Office of the PresidentPresident Cantwell’s MessagesLetter to WSU CommunityWeekly UpdatePresidential Update — Week of June 23, 2025

Presidential Update — Week of June 23, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As I near the conclusion of my first 100 days in office, I am heartened by the strong relationships the university enjoys with industry, community, and government partners, and proud of the strides we’re making in strengthening our brand and shaping our own path forward.

This Week

  • Advocating for institutional support in Washington, D.C.
    I continued my outreach on behalf of WSU this week, meeting with nearly all of Washington’s 12 congressional delegation offices in Washington, D.C. In each conversation, I reiterated the importance of sustained investment and strong partnerships to meet the evolving needs of our state. I also underscored our commitment to stewarding public resources responsibly through greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability in how we operate as a statewide system. Over the last several days, I’ve met with staff from the Senate Appropriations and Senate Commerce committees, as well as the following individuals, to raise awareness around WSU priorities:
    • Senator Maria Cantwell
    • Senator Patty Murray
    • Representative Michael Baumgartner
    • Representative Suzan DelBene
    • Representative Pramila Jayapal
    • Representative Rick Larsen
    • Representative Dan Newhouse
    • Representative Maria Gluesenkamp Perez
    • Representative Emily Randall
    • Representative Kim Schrier
    • Representative Adam Smith
  • CBS Sports and Pac‑12 extend partnership through 2030–31 season
    On Monday, CBS Sports and the Pac‑12 Conference extended their partnership, ensuring that Washington State University football and men’s basketball teams will have a national TV and streaming platform through the 2030–31 season. This partnership marks the start of a new chapter for the conference — one defined by national visibility, competitive excellence, and innovation.

While I will not be sending out a communication next week, the hard work continues as units submit their budget implementation plans in advance of the July 11 deadline. Area financial officers and unit leaders are actively engaged in this process, and all parties have been notified that this is a firm deadline. Following the closure of this fiscal year, a carryforward surtax will be implemented across the system.

With these plans in hand, we will build a stronger, more adaptable university capable of navigating the opportunities and challenges of tomorrow.

Thank you for all that you do on behalf of WSU.

Warm regards,

Elizabeth R. Cantwell
President, Washington State University