History
WSU Pullman is not only the oldest and largest campus of the WSU system—as the flagship and fully residential campus, it serves as the cornerstone of innovation, creativity, research, and Cougar spirit for the system. Originally established as the “Washington Agricultural College, Experiment Station, and School of Science,” WSU has expanded tremendously over the course of its 132-year history, establishing four additional physical campuses across the state and a Global campus that serves students remotely from around the world.
When the legislature approved WSU’s original multi-campus system in 1989, they did so with the expectation that all campuses would develop focus areas directed at the needs of their distinct student bodies and communities. Following the completion of the WSU System Strategic Plan in 2020 and the subsequent OneWSU Initiative, it became clear that it was critical to have an Office of the Chancellor dedicated to the Pullman campus. In 2021, Elizabeth Chilton was named the inaugural WSU Pullman Chancellor.
2023-2028 WSU Pullman Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan Focus Areas
Focus Area 2: Innovation in Research and Creative Activities
Focus Area 3: Employee Development, Wellness, and Belonging
Focus Area 4: Community Engagement
Focus Area 5: Institutional Effectiveness and Accessibility
For a downloadable PDF version of the plan, please click here.
The Strategic Plan in Action
- One Scientist and an Ever-Expanding Mentoring Network Author By Vishva Nalamalapu, Office of the Chancellor Scott Stevison ’24 has long dreamt of doing research. “I like solving problems, and research allows me to do that over and over again,” he says. He didn’t, however, expect to jump into genetics research his first year at WSU Pullman. Nor did he expect to co-publish […]
- Could Fire Beat Water? Author By Vishva Nalamalapu, Office of the Chancellor Water suppresses fire, but fire may also suppress clean drinking water. Worsening wildfires could contaminate water with burnt materials, soil, and nutrients. This is especially concerning for communities in western Washington and Oregon, where millions of people rely on surface water for drinking water. Julie Padowski, a […]
- Making the Hills More Walkable Author By Vishva Nalamalapu, Office of the Chancellor Mitch Footer knows his way around Pullman. But that hasn’t always been true. It took a lot of trial and error. Now, along with other students and community partners, he is making the process more efficient for other people. They are developing a web app, “Walk the […]
For more news and events, visit the Office of the Chancellor news and events page.