The conclusion was drawn based on the low rates of enrollment and completion of baccalaureate programs for Washington residents as compared to other states around the country.

The newly formed campuses, including WSU Spokane, were charged with a mission to expand access to upper division and graduate higher education and to foster regional development.

The upper division focus (which has since evolved as some of the campuses now offer four-year degrees) was meant to complement Washington's relatively large and geographically distributed community college system and to meet local labor market demand for higher education.

The effort moved responsibility of nearly all of the medical residences in Eastern Washington to the consortium's Spokane Teaching Health Center.

A clinic for the residents and WSU students working in teams to serve low-income community members was finished in early 2016.

The 48 acres (19 ha) urban campus, which was originally established by the Joint Center for Higher Education (JCHE), is located in Spokane's University District, just east of downtown.

Research occurs in the areas of sleep and performance, cancer, mental health, molecular biosciences, and substance abuse.