WSU President Elizabeth Cantwell outlined a bold new course for the university built around six strategic pillars that will help guide decision-making moving forward, drawing strong approval from the Board of Regents.
The presentation was made to the board’s Executive and Governance Committee on Thursday during the regents meetings on the Spokane campus, and the full board signed off on President Cantwell’s key performance indicators for fiscal year 2026 on Friday. Cantwell described the pillars as central to helping decide where action will need to be taken to ensure the long-term success of the university.
“I’m impressed because of the comprehensiveness of this package,” Faculty Regent Judith McDonald said, referring to the key performance indicators. “This package is both comprehensive and thoughtful, it has both depth and breadth and I appreciate the work that went into creating it.”
The pillars are:
- Access and student success
- Academic excellence and modernization
- Innovation and use-inspired research
- Systemwide integration and institutional agility
- WSU as a 21st century land grant
- Elevate the Cougar identity and brand
Each pillar was used as the basis for more than a dozen goals Cantwell and her team will work toward in the year ahead. Many of these goals revolve around developing better processes to track and evaluate data. More accessible and accurate data can help the university in a wide range of efforts, from bolstering student recruitment and retention to formulating comprehensive financial and operational strategies.
The complete presentation, as well as the president’s key performance indicators and information on other the actions taken by the Board of Regents, is available online.
Leadership changes
Friday’s meeting was the last for Regent Lura Powell, whose term officially concludes Sept. 30. Powell joined the board in 2014, bringing with her vast experience in research and development. She previously served as director of the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, among other leadership roles. Powell’s successor will be selected by Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson.
It was also Faculty Regent Judith McDonald’s final meeting in the role following a three-year term. She will be succeeded by Tracy Klein, a professor with the College of Nursing who previously served as chair of Faculty Senate. Her first meetings as faculty regent are scheduled for Nov. 13–14.
Friday’s meeting on the Spokane campus was the first for incoming Student Regent Amina Hussein, a senior studying on the WSU Pullman campus who plans to pursue a career in criminal justice advocacy.
Additional board action
University leadership will seek to purchase the Ignite Faculty facility on the WSU Spokane campus for up to $8.25 million after receiving approval to do so by the board. Regents heard a presentation about the proposal on Thursday, which outlined several benefits, including giving the campus more research space as well as serving as an incubator for the Spokane medical technology community.
Regents also voted to establish a Bachelor of Arts in Economic Sciences for the WSU Pullman and Global campuses. Revisions to board policies and delegation of authority and committee charters as well as to the Washington Administrative Code 504-26 — Standards of Conduct for Students, were also approved by regents.
Outside of board action, regents heard a number of presentations during the meetings in Spokane. Among these were an update on enrollment and retention trends, which showed several positive developments for the fall semester, including growth in new first-year students.
Zoe Higheagle Strong, vice provost for Native American Relations and Programs & Tribal Liaison to the President, also presented her recent research on the Native American Education Opportunity Gap, a project funded by the state of Washington.
Building to be renamed in honor of Kirk Schulz
Regents also voted unanimously to rename the Spokane Academic Center in honor of former president Kirk Schulz.
Numerous members of the WSU community wrote letters in support of the renaming of the Spokane Health Sciences Campus facility to the Kirk H. Schulz Academic Center. Among them were nine past, present, and future Faculty Senate chairs, as well as five former student regents and community leaders who’ve previously served on WSU’s governing board.
The proposal to rename the building in Schulz’s honor was submitted by Immediate Past Chair Lisa Keohokalole Schauer.
The WSU Board of Regents is next scheduled to meet in Seattle Nov. 13–14.
