System Planning

The 6-campus Washington State University system enrolls 31,607 students, employs more than 7,000 full- and part-time faculty and staff statewide, and offers several highly ranked academic programs on its 5 physical campuses (Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Everett) and online through the Global Campus.

In addition, WSU Extension has offices in each of the state’s 39 counties. The University also operates 4 Research and Extension Centers in key agricultural areas (Mount Vernon, Prosser, Puyallup, and Wenatchee), and in collaboration with the U.S. Small Business Administration and other partners, operates 25 Small Business Development Centers statewide. The WSU Energy Program, based in Olympia, provides information and expert services to advance energy efficiency for organizations and consumers.

One WSU

The University operates as an integrated university system, with all campuses adhering to the same set of goals, practices, and policies—known as One WSU.

For example, degree requirements are similar across campuses; all instructors and researchers, regardless of their location, are considered part of one faculty; and the offices of student affairs and finance and administration are regarded as distinct but highly integrated components of the same divisions. The University has been redefining its administrative and operational structures to ensure delivery of an integrated set of services while allowing each campus autonomy via the leadership of the chancellor and a clearly defined identity.

Crafting a system plan

Among the identified goals of the new WSU system plan:

• Further integration of academic and administrative units system-wide to enhance effectiveness and efficiency
• Identifying new opportunities for innovation and collaboration by integrating campus strengths