Our History

Photo: Aerial view of WSU Pullman Campus centered on Holland Library.

Decades of Online Learning Expertise

Since 1890, WSU has been working to fulfill its land-grant mission and provide top-tier higher education to students in Washington State. Today, WSU has expanded its reach around the world, delivering the same education directly into students’ homes through cutting-edge academic technology.

The timeline below lays out the history of Global Campus, demonstrating how WSU was among the first public universities to fully embrace distance degree programs and online learning.

Graphic: WSU Global Campus Timeline 1992—WSU offers distance degree completion programs 1997—WSU offers first online course 1998—WSU creates distance student government (now ASWSU Global) 2006—WSU Distance Degree Programs goes fully online 2010—WSU accepts online freshmen 2012—Global Campus becomes WSU’s fifth campus 2019—Global Campus’ first chancellor appointed Present—WSU Global Campus is a national leader in online learning offering 21 undergraduate degrees and 13 graduate degrees.

WSU Global Campus Timeline

  • 1992—WSU offers distance degree completion programs
  • 1997—WSU offers first online course
  • 1998—WSU creates distance student government (now ASWSU Global)
  • 2006—WSU Distance Degree Programs goes fully online
  • 2010—WSU accepts online freshmen
  • 2012—Global Campus becomes WSU’s fifth campus
  • 2019—Global Campus’ first chancellor appointed
  • Present—WSU Global Campus is a national leader in online learning offering 21 undergraduate degrees and 12 graduate degrees