September 29, 2021
Cougs,
It’s hard to believe that we’re wrapping up the sixth
week of the semester—what a whirlwind this fall has been!
I’m continually overjoyed seeing our students, faculty,
and staff back in person on our campuses. The energy—and
the Cougar spirit—is stronger than ever. I also want to take
a moment to thank all of you for the hard work you have
put in to ensure that we could return to an in‑person
experience—and commend you because, across all our
locations, WSU is doing phenomenally well. Our vaccination
rates are high, and our case rates remain low.
The past year and a half pushed many of us to new
extremes as we weathered a global pandemic and political
upheaval. But, many of us have grown from these
experiences—I know I have. We’ve learned to adapt to
new environments and ways of communicating and learning;
we’ve discovered that mental health is as important as
our physical well‑being; and perhaps most importantly,
we’re having critical, and overdue, conversations
around diversity, equity, and inclusion.
This semester has not been without its challenges.
This past weekend, our WSU Pullman campus learned of
a tragic act of violence. To our Cougar family, I want
you to know that you all remain in Noel and my thoughts.
Please take the time you need to reflect and heal, and
know that resources are available for you.
As we continue into the semester, I’m looking
forward to meeting with Cougs across our nation as
I work with our development partners on advancing
WSU’s philanthropic agenda. We will have some exciting
news to share in the coming months about
groundbreaking support for our students, faculty,
and staff across the system.
Thank you again for all you’re doing to support WSU!
Go Cougs!
Kirk Schulz, President
Washington State University
