Members of the Washington State University Board of Regents voted on more than a dozen action items and celebrated outgoing President Kirk Schulz during their meeting on the Tri-Cities campus Friday.
Numerous accomplishments from Schulz’s nine years as president were highlighted by regents during the meeting, as well as in a proclamation read by Board Chair Lisa Keohokalole Schauer. Among these highlights were Schulz’s tireless advocacy for the institution’s land grant mission, the growth of the university’s research enterprise, and strengthening ties with local and national partners.
The resolution concluded, “Be it further resolved that the Board acknowledges the significant impact President Schulz has made on the University and beyond, extends its best wishes for his future endeavors, and recognizes the enduring legacy of leadership he leaves at Washington State University—one marked by optimism, humility and a deep commitment to empowering those around him.”
Prior to reading the proclamation, Schauer thanked Schulz for his partnership during her time as board chair.
“I just want to really share how much I have appreciated the partnership, the time that you’ve spent with me, and the patience you’ve had with me over the last almost two years,” Schauer said. “This is a really significant moment today, and it’s the culmination of nine years of leadership here.
She added, “We’ll continue to have the benefit of President Schulz’s expertise over the next several months, and through the next year, and hopefully, beyond that, showing up at events and being able to cheer on our Coug Nation.”
Action items
Seventeen action items were approved by members of the WSU Board of Regents during Friday’s meeting. These ranged from setting tuition rates for the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to approving fee rate changes across the university system.
These actions were taken following Thursday’s slate of committee meetings, where stakeholders presented the board with their recommendations and talked about the need for rate adjustments. Among them were increasing the tuition rate of the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine by 3.3% for the upcoming academic year, housing and dining rate increases of between 4.2% and 7.5% depending on the plan and living space at WSU Pullman, and setting services and activities fee rates systemwide.
Several regents expressed a desire to see the cumulative impact of tuition and fee adjustments at subsequent meetings to better highlight the sum impact of multiple rate adjustments on students, a move their colleagues voiced support for.
Regents also approved allocations for services and activities as well as technology fees across the system. Modifications to WSU polices on facilities use rules and conduct on campus were also approved.
WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes was among the leaders who gave presentations and updates to the board during their meeting.
Next meeting
The next meetings of the WSU Board of Regents are scheduled to take place on the WSU Spokane campus April 17-18. More information on the Board of Regents schedule and activities is available on the group’s website. All of the public portions of the board’s meetings in Tri-Cities this week are available to watch online.
