PULLMAN, Wash. – The Washington State University Board of Regents today voted to extend the contract of WSU President Elson S. Floyd until June 30, 2021. Floyd requested that his compensation remain unchanged at this time.
The president’s current contract expires June 30, 2016; however, the board evaluates the contract annually.
Board Chair Connie Niva said the extension was a result of Floyd’s “exemplary service” to WSU and the state.
“I think it is obvious to everyone who has had the pleasure of working with President Floyd that his impact extends well beyond Washington State University to higher education across the state,” said Regent Scott Carson. “Extending his contract is important for us, but also for all the people of the state.”
Regent Ron Sims agreed: “Dr. Floyd is among the elite in the United States in higher education.”
The 10th president of Washington state’s land-grant research university, Floyd assumed his responsibilities in May 2007. During his tenure, the university has:
- Grown student enrollment to record levels and dramatically increased its overall diversity
- Launched and is nearing successful completion of the $1 billion Campaign for Washington State University, which supports student scholarships, faculty, research facilities and equipment and the overall WSU enterprise
- Grown its research and development enterprises to more than $336 million, including a $40 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for research on the use of woody biomass in aviation biofuel
- Dramatically expanded programs in the health sciences at WSU Spokane to help train health sciences professionals for rural and underserved areas of the state and nation
- Created the WSU School for Global Animal Health with multi-million-dollar support from the Paul G. Allen Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
- Won the Federal Aviation Administration’s designation as the Center for Excellence for Alternative Jet Fuels and the Environment, in partnership with Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Contact:
Kathy Barnard, University Communications, 509-335-8055, kbarnard@wsu.edu