First-of-its-kind, $1M gift strengthens student support in College of Arts and Sciences

An anonymous donor has made a $1 million gift of private equity stock, the first of its kind to support Washington State University's College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), creating the Power of Arts and Sciences Endowed Fund - a flexible fund that will expand student access and support services in years to come.

The Power of Arts and Sciences Endowed Fund prioritizes first-generation students or students who face significant barriers to attending or completing college, an area of growing importance across higher education. The support comes as affordability, basic needs, and everyday financial pressures are increasingly shaping whether students persist or pause their education.

"This is an investment in students when it matters most," said Courtney Meehan, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. "Too often, the difference between staying enrolled or stepping away is not academic ability. Rather, it is an unexpected bill, a missed paycheck, or an opportunity a student cannot afford to pursue. This pledge gives us the flexibility to step in and say, 'We've got you.'"

Flexible support with real impact

The fund is intentionally broad in scope, giving the college the ability to respond quickly and strategically to emerging student needs. That flexibility is essential in a college that serves thousands of students across the humanities, social sciences, and sciences.

"This kind of flexible support can make a real difference," said Sam Swindell, associate dean, Undergraduate Studies and professor. "Sometimes it's helping a student cover conference travel before reimbursement comes through, replacing a laptop that suddenly fails, or providing emergency assistance when an unexpected expense threatens to derail a semester. Those are the kinds of barriers students encounter every day, and having a resource like this allows us to respond quickly."

Supporting first-generation Cougs

Roughly one in three WSU undergraduates identifies as a first-generation student. For many, navigating financial systems, academic requirements, and campus resources can add layers of complexity to an already demanding experience.

Within the College of Arts and Sciences, expanded advising, mentorship initiatives, and career-readiness efforts are designed to support students from their first semester through graduation. The new fund strengthens that work. It reinforces a broader commitment: ensuring that opportunity in CAS is not limited by circumstance.

"Access without support is not enough," Meehan said. "Our responsibility is not only to welcome students to WSU, but to ensure they have what they need to thrive and graduate. This pledge helps us fulfill that promise."

A timely investment in student success

Colleges nationwide are navigating rising student financial pressures, from housing and food costs to transportation and academic materials. Research continues to show that financial stress and basic needs insecurity are closely tied to retention and completion outcomes.

By establishing a flexible, student-centered resource, the anonymous donor has given the College of Arts and Sciences a powerful tool: the ability to intervene early, reduce disruption, and keep students moving forward.

Over the coming years, distributions from the pledge will expand scholarships, strengthen bridge support, and open doors to the kinds of learning experiences that ensure CAS students graduate career-ready and world-ready.

For the college, the message behind the gift is clear.

"Our students are capable of extraordinary things," Meehan said. "When we remove barriers and expand opportunity, there is no limit to what they can achieve."