As we race towards the end of this academic year, I’ve been reflecting on the powerful partnerships and innovative curricula that enable our students to succeed in college and after they graduate. These initiatives also ensure that EWU continues to strongly support the professional workforce needs of this region. A few examples:
Online MBA: Starting in Fall 2019, students can complete the EWU Master’s in Business Administration entirely online—at a reasonable price. Students may focus on a broad base of essential management skills with an MBA in General Business or choose from high-demand concentrations in Finance, Accounting, or Global Business. More
EWU-Gonzaga Law Partnership: Partnership between EWU’s Provost Gordon and GU’s Law School Dean Rooksby has led to the EWU-GU Legal Education Collaboration Committee. The committee is exploring 3+3 articulation agreements that will enable EWU students to complete a bachelor’s degree and a GU law degree in six years instead of seven.
Cisco Partnership: Offered through EWU’s Engineering & Design Program, this partnership is directed toward people who work in IT and want to turn their Associate’s degree into a Bachelor’s degree with Cisco certification. EWU is one of only four universities nationwide that have developed this type of partnership with Cisco to help IT professionals progress in their careers. We have a similar powerful partnership between our Data Analytics program and Microsoft’s Data Science certification.
Another unique EWU collaboration is with Avista Development and McKinstry as we become the lead tenants in the new Catalyst building. EWU programs in computer science, electrical engineering and visual communication design will move into the building in 2020. An Innovation Hub in the building will connect EWU students and faculty with companies and organizations to solve business problems and provide workforce development opportunities.
I was delighted that EWU could highlight a number of these vibrant partnerships and programs during the second annual Workforce Summit organized by Paul Read and Spokane’s Journal of Business. Bringing together leaders to explore solutions for local problems surrounding the workforce pipeline, the event underscored the vital importance of EWU and our sister institutions to this region.
President Cullinan leads a panel of experts, including EWU Provost Scott Gordon (left), at the second annual Workforce Summit
As we celebrate our students’ achievements at the end of this academic year, I’m incredibly grateful to our many community partners. Working together, we’re helping to support students and address the professional workforce needs of our dynamic region.
Mary Cullinan
President, Eastern Washington University
