Vision for WSU Tri-Cities
Signature 2020 & Destination 5000
As the only public four-year institution in south central Washington, WSU Tri-Cities is uniquely positioned to support the region’s economic development and higher education needs.
Our success will be realized by innovative partnerships that leverage our region’s assets. We have the distinction of being one of the few university campuses in the United States immediately adjacent to a national laboratory and some of the world’s largest engineering firms and globally-competitive private businesses. Accordingly, we will specialize in personalized education that meets the growing demand for industry-ready graduates.
In ten years, our campus will serve 5,000 students, of which 80% will be undergraduates and 20% will be those in pursuit of master’s and doctoral degrees.
We will be a destination campus for the greater Mid-Columbia region, with service to minority and first-generation college students, as well as those who choose to attend college while living close to home. We will be known as a campus rich in its cultural diversity, as the only four-year public institution in Washington with Federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).
We will be known nationally and internationally for signature programs supported by funded research in the engineering, sciences and technology disciplines, attracting research partnerships, world-class faculty and international graduate students.
We will have centers of distinction with global impact and reputation in bioproducts and clean energy, precision agriculture, viticulture and enology, and STEM education, supported by partnerships.
We will be a vibrant residential campus with facilities and services that support "24/7" campus life, engaging students and community in activities, sports, lectures, cultural events and performances.
Residents, organizations and businesses will experience the campus as integral to their quality of life and the region’s identity.
Our goal is to be highly valued by students for the depth and breadth of our academic quality, for our personalized education and small class size, and for the richness of faculty and student engagement connecting theory to practical applications.
Mission
Washington State University Tri-Cities values quality, innovation, experiential learning, community collaborations, and a campus rich in diversity. We offer personalized undergraduate and graduate education with faculty, staff, and students engaged in research, outreach and community service commensurate with the University’s land-grant mission.
Objectives
Quality: Challenging academic programs and partnerships for research innovation
- Develop innovative signature programs focusing on energy and the environment, wine science, and STEM education.
- Attract students and faculty regionally, nationally, and internationally.
- Expand professional graduate programs.
- Maintain and strengthen focus on personalized education.
- Grow resident faculty to keep pace with the growth of the student body.
Access: A residential campus with 5,000 students and HSI designation
- Create a vibrant 24/7 campus climate that:
• embraces diversity,
• engages students in social, cultural, recreational, service, and applied learning activities,
• supports student retention and academic success. - Lead regional partnerships in early outreach to increase participation in higher education.
- Sustain a broad array of academic programs to address the needs of students and the community.
- Grow the student body to 5,000 with 80% undergraduate and 20% graduate students.
Community Connectedness: Creative collaborations and partnerships
- Respond to community needs and demand for new partnership models in the delivery of teaching, research, and outreach.
- Collaborate fully with the community in realizing the vision for the campus and the region.
- Lead focused economic diversification initiatives as a founding partner of the Tri-Cities Research District.
- Enrich the region’s quality of life by providing athletic, cultural, and artistic opportunities.
- Require students to complete a community-based capstone project.