Mission Statement

Provost Office

Mission Statement

The initiatives put forward in this document are consistent with Washington State University's role and mission for Spokane and its system-wide strategic plan. Established by the Washington Legislature, WSU Spokane is an urban campus that was intended from its inception to become the primary provider of graduate and research programs for the Inland Northwest. Programs have been primarily focused in three areas; health sciences, engineering and the design disciplines. This mission is reflected in "A Plan for Excellence in Advanced Studies: Developing the Washington State University Spokane Campus" prepared in 1988 by the WSU Spokane Advisory Council, and the 1997 draft strategic plan for WSU Spokane.

WSU's strategic plan focuses on the following core areas:

a. Selective Excellence. The programs planned for Spokane build on WSU's strengths as a land-grant university. In particular, WSU has demonstrated through the ICNE that it can work cooperatively with other institutions to develop joint programs, particularly in the health sciences. The proposal for a Health Sciences Consortium builds on this strength. Similarly, other programs proposed for Spokane have as their base successful teaching and research programs. The urban environment and the potential for new partnerships and will enable WSU to expand strong programs and implement new high quality programs that will attract new audiences locally, regionally, and nationally.

b. Expanded Access with Quality. WSU has expanded beyond the Pullman campus to establish three branch campuses and eight learning centers. Extension Services brings WSU to every county in the State. International Programs expands access to a global network of high quality institutions and information. In each case, the philosophical base is that this expanded access will not sacrifice quality. Quality requires that full-time faculty who are engaged in both research and teaching will be hired for the Spokane campus as programs develop. Quality also requires that adequate classroom and laboratory space be available for teaching and research. Although the expectations for growth are ambitious, WSU will not expand unless it can offer students a quality education with appropriate service and support for learning.

c. Increased Diversity. Although Spokane is not as diverse ethnically as other cities of its size, expanded educational opportunities will attract a more diverse student body from locations outside of Spokane. Already existing programs such as those in Nursing for Native American students will provide models to develop similar programs in other areas. The increased diversity, both ethnically and internationally, will support the potential for economic development as well.

d. Enhanced Graduate Education and Research. WSU will increase the number of Master's degrees offered in Spokane, both independently and in cooperation with other institutions. Establishing stronger connections with SIRTI will enhance the research base in Spokane, provide more incentive for faculty, more opportunities for graduate students. These connections, along with graduate programs in high demand, emerging fields of study will provide a strong incentive for students from outside the region to enroll in graduate programs in Spokane. WSU Spokane continues to receive significant external support for research both by faculty in Spokane and through WSU Extension, and these funds are expected to increase, adding to the economic base of the city. Although branch campuses are not authorized to offer PhD degrees, there is a potential for offering professional doctorate degrees in disciplines that will enhance the research mission. No doctoral programs are proposed in this plan. However, in the future, doctoral programs will be proposed in areas where the faculty and resource base is predominantly located in Spokane.

e. Enriched Learning. Students who graduate from any of the WSU campuses are expected to fulfill the requirements for oral and written communication, critical thinking, quantitative skills and computer literacy. In addition, students in Spokane will have the added benefit of participating in focused programs that take advantage of the unique partnerships with other institutions. Students will experience the rich variety of a major metropolitan area that includes medical facilities, architectural sites, and access to business and industry that complement their academic programs.

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