The National Postsecondary Education Cooperative (NPEC) was authorized by Congress in 1994 to promote the quality, comparability, and utility of postsecondary education data that support policy development at the federal, state, and institution levels. NPEC was established by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) in 1995 as a voluntary organization that encompasses all sectors of the postsecondary education community including federal agencies, each of the 50 states, postsecondary institutions, associations and any other organization with a major interest in postsecondary education. NPEC receives financial support from NCES.
From its inception, NPEC was guided by a Steering Committee that consisted of representatives of many of NPEC’s diverse constituencies. Additional representatives of the postsecondary community were engaged in NPEC’s work through participation in the NPEC Council and NPEC’s various Working Groups. The Council and especially the Working Groups helped the Steering Committee to identify issues, develop projects and produce reports that were intended to fulfill NPEC’s mission.
As a result of a review that was undertaken by the Steering Committee, NPEC’s organization and way of doing business changed in 2002. An Executive Committee was established by augmenting the Steering Committee with additional leaders in postsecondary education who produce and/or use postsecondary education data. The charge of the Executive Committee was framed in terms of developing an overall policy direction for NPEC consistent with NPEC’s statutory mission.
Also in 2002, an NPEC office was established at the Education Statistics Services Institute (ESSI), 1990 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.
In addition, NPEC recently established a new membership structure with the identification of NPEC Associates, a group that includes current Executive Committee members, subcommittee members, working group members, and current NPEC project consultants. NPEC also created the NPEC Network, an electronic community that includes current and past members of the NPEC Council and others who are interested in NPEC’s work.
