Leading with purpose
May 5, 2025
Dear WSU colleagues, students and friends,
We know that Washington State University is not like the Ivies,
private universities, and the large, legacy institutions on the East Coast.
Our history, mission, and the communities we serve define our distinct
character and provide accessible touchpoints through our extensions and
multiple campuses.
We were built not for prestige or exclusivity, but for purpose. Our
founding land-grant mission — to extend opportunity, to bring discovery and
learning to every corner of our state, and to do so with courage, clarity,
and a focus on future good — remains unchanged. If anything, it is more vital
today than ever before.
That purpose drives us as we grow enrollment across the WSU system,
offering a residential flagship experience in Pullman and flexible education
options in Everett, Spokane, Tri‑Cities, Vancouver, and through our Global Campus.
It shapes how we think about access — not just who we admit, but how we support
students to thrive. It informs our investments in Native American programs and
partnerships, our deep ties to rural Washington, and our commitment to serving
first-generation college students, veterans, working adults, and those who have
historically been left behind.
At WSU, we are unwavering in our commitments:
To support, protect, and engage our students — not only through world-class
instruction, but through hands‑on research opportunities, mentorship, student
wellness initiatives, and co‑curricular experiences that prepare them to lead in
a world of uncertainty and promise.
To uphold the principles of academic freedom and
free expression, grounded in mutual respect. We believe that rigorous inquiry and
open debate are essential to knowledge creation and public trust. Our faculty and
students must be able to ask hard questions — and listen deeply to varied
perspectives — in order to meet the complexity of today’s challenges.
To advance opportunity through education across
our entire system. Whether it’s our health sciences university training pharmacists,
nurses, and physicians to serve rural communities, our K–12 partnerships through
Extension, our Pathways programs that create new entry points into WSU, or our
Global Campus serving students around the world, we work to expand educational
opportunity as a public trust, not a private commodity.
To serve as an engine of innovation and practical
research. From advanced energy solutions and sustainable agriculture to improving
mental and behavioral health across the Northwest, WSU researchers are tackling
problems that matter, with an emphasis on deep community engagement and real-world
applications.
To lead with integrity — honest about the challenges
we face, and bold in forging the future our students and state deserve. Whether
we’re navigating complex financial realities or redefining the role of public
universities in a polarized time, we do so transparently and with a deep sense of
responsibility.
This is a time to carry forward both resolve and innovative thinking with
a healthy dose of Cougar pride. Washington State University will meet this
moment — together — guided by the values that have defined us for 135 years:
teaching, research, service, excellence, community, and the public good.
Thank you for the work you do, every day, to bring these commitments to life.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth R. Cantwell
President, WSU system
