As the nation struggles to get back on its feet economically, the colleges and universities are working harder than ever to fulfill their mission: to educate the next generation of workers and citizens. In the West that task is arguably more challenging than elsewhere. The region is highly diverse in terms of both demographics and geography, with densely packed cities and isolated, lightly populated rural areas. What's more, the success in preparing students to succeed in college and their careers varies dramatically across the region, for many reasons. In addition, the West exhibits wide variability in terms of growth: as WICHE's 2008 "Knocking at the College Door" shows, some of the states are anticipating enormous growth in the number of their high school graduates, while others are projecting declines or holding steady. "Protecting Our Priorities," WICHE's fiscal 2010 workplan, focuses on how people can ensure that all students not only have access to higher education but are well-equipped to succeed at college and able to pay for it. That's essential today, as U.S. students need to be ready to participate in a demanding and highly competitive global economy. WICHE's four units--Policy Analysis and Research, Programs and Services, Mental Health, and WCET--work to make these priorities a reality by focusing on five areas: finance, access and success, workforce and social issues, technology and innovation, and accountability.