Ewu Pursuing Core Mission Centered On Cheney Campus
Just two months ago, it became my responsibility to oversee a higher education institution that directly impacts many of you, your families and friends.
I am the new president of Eastern Washington University. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you a little about what is happening at Eastern, your neighborhood university, and to introduce myself to the Spokane-area community.
In just a few days, Eastern will submit a revised mission statement to the state’s Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB), as we were directed to do last winter. It’s a simple document which states our heartfelt belief that it is the role of Eastern Washington University to maintain its professional program offerings in Spokane while focusing on the growth of our Cheney campus.
It seems clear that as Eastern responded to the needs of students seeking professional programs in Spokane in recent years, we may have taken our main campus a bit for granted. It’s good that we were reminded of that fact.
Eastern’s Cheney campus is the trunk of our tree; our offerings in Spokane and elsewhere are our limbs. We know where we’re rooted.
Our new mission statement speaks to what I have begun calling our “metropolitan advantage” - a traditional residential campus complete with strong academic programs, NCAA-Division I football, a Greek system and more - all of this adjacent to a major metropolitan city where students have access to a variety of internship and employment experiences, as well as cultural activities of the highest caliber. The only other public institution in the state which can equal this is the University of Washington.
We have strong academic programs at Eastern. Our faculty and staff are talented and dedicated. For decades, Eastern has been quietly educating the sons and daughters of this region and sending them off to fine careers and lives of community service.
Still, there have been short-term issues in the headlines this past year - a budget gap and enrollment downturns. Our budget is in balance, thanks to the use of carry-forward dollars, and our freshman enrollments look excellent for the fall, both as the result of some short-term initiatives.
Nevertheless, these two items are indicators that Eastern needs to make long-term systematic changes that reflect our new mission and ensure a strong future. And, we will.
Here’s what we’re doing:
Restructuring the organization. Not very exciting to talk about but it is important that our structure supports the direction we want to go. For example, student services (admissions, housing, clubs, intramurals, etc.) are vital to a healthy campus life, but at present are overseen by three different administrators. We need comprehensive horizontal service for students. And, we will have that.
Academic program review. The process has begun already to review all of Eastern’s academic programs, to be sure the breadth and depth of what we offer is appropriate for our mission. Over the course of this year, we will determine which programs should continue intact. We will examine which ones might be merged with other programs at the university or perhaps partnered with similar programs at other public or private institutions and what, if any, new programs should be added. Some offerings will be eliminated.
No students enrolled at Eastern will become disenfranchised by what we are setting out to do - a task which will take a few years to accomplish. Students will be able to complete programs they’ve begun!
Targeted investments. The above two activities will help us bring our budget in line while improving the operation of the university for its students. We will begin making targeted investments in some specific areas of excellence at Eastern, strengthening them for the future.
In my short time here, I have already learned what a wonderful asset and resource Eastern is for this region and about the special niche the university occupies. Bob Craves, chair of the HECB, called Eastern the best-kept secret in the state. We’re going to see to it that Eastern isn’t a secret much longer.
On a personal note, my wife, Ruthie, and I are pleased to be here and living in University House, a fine historic structure in the heart of the Cheney campus. We already consider it our home and are hosting many university events there.
I came to Eastern from a position as executive director of the Kansas Board of Regents. While I handled policy for 80,000 students at six public institutions in Kansas, it has long been my goal to be able to affect individual students on a campus that I could get to know personally.
I have that opportunity now, and I consider it to be a trust to be handled with integrity, gratitude and respect, as well as candor and vigor - and open to input from the public. A president does not function well in isolation.
I believe earnestly that the future of Eastern Washington University and the Spokane region are intertwined and bright indeed. Thank you for the warm welcome Ruthie and I have received already.