February 2019

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Greetings from French Administration. I think it is fair to say that most of us are looking forward to spring after experiencing the onslaught of snow and ice and other inclement weather that has hampered operations at all of our campuses. Here on the Palouse, it’s definitely been a February to remember, weather wise.

Given the challenges of the season, I want to acknowledge our outstanding facilities services personnel who have been working around the clock to keep all of our campuses open and operational. Please join me in thanking these men and women who are often working outdoors … » More …

January 2019

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Greetings as we approach completion of the fourth week of spring semester. I trust that you enjoyed some downtime during the holiday period and that the semester is off to a good start. Noel and I returned from the break feeling refreshed and excited about the spring after some family travels.

I have been reading an excellent book about institutions such as ours in recent weeks. Land Grant Universities for the Future—Higher Education for the Public Good by Stephen M. Gavazzi and E. Gordon Gee examines how land‑grant universities have both thrived and struggled in recent decades.

As I have reflected on the … » More …

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 … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Happy Halloween! One of the joys of serving as WSU’s president is that I continually meet interesting and intriguing people. Occasionally, unusual conversations take place. Just last night, I was standing in the backyard of the president’s house playing with our corgis, Cayenne and Joule, when a huge, floating pumpkin drifted into the backyard. This is the conversation that ensued.

KHS: Good evening. My name is Kirk Schulz, and I am president of WSU. Not to be rude, but what are you doing in my backyard?

Pumpkin: I am the Great Pumpkin! I am looking for Linus, and I … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Greetings as we rapidly approach the middle of the semester. Does it seem to you, as it does to me, that we just kicked off the academic year a week or two ago?

From a big-picture viewpoint, the semester is off to a rousing start system-wide. Record enrollment and research and development expenditures, significant progress in restoring our fiscal health, and tremendous performances by our student athletes have made for a spectacular fall.

I want to express my appreciation and thanks to all of you—faculty, staff, and students on all of our campuses—for working together to ensure such a smooth start. … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Welcome to the beginning of the fall semester! We are delighted to have everyone back and fully reengaged with our students and the University—whether you are part of a campus in Everett, Pullman, Spokane, Tri‑Cities, or Vancouver; part of the Global Campus; or involved in programs at our Research and Extension sites or at Bremerton, Yakima, or elsewhere across the state.

We have much to be proud of as we start the 2018-19 academic year. In fact, our recent achievements provide much optimism about the future and the opportunities that await us. Among the reasons for confidence:

While we are … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Happy mid-summer to all of you.

I hope that each of you has enjoyed (or soon will enjoy) some time away from the University to unwind and disconnect before fall semester begins. Noel and I were able to get away in late June and early July, and we returned refreshed and ready to go for the arrival of a record number of students across the WSU system.

During our summer vacationing, Noel and I do not read work-related email and stay off of social media. In fact, we basically unplug from all electronic devices. While it may seem hard to do, … » More …

It is with a heavy heart that I pass along the news that John Gardner, whose leadership played an integral role in guiding the University to several notable achievements during the past decade, passed away peacefully at his home on Bainbridge Island near Seattle yesterday morning.

There is no doubt that we are a better university today thanks to John’s leadership. From leading our economic development activities, to working with our partners to advance WSU’s clean technology initiatives, to guiding our $1 billion fundraising campaign to a successful conclusion, John’s legacy will shape the University’s future for decades to come.

But more than the achievements, … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Happy summer to all of you across our beautiful state! This is the third summer Noel and I have lived in the Palouse, and we continue to enjoy the season’s long days and cool nights—ideal weather for our favorite outdoor activities. I also enjoy the more relaxed pace in Pullman during the summer months and appreciate the opportunities to explore the local area a bit more on the weekends.

Our Board of Regents meets 5 times a year to conduct University business. These meetings typically take place over a 2‑day period. An afternoon is allotted for committee meetings, which are followed … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff:

Congratulations on completion of another successful academic year. Celebrating commencement with our students and their families as our graduates take the next step in their life journey is always a richly gratifying highlight of the academic year.

I very much appreciate the role that all of you throughout our statewide community have played in making the WSU experience so positive for our undergraduate and graduate students. Thank you!

Many of you likely have seen media reports about the results of a recent internal audit of WSU athletics. This routine audit, which was discussed at the Board of Regents meeting earlier this … » More …