DESIGN CENTRAL
Welcome to Design Central for the WSU Systemwide Redesign initiative
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We're excited to introduce Design Central, powered by DESIGN+, the virtual hub for the Systemwide Redesign initiative at Washington State University. This platform provides essential information, links to surveys and resources, and keeps you updated on our progress. Your input is crucial to this process, and we encourage you to visit Design Central and actively participate in shaping the future of our WSU Systemwide Redesign.
The site will be continually updated with new information.
Video of Dr. Elizabeth Cantwell introducing the purpose and goals of the WSU Systemwide Redesign initiative.
About the project
Washington State University (WSU) is embarking on a systemwide redesign effort to explore how its five statewide campuses, Global Campus, and 39 county-based Extension offices can be more effectively aligned to meet the evolving needs of students, communities, and the state of Washington. The effort reflects WSU’s commitment to strengthening its land-grant mission, enhancing impact, and creating a more responsive and resilient system.
This project comes at a strategically important moment. Over time, the WSU system has grown in size and complexity, creating an opportunity to assess how its campuses, programs, and structures are organized, financed and supported.
Through a collaborative and inquiry-driven process, WSU aims to better understand what is needed for long-term sustainability, how to align resources with priorities, and how to evolve institutional models that are innovative, budget-informed and regionally responsive. This work will generate recommendations that honor the distinct strengths of each location while advancing the system’s overall coherence and effectiveness.
The purpose of this project is to:
Understand and address the current state i.e., what is,
Explore future aspirations and hopes, i.e., what might be, and
Determine courses of action to maximize the academic excellence, access, and impact of WSU Systemwide to better serve the educational and economic needs of Washington communities now and with a focus on a 10 year horizon.
Our core charge
How can we design a WSU system that most effectively allows us to be a world-class land-grant university in terms of student success, innovation, and engagement?
The WSU Systemwide Redesign will be focused on asking and answering four key questions:
What unique strengths and opportunities can WSU leverage to become the number 1 choice for higher education in Washington and beyond?
How can we redesign our organizational structures and operations to maximize student success, innovation, and engagement in a rapidly changing environment?
What strategies will enable WSU to serve an evolving, diverse population—while advancing economic, workforce, and community impact as a world-class land-grant university?
How can emerging technologies (such as AI, VR, and AR) and data-driven insights be integrated to create a future-ready WSU system?
The Redesign Approach
Redesign approach full text
Phase 1: discover, October / November / December
Gather data, strategically engage various stakeholders to explore opportunities, aspirations, and obstacles.
Workshop: October 9-10
Phase 2: design, January / February / March
Use insights to generate ideas for systemwide solutions, create potential concepts and solicit feedback.
Workshop; January 28-30.
Phase 3: iterate, April / May
Integrate feedback to refine concepts and action plans, solicit feedback to strengthen the plans.
Workshop: April 9-10.
Phase 4: action plan, May / June / July
Finalize action plans and prepare to socialize them with key stakeholders across the state.
See who is on the WSU Co-Design Council, advocating for the needs of individuals across the state of Washington, on the People page.
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