ACE is proud to announce that Washington State University (WSU) and California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) are the recipients of the 2026 ACE/Fidelity Investments Award for Institutional Transformation.
Established in 2014, the award honors institutions that have addressed pressing obstacles through innovative and creative approaches, achieving significant institutional change over a relatively short period. Each institution received a $10,000 prize at the ACE Annual Meeting today in Washington, DC.
"Each year, this award celebrates institutions that confront real challenges with creativity, discipline, and a deep commitment to student success,” said ACE President Ted Mitchell. “Washington State University’s research-informed, human-centered approach has strengthened student resilience and retention across a complex, multi-campus system, while Cal State Monterey Bay’s decisive leadership and equity-driven reforms delivered meaningful gains in completion and social mobility. These institutions demonstrate how intentional strategy and sustained focus can translate into lasting impact for students.”
“We are continually inspired by institutions that take purposeful steps to advance student success,” said Sangeeta Moorjani, head of tax-exempt market at Fidelity Investments. “Washington State University and Cal State Monterey Bay exemplify what it means to transform with intention and build systems that ensure every student has a path to thrive. Their commitment to equity and long-term impact embodies the values of this award.”
ACE invited nominations and applications from any U.S. college or university eligible for ACE membership. Applications were split into two categories: institutions with student populations of 12,001 or more (WSU) and institutions with student populations of up to 12,000 (CSUMB).
WSU, a public land-grant institution serving students across a geographically dispersed, multi-campus system, launched the Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) in 2016 to strengthen student resiliency and improve retention. Grounded in prevention science and empirical research, the initiative reflected the university’s recognition that student success depends not only on academic preparation but also on students’ social and emotional well-being. Critically, TCI was intentionally designed to be scalable and sustainable, with assessment and evaluation embedded to guide expansion and long-term impact across the system.
Through TCI, WSU introduced three core programs supporting both students and faculty. Letting Go and Staying Connected provided parents of incoming students with a handbook of tools to support values-based decision-making during the transition to college. LAUNCH, a peer mentoring program, connected first- and second-year students to experiential learning opportunities such as research, internships, and creative activity. Complementing these efforts is a faculty development program called Lift. Inspire. Foster. Transform. (LIFT), which focuses on inclusive pedagogy, belonging, mindfulness, and growth mindset. Together, these initiatives promoted early connection, engagement, and academic resilience.
WSU also prioritized rigorous evaluation to assess the effectiveness of each intervention. Randomized controlled trials showed that students whose parents received the handbook were significantly less likely to initiate or increase substance use. Students participating in LAUNCH and LIFT were retained at higher rates than matched peers.
The impact of TCI has been both substantial and enduring. Increased retention translated into more students persisting to completion and generated net revenue gains, leading WSU to permanently institutionalize and expand TCI programs across all campuses. Today, the initiative stands as a scalable, evidence-based model that has improved student outcomes while embedding a culture of inclusive, student-centered practice across the university.
“This recognition honors Washington State University’s deliberate commitment to expanding academic excellence and opportunity,” said WSU President Betsy Cantwell. “Through our Transformational Change Initiative, we have furthered our public service mission by increasing retention and degree completion across the WSU system and by building sustainable practices to carry this progress forward for the next generation.”
CSUMB, a regional public university serving California’s Central Coast, undertook a sweeping institutional transformation starting in 2022 after facing seven consecutive years of enrollment decline and a persistent structural budget deficit. Rather than viewing these challenges as insurmountable, campus leadership took decisive action to identify specific opportunities for improvement, rebuild an array of systems, and refocus the institution on its mission of access, equity, and student success, marking a significant turning point for the university.
The transformation began with a deliberate effort to identify specific opportunities for improvement through broad stakeholder engagement and a comprehensive evaluation of institutional structures and priorities. CSUMB developed a detailed roadmap with 171 recommendations for improvements across enrollment management, academic planning, finance, and student support. To strengthen coordination and accountability, the university established a unified Enrollment Management and Student Affairs division, aligning recruitment, admissions, financial aid, and student success under a single leadership structure. These changes laid the foundation for sustainable recovery and growth.
CSUMB translated this strategic realignment into concrete, student-facing initiatives. The university expanded recruitment efforts, redesigned campus tours and outreach events, and deepened partnerships with community colleges to strengthen transfer pathways. Academic programs were added or restructured to align with regional workforce needs, including new offerings in engineering, agribusiness, accounting, and sociology. Even amid fiscal constraints, CSUMB prioritized targeted investments in enrollment management, advising, mentoring, and student engagement to support students throughout their academic journeys. As a result of this persistence and intentionality, 57 percent of identified recommendations were achieved within three years, with another 40 percent in progress.
The results have been monumental. Between fall 2022 and fall 2025, total enrollment grew by 27 percent, reversing years of decline and restoring institutional stability. The university also met all of California State University System’s Graduation Initiative 2025 targets, roughly doubling four-year graduation rates and closing equity gaps for historically underserved and Pell-eligible students. Today, CSUMB is a thriving institution, positioned for long-term success through disciplined strategy, equity-driven outcomes, and an unwavering focus on student achievement.
"Our momentum has been guided by strategic planning and bold initiatives that expand social mobility for our students, but real progress has been powered by our people," said Cal State Monterey Bay President Vanya Quiñones. "The strength of us, students, faculty, staff, and partners working together with shared purpose, is what has made the difference. Lasting change cannot be imposed from the top down. It is built within every division, every department, and every individual who believes in our mission and chooses to move it forward."