Thanks to you, 2018 a banner year
Dear WSU Community:
Greetings from French Administration. Congratulations and thanks to each one of you—faculty, staff, leadership, students, alumni, and friends—for your contributions to making the fall semester so successful throughout our statewide enterprise. Commencement on December 8 was a fitting way to publicly celebrate one of our most important moments of the semester: the graduation of some 800 students who marked the end of one journey and the beginning of another. It is always fun and deeply gratifying to share this life-changing milestone with new graduates and their families. |
For me, a portion of December has always been reserved for some quiet reflection, a time to contemplate the past calendar year. The pace of a public university president often is frantic due to the day‑to‑day demands of the job. As a result, I sometimes end up dwelling on all of the things that I didn’t pull off rather than focusing on successes.
As I look back at 2018, the list of the University’s achievements is long. We enjoyed the largest student enrollment and highest research expenditures ever. We recorded the third‑best fundraising year in WSU history, and philanthropic support continued to grow at all of our campuses. We received reaccreditation through 2025, accompanied by an unusually large number of commendations for various institutional efforts. Our growing medical school continued to make strides in the quest to improve health care for Washingtonians. Our fall intercollegiate athletic teams performed brilliantly and rallied Cougar pride to a fever pitch. Importantly, we are well on our way to improved fiscal health. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without highly talented individuals coming together for a united cause. I sincerely appreciate the efforts and contributions of everyone to our mission:
Finally, I want to express my appreciation for the opportunity to serve as president of Washington State University. It is an honor, and I am filled with immense pride over the difference our University makes, both in a big‑picture sense and on a one‑to‑one basis. As we continue to advance the Drive to 25, I look forward to the bright future ahead. However you may celebrate this holiday season, I wish you much happiness and laughter, good food, good cheer, and good times spent with those who matter most. May the new year bring you health, peace, and joy. Go Cougs! |