Dear Faculty, Staff, and Students:

As many of you know, a student on the Pullman campus was seriously injured recently when he fell out of a window at the Community/Duncan Dunn Residence Hall. Our thoughts remain with our fellow student, his parents, family, and friends as he continues to receive medical care for his injuries.

Since this tragic accident, the University has been conducting a review of window safety in the 17 residence halls on the Pullman campus. A cross-departmental team including representatives from Housing, Dean of Students Office, Facilities Services, Risk Management, and the President’s Office was tasked with developing recommendations to help ensure … » More …

Dear WSU Community,

On the same day we welcomed Cougs to their new home in Pullman, we heard and saw the most vile and dehumanizing beliefs and actions of human history surface yet again. I was heartbroken. As a higher education leader, there is no way to reconcile the work that we do with violence and hate.

The senior leadership team at Washington State University is united—we strongly denounce racism and Nazism of any kind and condemn the violence that occurred in Charlottesville, Virginia. Hate has no place at WSU. It has no place in the Cougar community.

We also believe in the mission and purpose … » More …

Dear Faculty and Staff:

July has come and (almost) gone, which means that the fall semester is nearly upon us! I hope that your summer has been productive and that you are ready to have a great year as we prepare to kick off the new academic cycle.

One of the items on my annual summer to-do list is to try to learn something new. This summer, I decided to learn to fly-fish. I spent two days on the Snake River in Idaho fly-fishing—and I actually caught several fish.

Am I a great fly-fisherman? No. Did I cast into bushes, lose flies, and drop slippery … » More …

Summer is here! While living in the Palouse or elsewhere in the Evergreen State is certainly enjoyable throughout the entire year, summers provide wonderful opportunities for us to delight in the region’s natural beauty and participate in the outdoor opportunities the season offers us.

During my time as a young faculty member, I worked hard to build a summertime to-do list. Like many of you, my list included proposal and manuscript writing, working with graduate students in my laboratory, professional reading, early fall class preparation, and some family vacation time. Often, my list contained 6 months’ worth of activities that I attempted to fit into … » More …

Dear WSU Community,

Last night, I was informed about a highly offensive and racist video that was posted online. The video, which incorporated footage from a student demonstration on Terrell Mall on the Pullman campus in November, was intended to cause pain to our community of color at WSU. It directly impacted our students of color studying for final exams.

I have said this before and will repeat it once again. The attitudes, the behavior, and the language expressed in the video are not acceptable. It’s not acceptable to me, our senior leadership, or the greater Cougar community. Individuals with those beliefs are not welcome … » More …

Greetings again from French Administration. As unbelievable as it may seem, the semester is rapidly drawing to a close and commencement is barely a month away. I hope that each of you had the opportunity to recharge for a few days during spring break in preparation for the busiest 6 weeks of the academic year!

I want to publicly welcome 3 individuals who recently joined our senior leadership team in Pullman following the completion of nationwide searches: Mary Jo Gonzales, vice president for student affairs; Stacy Pearson, vice president for finance and administration; and Phil Weiler, vice president for marketing and communications. These talented colleagues … » More …

Greetings from French Administration. Spring is right around the corner—or so we thought! Late February or early March snow always triggers a variety of emotions. For the winter sports enthusiast, it is a reminder that warmer weather is on the way and that snow season is almost over. In contrast, for those of us eagerly awaiting the spring, it is a reminder that winter is not quite done in the Palouse!

I thoroughly enjoyed delivering the 2017 State of the University address. We have many exciting initiatives underway at all of our campuses, and it is always a joy—and important—to reflect on our … » More …

(WSU President Kirk Schulz and Vice President for International Programs Asif Chaudhry sent the message below to the WSU community on January 30. To stay current with developments affecting the travel of our international community members, please visit the website of the Office of International Programs.)

Washington State University shares the deep concerns expressed nationwide about the federal executive order that restricts the ability of individuals from certain countries from being able to enter or return to the United States.

Let us be absolutely clear: We welcome and support all members of the Washington State community—regardless of the country they call home. … » More …

Welcome back for the spring semester (and a rare snow day for the Pullman campus on Wednesday)! While lots of snow and cold weather have greeted us at all of our campuses during the first two weeks of classes, warmer temperatures and spring are only a couple of months away. I hope all of you came back refreshed and ready for what promises to be an exciting 2017 at Washington State University!

We have lost several members of the Coug family in recent months, including two students who died in traffic accidents during their return trip to Pullman after winter break. The entire University community … » More …

“A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.”
—Martin Luther King Jr., 1965

Stand tall for one of our country’s greatest heroes—a man who dedicated his life to achieving equality for all.

Stand tall for Dr. King’s universal values. Social justice. Dignity. Compassion. Humility. Service. Values grounded in nonviolence—and most importantly—unconditional love.

Stand tall in support of an increasingly diverse society, a nation that welcomes and provides equal opportunity to … » More …