WSU Tri‑Cities reports enrollment gains, research growth and program realignment; student researcher highlighted

WSU Tri‑Cities reported enrollment growth, rising research activity and a set of academic program adjustments at the March Board of Regents meeting in Tri‑Cities.

Chancellor Sandra Haynes told regents the campus admitted its largest first‑year class in history and reported a 3.3% overall enrollment increase for the academic year and a 16% increase in the incoming first‑year cohort. Spring enrollment was up 5.3%, Haynes said, crediting a tenacious local recruitment team that works directly with regional school districts.

Why it matters: The Tri‑Cities campus is one of the system’s growing research sites and its fiscal and academic choices affect local workforce pipelines, space and hiring plans. Haynes described a multi‑year academic portfolio and resource review intended to align course offerings to student demand and to reallocate funds where they serve more students.

Program and curriculum changes: Haynes said Tri‑Cities used enrollment and course‑section data to reduce low‑enrolled course sections and to consolidate or discontinue low‑demand majors. The campus restructured two programs by integrating required courses into existing majors and maintained cognate pathways where appropriate. One low‑enrollment bachelor of fine arts program was discontinued after graduating one student in seven years.

Faculty hiring and research: Haynes reported plans to hire five faculty for the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures (across at least three disciplines), eight social‑work faculty, three cybersecurity faculty, and single hires in engineering and education, funded in part by state proviso funding. The campus hosts the system’s third‑highest research expenditures and has received national recognition for several faculty, Haynes said.

Student research highlight: Undergraduate researcher Diego Manhel Monroy, a triple major in mechanical engineering, computer science and mathematics, presented three research projects. Projects included a Cartesian‑to‑polar grid mapping algorithm for simulation data, physics‑informed deep‑learning applied to fluid dynamics and an early‑stage federated learning system for multimodal Alzheimer’s detection that emphasizes patient privacy. Diego noted external summer funding from Battelle for undergraduate research and scholarship awards that supported his work.

Enrollment and retention initiatives: Haynes described an Office of Academic Engagement to support faculty pedagogy, data‑informed teaching and high‑impact practices (including undergraduate research and study abroad) aimed at improving retention. She said the campus used targeted course scheduling changes to reduce last‑minute section cancellations and better equalize faculty workloads.

Ending note: Haynes closed by noting local partnerships, including an Institute for Northwest Energy Futures open house that drew federal and state officials, and said the campus will develop a new strategic plan in tandem with system planning under the incoming president.