Messages from the Provost

WSU Health Sciences: Welcome Back and Spring 2026 Updates

Dear Colleagues, Happy New Year! We hope you enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. As you can feel, we’re back in full swing and excited for the spring 2026 semester. Last week, we welcomed 70 nursing students to the Spokane campus and had the privilege of meeting them during orientation. Hearing their stories about why they […]

2024-2025 AAPO Next Steps

During the spring semester, the Provost’s Office will host a meeting for deans, chairs, and directors with the AAPO steering committee, which will serve as a critical initial discussion during the first phase. Academic leadership will be asked to share the initial discussion with their respective faculty and return feedback to the steering committee. Additional […]

Academic Affairs Program Optimization Process Overview

Washington State University (WSU) Provost’s Office will initiate the first phase of an Academic Affairs Program Optimization (AAPO) process in collaboration with Finance and Administration’s Strategic Program Review and Resource Reallocation process during the 2024-2025 academic year. As the entire higher education industry re-evaluates its enterprise and opportunities for evolution, it is imperative that the […]

Quick Guide: Key Student Resources for Faculty & Staff

Dear faculty and staff colleagues, The start of a semester is an exciting time for our students. It can also be challenging—especially for those beginning their first semester at WSU. You may encounter students who need extra support. We want to share some of WSU’s key student resources that you can use and pass along […]

Welcome back!

Dear colleagues, I hope you had a wonderful summer and found time to disconnect and recharge! As we begin the new academic year, I want to extend a warm welcome to the new faculty and staff joining us—welcome to the Cougar family! You’re now part of a vibrant network of educators, researchers, creatives, and, most […]

Lobbying Activities and Restrictions

Note for the reader: the following correspondence was released to WSU chancellors and academic deans on May 16, 2025. Dear Chancellors and Deans, We have received a few reports in the last several weeks regarding faculty members’ attempts to lobby for their program and potential funding. University employees who engage in lobbying activities are required […]

Email Signature Guidance

Dear Colleagues, We hope this email finds you well.  There have been several questions over the last several days regarding email signatures.  As such, we want to provide the following clarification and ask that you share the same with your respective faculty and staff. As indicated on our brand.wsu.edu website, email signatures present another opportunity […]

Responding to recent federal actions

Dear Colleagues, Yesterday afternoon, President Trump signed an Executive Order to begin closing the Department of Education. While the legality and long-term viability of any potential actions that result from this order are uncertain, Washington State University is continuing to evaluate and prepare for every eventuality to ensure the continued success of our university community. […]

Shared Governance Commitment

Dear Faculty Colleagues, We are writing to reaffirm our commitment from the Provost’s Office and the Faculty Senate’s Executive Committee to the principles of shared governance throughout the Washington State University system. Our collaborative efforts are essential in fostering an inclusive academic environment that supports the needs of our faculty, students, and staff. We are […]