EWU must share sacrifice though all levels

Eastern Washington University is at a major point in its history. Since 1882, EWU has provided the region with thousands of highly skilled graduates, with more EWU Alumni in the Spokane area than any other university.

But with the declining enrollment, state mandated budget cuts and Covid related issues, now is the time for extraordinary leadership to step up. Unfortunately, this is missing, not only from the Board of Trustees, but also from a few in the highest levels of leadership. A sense of eroding trust and integrity in processes is creating significant barriers to shared solutions.

Faculty must share in the difficult challenges to cut programs and to increase efficiencies. Administration has had to make significant cuts to other staff. Athletics had already made cuts and staff reductions along with voluntary salary cuts. While an easy target, athletics provides the opportunity for a significant number of minority

students to achieve academic success. Athletics has historically provided high GPA averages across all sports and generated outstanding, team oriented successful graduates.

It is time for EWU to create a plan that will maintain a role of regional leadership, support the full student experience and drive our regional economy. There has to be shared sacrifice through all levels of the institution. For that to happen, we need all levels of leadership at EWU be transparent, to act with integrity and to truly lead!

Past EWU Alumni Presidents;

Jeff Stannard, present

Kelleye Martin, ‘17

Fran Bierig, ‘10

Doug Kelley, ‘06

Terri Hayman, ‘05