Newsbeat

ASWSU and GPSA bring student voices to DC 

Student leaders from the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU) and the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) visited Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Washington’s congressional delegation and share the many stories and concerns of the students they represent.   ASWSU and GPSA discussed a range of federal issues impacting students, from student loan changes and protecting the Pell Grant, to investing in student support services, […]

February tax collections tick down

State revenue from tax collections returned $42.6 million or 2 percent lower than forecasted in the state’s latest economic revenue forecast released in February, according to the last revenue update produced by the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.  The decrease was driven by a $52.7 million or 2.7 percent lower than expected return for revenue act collections […]

Legislature approves operating, capital budget agreements

Legislative leaders adjourned their 2026 legislative session Thursday night after approving supplemental operating and capital budget agreements that yield a $3.3 million operating reduction for WSU while making investments in a handful of capital improvements for the university.  The operating budget compromise agreed to by Senate and House budget writers makes a $1.4 million general […]

Capital budgets offer differing approaches for WSU

Senate and House leaders aired their respective capital budget proposals Monday afternoon with the Senate proposing $17.9 million for investments in WSU’s infrastructure and the House proposing $4 million.  Those funds provided to WSU in the House version are allocated for minor works projects to help address the university’s list of deferred maintenance backlog that […]

Senate, House budgets curb cuts to WSU

Operating budget proposals released by Legislative leadership on Sunday afternoon would result in net reductions of $1.4 million for the Senate proposal and $2.6 million for the House proposal for Washington State University.  The reductions amount to a cut of less than one percent of WSU’s state appropriation, compared to the 5.2 percent reduction proposed […]

President Cantwell engages lawmakers in Olympia 

President Cantwell hit the wet and at times snowy ground running in Olympia this week. She spent the last two days advocating for the University – bringing WSU’s priorities straight to state lawmakers. Conversations with legislators again centered on the collective budget challenges facing the university and the state. The recent revenue forecast, which added $827 million to […]

State revenue forecast improves ahead of budget releases

The state’s Economic and Revenue Forecast Council on Monday adopted a new forecast of tax collections that adds $827 million to the current biennium, reducing a projected $2.3 billion shortfall. That’s a 1.1 percent increase. The new forecast also assumes in increase of just over $1 billion, or 1.3 percent, for the coming 2027-29 biennium.  […]

WSU Regent Hussein confirmed by state Senate

The Washington State Senate on Friday unanimously confirmed Washington State University student Amina Hussein to the university’s Board of Regents.  Hussein has been serving as student regent on WSU’s governing board since her appointment by Gov. Bob Ferguson last summer. Earlier this month, she spoke before the Senate Higher Education & Workforce Development Committee to […]

Senate committee advances Regent Hussein confirmation

WSU Student Regent Amina Hussein told lawmakers presiding over her confirmation hearing this morning how, for her, “leadership isn’t about position, it’s about passion of bettering the experiences of those around you.” The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee later voted to advance her confirmation to the Senate floor. Born in Kenya, and a proud immigrant, Amina Hussein […]

Bill would mandate letter grades in medical schools

WSU is opposing legislation which would require schools of medicine in Washington to assess students on a tiered system or letter grades. The Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is already in compliance with the bills for third- and fourth-year clinical rotations but grades on a pass/fail basis in years one and two to promote collaboration among […]