Spotlight Passes Over Excellence, Shines On Negatives At WSU
As an alumnus of Washington State University I find it painful to hear people denigrate the entire institution for the actions of a few.As a WSU regent I must look at these issues in an objective light, and when I do, I see that a lot is being overlooked.
While it is true that we have had a number of student behavior problems, much of what has been written about WSU recently does a terrible disservice to the vast majority of students and graduates of this institution.
By far, the majority of WSU students are responsible and dedicated to obtaining a quality education. How do we know that? We can tell by the results of our work.
If you look at the research conducted over the past ten years, it is clear that graduates are satisfied with their choice to attend WSU, with the education they received and with the careers they embarked upon.
Eighty seven percent of the most recent alumni surveyed said they would choose WSU again, 93 percent would recommend WSU to a friend or family member, and 95 percent considered their investment in an education at WSU worthwhile. Some 78 percent have found careers directly related to their course of study.
It is no wonder these alumni are satisfied. WSU has an academic reputation that seldom makes headlines, but is nonetheless world-class. Let me give you some examples:
Our undergraduate writing program is considered to be of such a high caliber that it has become a national model and is a benchmark for other institutions. WSU is the only major, public, research university in the country to require an approved writing portfolio for graduation.
The WSU Veterinary College is among the finest anywhere. Our Veterinary Teaching Hospital is recognized as the most advanced facility of its kind. People from all over the world bring animals there for specialized treatment.
We have one retired and five current WSU faculty members who belong to the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, the top recognition for scientists.
The Murrow School of Communications is considered to be among the best in the nation. The Radio and Television News Directors Association has ranked the Television News sequence in the top four. Successful WSU graduates can be found working throughout the media.
The WSU Honors College is ranked among the top eight in the nation according to Money magazine. The Honors College makes up approximately 10 percent of the undergraduate population. Founded in 1960, it is one of the oldest and most well-known programs in the nation. We offer a highly developed, enriched curriculum designed to help academically-talented students make the most out of their education at WSU.
The WSU Institute for Biological Chemistry is the largest program of its kind. More than 150 researchers work in the unit. IBC graduates have engaged in spectacular careers as research scientists and educators around the world.
WSU is a national leader in the use of technology in education. The university was among the first in the country to utilize technology for distance education. This month Yahoo! Internet Life magazine, in its “Most Wired” survey, recognized WSU as the best in the West and ninth in the nation when it comes to technology access for students and use of the Internet. In 1999 WSU was ranked as the nation’s “most wired” public university.
That’s just a short list of superlatives about WSU and I could go on, but none of that is news to our alumni. They know what a great place WSU is and they demonstrate their satisfaction by consistently donating at one of the highest rates among public universities. We were number one in the nation for giving by alumni in 1998 and currently rank among the top two or three.
Despite misperceptions, the fact is that the WSU campus in Pullman is a very safe place. Statistics from the FBI and other sources put the campus at or near the top of the list among PAC 10 schools. Among Washington State schools there are nine institutions with crime rates higher than WSU according to the national crime rate rankings on APB.com, a law-enforcement-oriented Web site.
We know there are still problems on campus and WSU is dealing with them. Efforts are underway from top to bottom to change the culture among those who party to excess. Make no mistake, discipline is and will be imposed on those who break the rules.
But it is important to recognize the overwhelming majority of students pursue their education, act responsibly and enjoy the experience of living on a residential campus.
I remember my parents encouraging me to go to college and I will be forever grateful for their advice and the sacrifices they made. I spent five wonderful years at WSU. It’s a great university and Pullman is a great community. I received a quality education that prepared me for my profession. My liberal arts courses prepared me for understanding the world we live in. I made lifelong friends - most importantly my wife of 29 years. It’s an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything. I’m proud to be a Cougar.