WSU In Spokane Needs Community, Legislative Support

Washington State University was asked by the state Legislature to provide a draft plan to the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board by Sept. 1 on how WSU would enhance the future of Spokane through expanded educational offerings. We have done that.

The plan’s goal is to have WSU do for Spokane - in partnership with the higher education institutions in the region - what the University of Washington does for Seattle. The difference here is that we are doing it in close collaboration with others, not alone. Our goal is to enhance the higher education and research capabilities at the Riverpoint campus to better serve Spokane and this region of the state.

I must emphasize that this is a draft plan that needs the approval of the HEC Board and funding from the Legislature. This plan is realistic, feasible and terribly exciting, but will only become a reality if the Spokane community will support it during the upcoming legislative session. It truly represents Spokane’s turn to shine and prosper.

This plan of action for higher education in Spokane for the 21st century was developed in concert with a wide variety of contributors, including our academic partners here - the Community Colleges of Spokane, Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, the University of Idaho and Whitworth College. The synergy of our institutions and the community is the key to our success.

The draft plan proposes many new academic programs tailored to the unique needs and opportunities in Spokane. The result will be a net gain for students of all backgrounds and academic aspirations.

Highlights of the draft plan include:

A cooperative agreement among WSU, Gonzaga and the University of Idaho to offer bachelor’s degrees in computer, environmental and manufacturing engineering. These will be delivered in Spokane at WSU and Gonzaga, and in Post Falls at the University of Idaho Research Park.

Establishment of a Spokane Health Sciences Consortium bringing together higher education institutions and health service agencies to provide core services to support teaching and research, as well as enhanced economic development based on existing strengths in Spokane’s health industry.

A series of specialized degree programs in business offered in cooperation with EWU. The first will be a master’s degree in technology management. Courses supporting the program are being offered this fall via WHETS, the WSU dedicated educational television network. WSU business programs now exclusively available in Pullman will be extended to Spokane during the next two years. Beginning with the 1999 fall semester, bachelor’s degree programs in real estate studies, in insurance and risk management will be available. WSU’s internationally known hotel and restaurant administration program will be delivered to Spokane starting in August 2000.

Possible formation of an Executive Development Center here which would offer, in cooperation with other Spokane colleges and universities, an array of noncredit programs for corporate executives in subjects such as international business and executive management.

A six-year construction plan, outlined by WSU in our role as the Riverpoint campus fiscal agent. A health sciences building, academic building, library facilities, and infrastructure expansion are proposed. As part of this, a capital request to the Legislature from the office of the secretary of state will seek funds for a two-story building for state archival records. The second story is intended to house the combined Spokane library of WSU and EWU.

The plan means extending WSU and its land grant mission of teaching, research and public service to Spokane, benefiting individual students and the city’s economic development as a whole. In short, the plan for WSU in Spokane focuses on the realities of the present and the predictions for the future.

Part of that future is the growth in numbers of people seeking college courses and academic degrees in our state. Washington’s Office of Financial Management projects a growth in statewide enrollment from 81,200 currently to 108,600 by the year 2020 at the four-year institutions. Expanded offerings in Spokane can meet some of that student need for wider college access.

The WSU in Spokane task force, led by WSU Provost Gretchen Bataille, includes Bill Gray, WSU Spokane campus dean and executive officer; Dorothy Detlor, dean of the Intercollegiate Center for Nursing Education/WSU College of Nursing here in Spokane; Les Purce, extended university affairs vice president; and Greg Royer, WSU executive director of budget and planning. I thank the task force and all those involved for doing excellent work.

Purce and I have had many, many conversations with community leaders of Spokane. And other WSU senior administrators, including Bataille, have met with dozens of elected officials, civic activists, business people, members of the higher education and K-12 academic communities for input into the plan. These conversations will continue and are part of an ongoing process as WSU defines its role in the region.

A key to the success of WSU’s efforts here has been - and will continue to be - communication with many individuals and organizations about issues important to Spokane.

I personally thank all the community leaders who have met with and advised us. And I thank my colleagues in our partnerships with the Spokane universities and colleges for their willingness to join in offering this opportunity. Thank you for joining us in helping Spokane grow and prosper.

You may obtain a copy of the draft plan at the WSU Web site, http://www.wsu.edu/provost/spokane98.htm, or by calling WSU Spokane, 358-7527.