Dear Eagle Family and Friends:
It’s hard to believe we’re already one month into 2020 and heading toward winter quarter midterms!
We’re also almost halfway through the legislative session in Olympia – this being the short interim session, not a “budget year.” However, significant policy and financial issues continue to come forward, so I spent a week on the west side in January engaging with our policymakers and representatives.
As Eastern continues to focus on our students’ academic and professional success, we’re asking for state funding to help offset EWU’s lower tuition base. The additional revenue would help augment wrap-around programs that support our students. An annual investment in EWU would reaffirm the legislature’s commitment to equity and inclusion and provide enhanced opportunities for our diverse and talented students.
That week, too, the six public university presidents met with Gov. Inslee (pictured below), and we all continue to speak regularly with our legislators.
Also in January, we were delighted to learn that the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship named EWU as 2020’s top emerging entrepreneurship program. This is the most coveted award among U.S. entrepreneurship educators. The EWU program was applauded for its innovation, boldness, and student impact. Prior winners include Florida State University, UMass Amherst, Ohio University, the University of Tampa, and Kansas State University.
January is one of our biggest months to get out and support our community. On January 20, we held our annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, which started with Spokane’s MLK Unity Rally and March, and continued with a pre-service lunch at the EWU Spokane campus and service projects across Spokane County.
In February, we look forward to hosting the 2020 USA Curling National Championships at our University Recreation Center in Cheney.
I hope this new decade is continuing well for you. I look forward to sharing more news next month.
Mary Cullinan
President, Eastern Washington University
