When we announced that Washington State University would be celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2015, we knew it would be a special year. No one, however, understood just how important it would be for our institution. In fact, our 125th year is turning out to be one of the best in our rich history. Consider the following.

Last fall, we reached an all-time enrollment high of 28,686 students and, for the fourth year in a row, 35 percent of the incoming freshman class identified as students of color. Enrollment was up at each of our four campuses around the state, as well as the … » More …

As the state’s land-grant research university, it is mission imperative that Washington State University align its resources – research, education, and engagement – with the most pressing challenges of our state, nation, and world. I can think of few issues as pressing as finding new, renewable energy alternatives. In the past month, the faculty, staff, and students in our Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture have had some tremendous successes in the clean technology arena.

April started with WSU’s inaugural energy summit, which focused on storage technologies, one of the most challenging obstacles to incorporating renewable energy into the electric power grid. Hosted by WSU’s … » More …

Over the course of its 125-year history, Washington State University has enjoyed many moments of great achievement. There is no doubt that today will be listed among its most historic.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee this morning signed into law a bill that paves the way for an independently accredited WSU medical school at our health sciences campus in Spokane. I deeply appreciate his support as well as that of the legislators who stepped up to sponsor and co-sponsor the bill: Sen. Michael Baumgartner and Rep. Marcus Riccelli sponsored the legislation and, working with co-sponsors Sen. Andy Billig and Rep. Norm Johnson, garnered statewide, bipartisan support. … » More …

It was this week 125 years ago that the State of Washington made its very first investment in Washington State University.

Thirty years earlier, President Abraham Lincoln initiated legislation to create our nation’s land-grant institutions. In 1890, in Washington’s first year as a state, our Legislature leveraged the resources allocated through what became known as the Morrill Act to establish a university focused on agriculture, engineering, and the applied arts, delivering a practical education to the working class and supporting the state’s economy. They made that commitment fully expecting a lasting return on investment. I am proud to say we have delivered on that expectation … » More …

Florida. Ferguson. Pasco. Wisconsin. Oklahoma. The list of places in the United States where issues of racism and discrimination are hitting the streets and the headlines is long and growing.

There are some who would have us look the other way or deny the root cause of the problem. But, as President Obama emphasized this past weekend in his speech at the 50th anniversary of the civil rights march in Selma, denying there is a problem has never been helpful. Tackling the hardest issues by acknowledging they exist and then freely and openly discussing them is one of the greatest strengths of our nation, he … » More …

Washington State University’s pursuit of an independently accredited medical school passed two major milestones in the past 36 hours. The Washington House of Representatives Monday night voted 81-17 to change a 1917 law limiting the delivery of medical education to the University of Washington. The Washington State Senate followed suit Tuesday morning with a 45 – 4 vote. The bills are identical, and one of them must be approved by the opposite chamber to be sent to the governor’s office.

What was most heartening about both votes was the passion and deep understanding of the importance of a second state-supported medical school in our state … » More …

Aligning our actions with the core values that we as an institution embrace – citizenship, civility, respect, safety, and security – is critical to our effectiveness as a teaching and learning enterprise. The Commission on Campus Climate, composed of Washington State University faculty, students, and staff, as well as members of the Pullman community, has provided a clear roadmap for fostering that alignment over the long haul.

I created the Commission to give shape to an institution-wide discourse regarding core values and to develop specific action steps to help improve the overall campus climate for every member of the campus community. Dr. A.G. Rud, Distinguished … » More …

Washington State University’s pursuit of an independently accredited medical school at its health sciences campus at Spokane moved closer to becoming reality Tuesday with critical votes in the Washington State Legislature.

The House Higher Education Committee approved House Bill 1559 with a strong “do pass” recommendation. The Washington State Senate Higher Education Committee followed suit in advancing Senate Bill 5487.

Both bills – one in the House and one in the Senate – propose changing a 1917 law limiting the delivery of medical education to the University of Washington. Their passage would clear the way for WSU to operate a medical school.

Both … » More …

Over the past several years, we have come to refer to the Washington State University student information system and the electronic gateway to a wide arrange of systems and services as “zzusis.”

That name originated during a naming contest held early in the student information system replacement project. At the time, it was a catchy way to refer to the new student-focused system. Over time, however, it has inaccurately evolved into the de facto name of WSU’s entire information portal, and that is creating confusion among students, faculty and staff.

In fact, the WSU portal is much more than the entry point to the student … » More …

Washington State University took another step forward in its pursuit of an independently accredited medical school at WSU Health Sciences Spokane today with the introduction of two bills in the Washington Legislature.

Both bills – one in the House and one in the Senate – propose changing a 1917 law limiting the delivery of medical education to the University of Washington. Their passage would clear the way for WSU to operate a medical school.

It is especially gratifying to see such a strong level of support for these bills from legislators throughout Washington. The House bill … » More …