Leaders from three of WSU’s campuses met with over a dozen legislators over two days advocating for top WSU legislative priorities. Chancellors Sandra Haynes of WSU Tri-Cities, Mel Netzhammer of WSU Vancouver, and Daryll DeWald of WSU Spokane met with their local legislators as well as key lawmakers given the university’s asks, with the top priority being a cost of living adjustment for university employees.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Haynes met with the legislators from the Tri-Cities with discussion topics including the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (INEF) and the university’s legislative ask to establish a four-plus-one bachelor’s and master’s of social work on the Tri-Cities campus. Chancellor Netzhammer participated in meetings on Thursday to provide updates on the developing construction of the Vancouver Life Sciences Building, previously funded by the Legislature, with legislators from Southwest Washington. He also spoke with lawmakers about the bachelor’s of public health degree WSU is seeking funding for. Chancellor DeWald also shared with lawmakers from his region the importance of funding WSU’s salary enhancement ask for nursing faculty and staff, which have seen a significant turnover in the past three years. He also advocated for the Team Health Education Building, which would add much needed capacity for the growing health sciences disciplines on the Spokane campus.
The state Legislature is now beyond the midway point of the 105-day session, as week 10 of 15 concludes. A new forecast of state revenues will be produced Monday, providing legislators with the final piece of information they will need to roll out their operating budget proposals over the next two weeks.
Below, WSU Tri-Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes records remarks about the campus’ work on energy research initatives for a local legislator’s newsletter.
