Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

As we all continue to adjust to the new reality created by COVID‑19, we want you to know we deeply appreciate your patience and support as we address the complexities of the University’s current day‑to‑day operations and future plans. We are seeking solutions applicable system‑wide while acknowledging that the implementation of some decisions may vary across the system.

We know that you are dealing with unexpected and challenging issues. We know that many of you are hurting and worried. While we don’t have answers to all of your WSU‑related questions yet, please know that we are working on them. We … » More …

Dear WSU Faculty and Staff:

Finding the right words are difficult at the moment.

Many in our Cougar community are dealing with complex and challenging issues: school‑age children at home, the constant bombardment of COVID‑19 news, the need to practice social distancing, dramatic changes to the way students are mentored and supported, and much more. In addition, anxiety and uncertainty about the future crowd our minds.

Even our relationships have changed. Although we continue to interact with each other over Zoom, Teams, or other platforms, it isn’t the same as being able to walk over to someone’s office for a cup of coffee or to share … » More …

Dear WSU Students:

I’m writing today to let you know that—after long and careful deliberation—we have made the very difficult decision to postpone traditional May commencement ceremonies until at least August at all of our campuses.

In an effort to replicate this joyous occasion as best we can in light of the COVID‑19 pandemic, we will schedule two opportunities to celebrate the achievements of our new graduates:

Each campus will reschedule an in‑person commencement celebration on a date to be determined. WSU Pullman commencement exercises are now scheduled for August 8, and the other campuses will announce dates soon.
On May 9, we will hold our first … » More …

Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:

While times of crisis bring on understandable anxiety, stress, and immense challenges, moments like the one we are living right now also bring out the best in human nature.

As you know, we as a university community have had to make a series of very difficult decisions during the past two weeks as we navigate the effects of COVID‑19. We have regrettably, and sadly, upended the spring semester plans of thousands of our students, faculty, and staff.

But the current situation demands decisions of a magnitude most of us have never had to face in our lifetime. We likely will need … » More …

Following guidance provided by Washington Governor Jay Inslee on Thursday, Washington State University has decided that its Pullman campus will continue to use distance learning methods for the duration of the spring semester. WSU had previously left open the possibility of a return to face‑to‑face teaching in Pullman at some point during the spring 2020 semester.

The WSU Pullman campus will remain open during this period and residential, dining and healthcare facilities will continue to operate.

This decision only impacts WSU Pullman at this time. The University’s other four campuses may still return to in‑person teaching prior to the end of the semester, depending on local needs and … » More …

WSU to transition from face‑to‑face instruction to distance learning following spring break.
WSU facilities will remain open during this period.
Employees will report to work as normal.
Each campus will be communicating their plans directly.

All campuses in the Washington State University system will transition from face‑to‑face classes, testing, and advising to distance delivery beginning on Monday, March 23, following WSU’s spring break. This move is being made to allow for increased social distancing in light of the spread of the COVID‑19 illness in the state of Washington.

WSU’s five physical campuses and other locations across the state will remain open during this period to … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff,

As many of you know, moving from paper processes and 1970s computer systems into the cloud to manage our system-wide finances, human resources, payroll, and post-award grants has been a huge undertaking.

Workday, the system we have purchased as part of the Modernization Initiative, will provide a tremendous boost to our day-to-day business operations, allowing us, for example, to see budget and award amounts in real time, and making it easier to update personal and financial information all in one place.

However, we want to make sure our new system is completely ready and the transition is as smooth as possible. … » More …

February 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Happy end of February! This is the time of year when I get so tired of winter that I allow myself to imagine tropical weather settling over the Palouse starting March 1. For our colleagues who are winter sports enthusiasts, the beginning of March typically signals the end of skiing and other snow sports for 6 or 7 months. Meanwhile, for me March is when I get the Airstream ready for the summer camping season—I can’t wait.

I encourage everyone to participate in the 2020 U.S. Census effort that kicks off April 1. This once-a-decade endeavor provides critical information … » More …

January 2020

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Happy new year! I hope you had some quality time away during the holiday break and that the beginning of the semester is going well.

As we begin 2020, I cannot help but reflect on how fantastic the past decade has been from the University’s standpoint.

In 2010, WSU’s system enrollment was 25,989, research expenditures totaled $304 million, and philanthropic support amounted to $97.9 million for the prior year. The nation had just emerged from the Great Recession, which led to an unprecedented set of reductions in financial support for public higher education, including WSU.

Today, we enroll nearly 31,500 students, research expenditures surpass … » More …