Message from Dean Lear 

The spring 2008 semester has drawn to a close as this message goes to press. This year, we have been living President Elson Floyd's approach by "quickening the pace," and we have been acting on his vision to emphasize excellence in the "land-grant" tradition. The triple efforts in large-scope projects—refreshing the University Strategic Plan, preparing for institutional reaccreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, and participating fully in the Academic Affairs Program Prioritization process—provided the College of Liberal Arts with a significant opportunity to state our goals and priorities. While our choices are, at this writing, still under review, we believe we have made a strong case for our college's role in helping WSU achieve AAU and Carnegie "engaged institution" status.

Our college's choices involve 3 thematic foci and 2 primary strategies. The foci appear in our revised CLA Plan:

1. Cultural Understanding and the Improvement of Intercultural and International Relations
2. Just and Sustainable Societies, Policies, and Practices
3. Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Aspects of Human Health

These foci have intersections yet are distinct. They prize the traditional liberal arts elements of the arts, humanities, and social sciences, but in a 21st-century context of a call to engagement and action that requires inter- and multi-disciplinary treatment in the actions we take to improve the world for individuals and communities. Our primary strategies are:

1. To emphasize the college's specific areas of expertise as we build research and creative activity success in connection with graduate programs related to the 3 themes, and
2. To strongly participate in a complete review and revision of undergraduate general education to meet the requirements of our students and external constituencies in contemporary society locally to globally.

Some things will change—a lot. Others won't. WSU remains committed to "world-class" quality, and to the face-to-face nature of excellent teaching and mentoring. The newer aspect of WSU's institutional image is "the world needs big ideas." Our college will be a central partner in WSU's development of technological, health sciences, environmental, economic, socially equitable, culturally diverse leadership and service. To play this central role, we will need to demonstrate daily our capacity to be as thoughtful as we have always been in the liberal arts but to act with equal rigor and effectiveness. The pace has quickened, and the direction of movement is positive societal impact.

As I conclude my term as dean of the College of Liberal Arts on August 15, 2008, Provost Bates has ensured an effective transition by appointing Dr. Paul Whitney as interim dean effective August 16. Interviews for the permanent dean will be held on campus during the early weeks of the fall 2008 semester. We are all deeply indebted to Paul for his service as associate dean in our college and now for his acceptance of the larger challenge of leading the college in its transition. My thanks go, as well, to Provost Robert Bates for his support and council during my term. And my thanks also go to President Elson Floyd for his acceptance of the challenge and opportunity of leading our university.

With deepest gratitude to all who have worked with me in these 4 years, and to all who will continue as the college moves forward,

Erich Lear, Dean
College of Liberal Arts