

The National Association of System Heads and its partners have worked hard to form a network of presidents, chancellors, executive directors, and commissioners. Together, this group supports leaders and their peers in the unique roles they play. NASH and its affiliates boast:

More than 40 years of collaboration

System heads in 28 states

Over 40 university systems

More than 5.6 Million students represented

Support for public multi-campus systems, which enroll 75% of all students in public four year colleges and universities