Letter from President Floyd Goals achieveable, even in light of tough challenges

As we head into the Thanksgiving holidays, we can be thankful for a great deal at WSU. We are well along the path to becoming one of the leading land-grant universities in the country. Let me assure you that while we have great challenges ahead of us, I strongly believe our goals remain achievable. Yes, we all must work harder and become even more efficient, but challenging times often bring out the best in people and spark innovative ideas.

 

While the current global financial crisis and the state’s revenue forecasts are of great concern, WSU began cutting costs and realizing savings as early as last February — long before many universities in the nation. Because of these early proactive steps, we have identified $3 million in budget savings without laying off a single person. We have succeeded in exempting instruction, the libraries, and the regional campuses from the initial round of budget reductions. We have asked the administrative side of the university to take the lion’s share of the reduction in order for us to make this possible. We still must realize at least an additional $3 million in reductions by June 30, but I am convinced that we can do so without reducing personnel, compromising the quality of education or increasing student/faculty ratios.

 

You have probably read the speculation that universities may need to prepare for budget cuts of up to 20 percent over the next biennium. I realize these reports are troubling, but I remind you all that the governance and legislative process is just beginning and there is much that we do not know about the eventual shape of the budget and how it might impact WSU.

 

While no institution can be fully prepared for a reduction of such magnitude, WSU has taken important steps in this regard. Reduction in hiring and travel was one such step. The ongoing Academic Affairs Prioritization Process is another. While budget-cutting was not the main impetus for that effort, it has enabled us to prioritize our academic programs and services. This plan was forward-thinking and positions us extremely well to weather this storm and to chart the course for our academic future.

 

Provost and Executive Vice President Warwick Bayly understands these priorities, as do the academic deans and department chairs. I have every confidence that they will continue to implement in spirit and in content a plan that reflects our core values: excellence, quality, and accountability. Our students will be better served and our academic programs will be enhanced.

 

I am in constant contact with state officials, regents, faculty members, students and donors about the financial issues impacting us at this time. They all agree that we must maintain the momentum of WSU, protect and enhance our core academic mission, promote access and diversity, further innovation, discovery and economic development and maintain tuition at affordable levels. We are committed to these principles and obligations and will do everything possible to advance our case to key decision-makers. I have also reached out to the presidents of other colleges and universities around the state so that we can begin discussions about finding statewide solutions together.

 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we have much to celebrate. This has been a tremendous year for our university — rising enrollments on all of our campuses, establishment of the Murrow College of Communication and the School for Global Animal Health, record fund-raising and research levels, and enhanced facilities on all of our campuses. These include the Compton Union Building in Pullman, the Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory in the Tri-Cities, the Nursing Building in Spokane and ongoing construction of a new Undergraduate Classroom Building in Vancouver. Even more impressive are the many achievements made by our talented faculty in the areas of research and scholarship.

 

We were extremely fortunate to have raised more than $143 million in the last fiscal year through the WSU Foundation. The generosity of our donors, alumni, staff and supporters is simply remarkable. This year will be difficult given the economic downturn, but private giving will make the difference between mediocrity and excellence. We need you now more than ever in the history of our university.

 

I sincerely believe that our university is well-positioned to deal with the economic conditions ahead. In large part, my belief springs from the dedication I see among the people who come to work here every day. WSU has withstood much adversity over the decades and will do so again. Our secret weapon is the human capacity of Cougars and our many friends around the globe.

 

As we begin this holiday season, I extend to you my best wishes and promise that I will continue to do all that I can to keep WSU on the track to excellence and success.