Shaping WSU’s Future Amid Financial Challenges

March 26, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

As we’ve shared over the past several weeks, WSU — like many institutions — is facing significant financial pressures driven by shifting federal policies and a tightening state budget. These changes carry real risks to our research, instruction, and operations, and they will require us to adapt.

Even as the path ahead requires fundamental adaptation, we know that some short-term measures — budget cuts, strategic pauses, and spending reductions — can help us weather near-term challenges. Equally, we know that these tactics are not necessarily a long-term solution. What we had in the past is not necessarily our future. The landscape of higher education is evolving, and to thrive, we are going to have to shape our future together.

What are we doing now?

Our government relations teams are actively engaging with lawmakers to advocate for WSU’s essential role in the state and nation. We remain fully committed to protecting the work you do — work that is critical to the future of our communities and to the land-grant mission we serve.

Beginning April 1, 2025, we will implement the following temporary measures, with oversight by our executive vice presidents:

• Strategic pause on non-essential hiring

• Pause on out-of-cycle salary increases

• Suspension of non-essential travel and training

• Increased review of purchases and contracts

• Renegotiation or termination of non-essential contracts

• Reductions in food purchases and discretionary spending

These steps are designed to preserve our core strengths today while allowing us the flexibility to invest in what matters most — our mission and our people.

How are we future-focused?

Our leadership team is focused on the future. There are ongoing efforts like administrative reviews and academic program optimization. We will also shortly develop a number of Cougar Teams — design-focused teams looking at various aspects of our institution and developing near, medium, and longer-term options for us all to consider as we build a future-forward WSU. We will build a stronger, more resilient WSU — one positioned to lead for decades to come.

WSU’s future will not be defined by fear, inability to adapt, or unwillingness to build a thriving future. We will be defined by how we come together to design what’s next, how we stay focused, how we act strategically, and how we support one another. We will have our moments to grieve the loss of past aspects of our academic world that we revered, but we will also emerge resilient, proud, and absolutely continuing to meet our land-grant mission.

We deeply respect the uncertainty and stress that you may be feeling. We are in this together — please prioritize your well-being and take advantage of available resources.

Thank you for all you do. We look forward to walking alongside you as we work together to shape WSU’s next chapter.

Best regards,

Elizabeth R. Cantwell
Incoming System President

Leslie Brunelli
Executive Vice President for Finance and Administration &
Chief Financial Officer

Daryll DeWald
Executive Vice President for Health Sciences &
Chancellor, WSU Spokane

T. Chris Riley-Tillman
Provost and Executive Vice President