Preliminary Findings

Background

So many of you have shared so much. There is no way to do justice to it all in a report that must, necessarily, be sufficiently brief as to be read. So, first know that I value very much all the insights offered to me. People responded to six broad questions in the survey and, face-to-face, to diverse prompts. I find, though, that the responses can be largely organized around these topics: looking internally at our strengths and challenges; looking externally at our threats and opportunities. These findings did generate any number of reflections on my part, and I will conclude by offering those reflections for you to consider and critique. Finally, I always feel it necessary to point out the obvious: we are a superb university. I do this at the outset because, inevitably, the surveys I have received — and this report back to you — focus on those areas where we desire to be better. Consequently, a report such as this can end up being read as a critique of Western Washington University. Not at all. We are an excellent university; we know it; we owe an enormous debt to those who have led us to this level of distinction; and, as part of our obligation to them, to Washington, and to ourselves, we look to move forward by critically addressing our challenges and opportunities.

Strengths

By far, our excellent "academic reputation" was the most frequently reported strength. Indeed, it is my impression that the strength of our reputation is most strongly perceived among those off campus and in other parts of the state (legislators, the Governor, editorial boards, in-coming students and their parents, employers of our graduates). Certainly, we on campus are aware of the excellence at Western but I also sensed that we may not be fully aware of just how highly we are regarded.

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