With a unified WSU System, we can better achieve our land-grant mission.

It’s easy to think of WSU individually based on its six campuses, six research and learning centers, and 39 extension centers. But we don’t think that way- instead, WSU is a system of campuses that are equally committed to a set of OneWSU operating principles. This creates an approach and way of thinking that unites the WSU system and consistently guides the institution’s day-to-day actions.

We recognize the unique strengths and identities of each campus and how they contribute to our students. Our approach is to provide appropriate levels of autonomy for each campus location, while at the same time ensuring consistent branding, quality, and mission.

In a world defined equally by tremendous opportunities and rapid change, the vision of the Washington State University system is built on the foundational purposes of the land-grant university: to provide education to all, to conduct scholarly inquiry that benefits society, and to share expertise that boosts the lives of individuals and communities.

OneWSU Principles

ONE DEGREE

The quality of a Washington State University degree will be the same at all campuses throughout the statewide system. All graduates earn a WSU diploma with no campus designation.

ONE FACULTY

All faculty, regardless of rank or appointment, are committed to the same standard of academic excellence across the system. The standards for faculty career advancement are fundamentally shared at all WSU campuses, ensuring a consistent level of educational experience and interdisciplinary scholarly quality and productivity system-wide.

SHARED ACCOUNTABILITY

WSU vice presidents, chancellors, and deans and their leadership teams each have unique and connected leadership roles that may encompass campus, college, unit responsibilities, as well as WSU system responsibilities, and are collectively accountable for the success of the institution and the system.

OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

WSU operates an efficient and effective organizational structure, characterized by system-wide operational and management processes that support and promote innovation, stewardship, entrepreneurship, and responsible risk taking. WSU core services, compliance, educational, executive, and business policies ensure organizational efficiency and effectiveness across the system.

FISCAL STEWARDSHIP

WSU’s system-wide budget model supports student success and academic excellence in alignment with the university’s system strategic plan and the institution’s shared mission and purpose. All WSU campuses, colleges, and other units operate within their authorized budgets, and are responsible for achieving fiscal, enrollment, and operating goals, as well as developing new sources of revenue that will fund future investments.

DATA-INFORMED DECISION MAKING

WSU proactively uses data in decision-making to enhance administrative efficiency and strategic leadership across the system. Strategic priorities, environmental sustainability, financial sustainability, resource allocations, transparency, and predictability are all based on data-informed performance indicators and metrics.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

WSU seeks out and embraces opportunities to partner with external stakeholders in an effort to solve the critical problems and issues that face the state of Washington and its residents. The university also encourages the development of entrepreneurial activities that lead to creative, solutions-oriented partnerships. WSU sustains and enhances community-university relations statewide.