Student Belonging and Success Initiative
The Discover, Belong, Explore, Choose, and Lead Pathway
Through this initiative, first-year students will begin on a pathway to Discover, Belong, Explore, Choose, and Lead. The pathway will familiarize students with the many ways to build community and contribute to WSU, including participating in registered student organizations, sport clubs, leadership programs, service, recreation, campus employment, academic and professional organizations, and fraternity and sorority life. After completing the initial pathway, students can continue through expanded leadership, mentorship, service, career, and alumni engagement opportunities.
- In the Discover phase, beginning in the summer and at Orientation, students are introduced to a smaller community, where they will participate in risk education, explore their interests, and learn student success methods, developing clear expectations and values.
- The Belong phase occurs during the first six weeks of the semester, when students move into their communities and begin to build their social connections. Activities in this phase would include being assigned a peer mentor, participating in small-group experiences and service opportunities, and engaging with faculty and staff.
- The Explore phase occurs after the first six weeks of the semester and provides students with opportunities to learn about and meet existing organizations, explore leadership, service, academic, professional, and community opportunities, manage financial and time commitments, understand expectations and risks, and explore organizational fit.
- The Choose phase occurs during the middle part of the semester and provides students with education concerning informed decision-making and clear opportunities to identify future involvement, leadership, and affiliation pathways, including organizational affiliation, membership expectations, and recruitment and selection processes.
- The Lead phase occurs in the final month of the semester and provides students with advanced leadership development, career preparation, and mentoring as students are encouraged to step into leadership roles within the broader WSU community.
Building the experience together
WSU is developing the Student Belonging and Success Initiative in close partnership with students and the people who support their success. Throughout the process, we will engage students, faculty, staff, families, alumni, and university and community partners to understand their perspectives, test ideas, and shape an experience that responds to students’ needs.
Anticipated timeline
- Fall and winter 2026 | Listen and learn
Gather perspectives about what helps students build connections, navigate their first year, and succeed at WSU. - Spring 2027 | Design together
Work with students and other partners to develop the program’s experiences, support structures, and opportunities. - Fall 2027 | Pilot and refine
Introduce elements of the experience, assess their effectiveness, and make improvements based on feedback. - Fall 2027 and beyond | Expand and improve
Build on what we learn while continuing to evaluate outcomes and respond to the needs of students and the WSU community.
Updates and opportunities to participate will be shared as the initiative takes shape.
FAQs
Topics
General Questions
Why is WSU developing a new Student Belonging and Success Initiative?
WSU wants every new student to have intentional opportunities to build connections, learn about available resources, explore involvement opportunities, and establish a strong foundation for success. The proposed pathway created through this initiative would help students orient themselves to campus life and introduce them to a wide variety of resources and support. Along the way, they can explore smaller communities where they feel known, supported, and able to contribute.
The initiative also builds on WSU’s long-standing First-Year Live-In Requirement (FLIR), which requires single undergraduate first-year students under the age of 20 to live in residence halls during their first academic year (WAC 504-24-030). Since fall 2023, fraternity and sorority housing has not been considered as meeting the FLIR requirement. Together, these efforts support WSU’s largely traditional-aged student population as they transition from living at home to greater independence.
Updated for clarity 10/29/26
What are the anticipated benefits of the Student Belonging and Success Initiative?
The initiative is intended to strengthen students’ sense of belonging, connection to WSU, wellbeing, academic success, leadership development, and ability to make informed decisions about involvement. It would also help students build relationships with peers, mentors, faculty, staff, alumni, and other members of the WSU community.
How is this initiative different than what WSU is doing now?
WSU has a long-standing commitment to helping students find their place at WSU. This initiative takes that work a step further by connecting students through smaller communities starting at orientation, guiding them on a pathway through their first semester, and scaling these opportunities throughout their entire college career.
Why now?
WSU has been engaging in a wide array of student success initiatives, from the National Institute for Student Success to General Education Reform. This initiative builds upon these existing efforts, creating a stronger foundational first year experience that gives students the tools they need to succeed at WSU, and persist through graduation.
Is the Student Belonging and Success Initiative already finalized?
No. The initiative is in its first phase, and many of the program details are still being developed. WSU is working closely with students and other constituents to identify needs, develop community options, test ideas, and shape a meaningful student experience.
What is the anticipated timeline?
WSU is currently listening to constituents and designing the proposed experience. The university anticipates beginning with a pilot in fall 2027, followed by assessment, refinement, and potential expansion. Additional information about the pilot, participating students, and available communities will be shared as planning continues.
Is this initiative applied across all campuses?
No. WSU is launching this initiative on the Pullman campus only, as it is the largest and only residential campus. As the initiative grows, there is a likelihood that elements will be scalable and adaptable for other campuses across the system.
Communities and Housing
What types of communities will students be able to choose from?
WSU is exploring a range of communities organized around shared interests, experiences, goals, or areas of exploration. For students living in on-campus residence halls, there will be opportunities for these communities to be based in their residential spaces. The specific options have not yet been finalized.
How will communities be selected and developed?
Communities will be informed by student interests, feedback, available resources, and opportunities to support student success. Students and other WSU constituents will help shape community themes, experiences, traditions, leadership opportunities, and support structures.
Will students still be able to choose where they live during their first year?
WSU has had a long-standing First-Year Live-In Requirement (FLIR), which requires single undergraduate first-year students under the age of 20 to live in residence halls during their first academic year (WAC 504-24-030). The Student Belonging and Success Initiative is not intended to eliminate students’ ability to express on-campus housing preferences. Details about how community participation will align with residence hall selection and room assignments are still being developed and will be shared before implementation.
Updated for clarity 10/29/26
What if a student does not want to live in one of the identified communities?
WSU is developing a range of options so students can find an experience that fits their interests and needs. The proposal also includes non-residential opportunities. Specific participation expectations and housing options will be clarified as the program is developed.
Will there be options for students who do not live in a residence hall?
Yes. We’re including non-residential pathways intended to help students build the same kinds of connections and access mentorship, leadership opportunities, traditions, activities, and gathering spaces regardless of where they live.
How will this impact students who want to live in sorority or fraternity housing?
WSU has had a long-standing First-Year Live-In Requirement (FLIR), which requires single undergraduate first-year students under the age of 20 to live in residence halls during their first academic year (WAC 504-24-030).
Since fall 2023, fraternity and sorority housing has not been considered as meeting the FLIR requirement. Together, these efforts support WSU’s largely traditional-aged student population as they transition from living at home to greater independence. The initiative, including the delay in fraternity and sorority recruitment, will have no change on WSU’s current housing requirements, or a student’s ability to live in fraternity or sorority housing after their first year.
Added 10/29/26
Student Involvement and Exploration
How will students learn about clubs, organizations, and other community opportunities?
During their first semester, students would have structured opportunities to explore registered student organizations, leadership programs, service, recreation, employment, academic and professional organizations, and fraternity and sorority life. Information would be shared through orientation, campus events, first-year communities, mentors, and other WSU communication channels.
Can students explore fraternity and sorority life during their first semester?
Yes. Students would be encouraged to learn about WSU’s recognized fraternities and sororities, explore the different councils, attend registered informational and community events, and meet members.
Fraternity and sororities are encouraged to host events that demonstrate the values of their organizations, and showcase their impact in community, philanthropy, and connection. These events will allow for students to meet members, and understand the organizational benefits and responsibilities.
Students cannot be issued a bid or participate in new member (pledge) activities until they meet WSU’s eligibility requirements.
Updated for clarity 10/29/26
Is WSU moving away from its relationship with fraternity and sorority organizations?
No. The proposal is not a withdrawal of institutional support for fraternity and sorority life. WSU is seeking to develop a stronger partnership model that supports student success, sustainable organizations, shared accountability, and a thriving fraternity and sorority community.
Fraternity and Sorority Recruitment
Can students still join a fraternity or sorority?
Yes. Fraternity and sorority life remains a pathway for belonging, leadership, mentorship, service, and lifelong connection at WSU. This initiative only affects when new students can participate in recruitment or intake, not whether they can join.
Why is WSU moving to deferred fraternity and sorority recruitment?
WSU wants students to establish a connection to the university before making a long-term affiliation decision. A student’s first semester provides time to adjust to university life, build relationships, understand campus resources, explore different opportunities, and learn about the expectations and responsibilities associated with fraternity or sorority membership.
Deferred recruitment is one part of a broader approach to student belonging and success. It is not an isolated policy change.
When can a student join?
Under the new framework, new students would become eligible to participate in recruitment or membership intake after completing at least one semester and meeting WSU’s other eligibility requirements. Final timelines and council-specific processes are still being developed.
What counts as completing a semester?
WSU is developing the specific definition, including the number of credits required, enrollment status, academic standing, and treatment of credits earned before enrolling at WSU. Those requirements will be published before the new process takes effect.
What if a student is transferring to WSU?
Transfer-student eligibility requirements are still being developed. WSU will clarify how previous college enrollment, completed terms, transferred credits, and academic standing will be considered.
Can fraternity and sorority organizations still recruit first-year students?
Yes. Students would be encouraged to learn about WSU’s recognized fraternities and sororities, explore the different councils, attend registered informational and community events, and meet members.
Fraternity and sororities are encouraged to host events that demonstrate the values of their organizations, and showcase their impact in community, philanthropy, and connection. These events will allow for students to meet members, and understand the organizational benefits and responsibilities. Students cannot be issued a bid or participate in new member (pledge) activities until they meet WSU’s eligibility requirements.
Updated for clarity 10/29/26
What about second-year and other returning students?
Students who have completed the required semester or credit threshold and meet WSU’s other eligibility requirements would be able to participate in recruitment or intake according to the timeline established for the applicable council or organization.
Will recruitment still occur?
Yes. Recruitment and membership intake would continue, but the timing and processes will change. Because councils and organizations use different recruitment and intake processes, WSU will provide council-specific information as those details are finalized.
Information for Parents and Supporters
Why is WSU making this change?
WSU is developing a more intentional first-year experience so students have time to connect with the university, establish healthy routines, learn about available resources, and explore their options before making significant affiliation decisions.
How will the new approach benefit students?
The proposed model is intended to help students develop a stronger sense of belonging, make informed involvement decisions, build relationships across WSU, and establish a foundation for academic and personal success. It would also give students more time to understand the expectations, costs, and responsibilities associated with different organizations.
Does the proposal address student safety?
Student wellbeing and safety are important parts of the proposed model. Students would receive education about community expectations, healthy decision-making, hazing prevention, alcohol and drug risk, sexual misconduct prevention, reporting options, and available support.
The proposed recognition and partnership framework would also establish clearer expectations for accountability, training, data sharing, intervention, and organizational practices.
How will families receive information?
WSU plans to share information through its website, family and orientation communications, recruitment resources, the Coug Family portal and regular project updates. Families will also be able to submit questions as program and implementation details are developed.
Contact us
This initiative is in its first phase, and additional information will be added as decisions are made. Questions and feedback from students and other WSU constituents will help identify issues that should be considered during design and implementation.
If you have additional questions about how this will impact chapter membership and alumni engagement, please visit the Fraternity and Sorority Life Fall 2027 Recruitment webpage.
Sign up
If you are a student interested in participating in the development of the Student Belonging and Success Initiative, please fill out the form below.