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Faculty Prospective and New Faculty

About WSU

Founded in 1890, Washington State University is a top-tier research university. As the state’s land-grant university, WSU’s mission is to improve quality of life.

More than 28,000 students are enrolled on WSU’s four campuses. The University offers more than 200 fields of study with 90 majors, 67 masters, 46 doctoral, and 2 professional degrees.

The University is organized into 11 colleges:

  • Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
  • Arts and Sciences
  • Business
  • Communication
  • Education
  • Engineering and Architecture
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Honors

Learn more about WSU on our Quick Facts page.

National Rankings

Of the nation’s more than 4,500 degree-granting institutions, WSU stands out as one of only about 100 ranked by the Carnegie Foundation for its “very high research activity.” The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching places WSU among 119 national universities and colleges that earn the Community Engagement Classification for curriculum, outreach, and partnerships.

Learn more about WSU’s academic excellence, top national rankings, balance between cost of attendance and quality of education, and focus on teaching and research on our Academic Excellence page.

World-class Faculty and Facilities

WSU has 10 National Academy members and top-ranked academic programs. Since 2008, WSU filed 503 patents and, during the same period, commercial relationships have generated over $10 million in revenue and $6 million in seed funding for start-up companies. Since 2008, WSU’s research awards have increased by 18.3 percent, placing WSU among the nation’s top land-grant research universities.

From one of the nation’s top golf courses to state-of-the-art life sciences labs, WSU’s facilities are recognized for their excellence and sustainability.

Learn more about the positive difference WSU faculty members are making by visiting our Honors and Impact page.

Shared Governance

Shared governance is the basic operating principle of WSU. The administration and the faculty jointly make decisions regarding the academic mission of the university. The Faculty Senate is involved in academic planning, curriculum development, and institutional governance. The leaders of the Senate meet regularly with the Provost and President. The Faculty Senate also publishes the Faculty Manual, which contains the policies and procedures that govern the faculty.

Faculty Policies and Performance

Visit Career and Advancement for information about advancement and Manuals and Forms to learn about policies relevant to faculty.

Teaching and Research

Learn about WSU’s commitment to teaching and research—and the variety of services and resources available to faculty members—on our Research and Teaching pages.