By working with state elected officials, WashU promotes positive university engagement and empowers advocates and supporters to influence public policy that furthers WashU’s mission to teach, conduct groundbreaking research, and offer world-class patient care.
2025 Dates of Interest
Session Starts January 8
Session Ends May 16
Veto Session September 10
2025 General Assembly Makeup
State Relations News & Updates
Collective action, ongoing advocacy
WashU Advocates are raising awareness about WashU’s mission with government officials, communicating how the university works to solve societal challenges and improve lives.
WashU’s economic impact totals $9.3 billion
WashU’s direct and indirect impact to the St. Louis economy in 2024 totaled $9.3 billion, an increase of $500 million from 2023. During fiscal year 2024, which concluded June 30, WashU spent $3.9 billion on salaries, construction and purchasing. That money rippled across the region, generating another $5.4 billion in economic activity
WashU joins Thrive Scholars College Collaborative
Washington University in St. Louis is strengthening its partnership with Thrive Scholars, a national nonprofit that prepares high-achieving students from communities with limited resources to succeed at the nation’s top universities.
Rural student surprised with WashU Pledge scholarship
A team from WashU traveled 130 miles to Monroe City High School to deliver a big surprise to senior Angela Chen — early admission to the Class of 2029 and a WashU Pledge Scholarship, which will cover the full cost of her education. Chen is a graduate of the WashU Rural Scholars Academy.
WashU launches advocacy program, impact map
As the 2025 legislative session kicks off, the Office of Government & Community Relations at Washington University in St. Louis has launched an advocacy program as well as an online map demonstrating WashU’s impact across the state.
WashU Medicine reaches all-time high in NIH funding
NIH grants recognize the quality and significance of WashU Medicine research in enabling life-changing advances in medicine
Starting anew: WashU’s Empower program helps educated refugees tackle language, career hurdles
Free program is first of its kind in the nation.
Guidance on Political, Campaign and Lobbying Activity
Learn about hosting government officials and staff, candidates and campaign representatives, and other political guests.
This guidance assists members of the university community in understanding restrictions on lobbying and campaign activity and requirements for hosting events on campus that involve elected officials or political candidates in either their campaign or official government capacities.
Engaging with Policymakers
Faculty and staff who wish to or anticipate engaging with policymakers in an official capacity should inform the Government Relations team in advance. By law, those interactions must be included in quarterly reporting the university is required to file. WashU’s Government Relations team can also offer guidance on how to effectively engage with elected officials or agency leadership, support written testimony production and witness preparations, and – if necessary – accompany faculty or staff in meetings with policymakers and their staff.
WashU strives to promote the value of higher education and the positive social and economic outcomes that a thriving postsecondary education ecosystem brings our state.