Board of Trustees

Board of Trustees
Student Trustee
Board Members
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
Contact the Board of Trustees

The University’s Governing Body

The Board of Trustees has broad responsibility to supervise, coordinate, manage, and regulate Eastern Washington University. It directs the university’s implementation of initiatives and programs and controls the university’s property and facilities. Further, the Board is responsible for employment of the president. See RCW 28B.35.120 for a more in depth description of the general powers and duties of the Board.

For detailed information on University Governance and for the Board of Trustee bylaws, please read EWU 101-02 policy. To learn more about the roles and responsibilities of the Board Chair and Vice Chair, please read our operational document.

We welcome your attendance and participation at any of our meetings!

Mission

The Board of Trustees of Eastern Washington University will assure students, their families and the citizens of the state of Washington that the university will provide high quality, student-centered educational and service programs. Promoting excellence, the Board will further assure that the university is accountable, both academically and financially. The Board will serve as an advocate for the university, as a steward of the public trust, and as a participant in charting the future course of Washington post-secondary education.

From left: Jay Manning, Kim Pearman-Gillman, Robert Whaley, Vicki Wilson, Christine Johnson, Uriel Iñiguez, Shaena Morgan, Jim Murphy

Board of Trustees 2021-2022 Strategic Goals

  1. Fully engage to provide active leadership in
    1. support of our university throughout the region and the state.
    2. meeting the Board’s fiduciary responsibilities of care, loyalty, and obedience to our university.
    3. supporting EWU student access, retention, success, and job placement to align with the needs of our students and the community.
    4. enhancing engagement with the campus community to better understand university-specific trends and needs and increase two-way communication.
    5. building upon the ever-changing landscape with an eye toward finding new pathways with thoughtful consideration for inter-generational sustainability. Accept and engage new methods of delivering education, where appropriate.
  2. Engage with the university president, provost, and leadership to actively support the continuing implementation of our university strategic plan and realignment, and to monitor the results.
  3. Actively support and monitor the diversity among faculty, staff, and the student body and promote a culture of inclusion that welcomes a wide array of backgrounds, life experiences, ethnicities and viewpoints.
  4. Support the EWU Foundation and university efforts during the comprehensive campaign, and continue to partner with the Foundation to enhance board relations.
  5. Actively engage with the administration, faculty, and students to continue to provide a high-quality educational experience while being diligent in our efforts to keep all people on campus safe and healthy as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and return to a residential campus.
  6. Actively support the development and implementation of an athletics department plan that achieves long term financial sustainability and maintains athletic excellence.
  7. Complete a high-quality presidential search and appoint a permanent president at EWU.

Time Commitment

The Board is composed of eight members, including one student. Appointed by the governor, trustees serve six-year terms. Student Trustees serve a one-year term.

Board members are expected to attend all regularly scheduled board meetings, work sessions, and retreats. A typical annual schedule is comprised of four regular Board meetings, a telephonic meeting, and a retreat, not including any special meetings called.

The Board recognizes the need for continuing involvement in university-related organizations, in-service training, and education for Board members. The Board encourages the participation of all members in meetings, conferences, and workshops at the local, regional, and national levels, which are sponsored by the Association of Governing Boards (AGB) and are directly pertinent to their duties as members of the Board.

Apply to Serve on EWU's Board of Trustees

All applications to serve are submitted and managed by the office of the governor. For details on how to apply, please visit the governor’s website.

Also available on the governor’s website are ways to recommend an applicant and resources for appointees.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Board receives email at boardoftrustees@ewu.edu. Or, please write to:

Eastern Washington University Board of Trustees
214 Showalter Hall
Cheney, WA, 99004

The president of the university is the secretary to the Board. Therefore, you may contact the president at president@ewu.edu or the executive assistant to the president and board of trustees at cmbennett@ewu.edu.

The Board is charged to hold accountable the institution with regards to implementation of initiatives, programs, facilities and is responsible for employment of the president. See RCW 28B.35.120.

Electronic invitations are encouraged and preferred. Please send to the Board’s executive assistant, Chandalin Bennett, at cmbennett@ewu.edu.

The agenda and supporting documents are available on the Board website approximately one week before a Board meeting.

A request for any meeting agenda or meeting minutes that are not currently linked on our website can be submitted to boardoftrustees@ewu.edu.

Committee of the whole is an open meeting. It provides Board members the opportunity to see presentations or attend work sessions in order to be informed about various university topics.

Executive session is a closed session and the topics discussed are limited to specific topics as permitted by law.