Homepage Feature

The WSU Common Reading Program welcomes Priya Fielding-Singh, author of this year’s book, How the Other Half Eats: The Untold Story of Food and Inequality in America, for an invited lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 15, at the CUB Senior Ballroom on the WSU Pullman campus, followed by a book-signing. The talk will be streamed live. The event is free and open to the public. At noon that day, a special question-and-answer session is offered to WSU students systemwide who register prior to the Q&A.

Faculty at two WSU campuses are deliberately and uniquely going beyond the norm to prepare students to be career ready. Fifty-one WSU Pullman and WSU Vancouver general education professors from 23 disciplines—fellows who have completed the Core to Career Program—embed career-oriented skill-building into their assignments. Over the past three years at Pullman alone, nearly 9,000 students who took courses from one or more fellows were made aware early in their academic journey that they are developing skills they could pitch to a hiring manager—ones that go beyond knowledge in their major.

The Washington State University Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement (DAESA) and its partnering programs presented 21 types of awards to nearly 70 faculty and staff members, students, and, for the first time, an employer who hires WSU students. “Our award recipients represent disciplines and programs across all of WSU, and their accomplishments evidence many forms of student success and exceptional teaching and learning,” said William B. Davis, interim vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement.

The system-wide Washington State University Writing Program and its units will be led starting July 1 by Angela Mitchell, current director of first-year writing at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte (UNC). “Dr. Mitchell brings to WSU years of experience guiding university writing initiatives in addition to considerable teaching experience and research into writing studies,” said William B. Davis, interim vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement in the provost’s office.

Washington State University Smith Teaching and Learning Grant applications detailing innovative plans to enhance teaching and learning can be submitted through March 13, 2024. Proposals, including a signed endorsement by the applicant’s chair, can be submitted through an online application form located on the DAESA website. The focus area for 2024-25 grants is shifting to encompass a broader range of teaching and learning transformations and must address one or more of the Eight Principles of Effective Teaching, as outlined by the Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of Texas.

Starting July 1, 2024, the Washington State University Office of Assessment for Curricular Effectiveness (ACE) will be led by WSU alum Lindsey (Kimble) Brown immediately following the retirement of long-time director Kimberly Green. “WSU is indebted to Kimberly for her years of devoted leadership and creative vision, and we look forward to many future ACE achievements with Lindsey at the helm,” said Elizabeth Chilton, provost and executive vice president and WSU Pullman chancellor. “We congratulate them both and extend our sincere thanks for their service.”

The Washington State University Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement (DAESA) celebrated the recent accomplishments of faculty, staff, and students at an April 13 event where a spectrum of awards was presented. “The endeavors our programs undertake to advance academic student success and promote faculty development are impressive,” said William B. Davis, interim vice provost for DAESA, part of the Provost’s Office. “We are pleased to recognize at our annual celebration the outstanding accomplishments of so many of our people.” A total of 19 types of awards were presented at the annual event.

A Washington State University system-wide committee has updated the suite of one-to-four-credit university (UNIV) student-success courses and processes for the first time in a decade, resulting in several changes effective starting in fall 2023. Some changes impact the elective courses themselves, and some changes impact procedures. “The UNIV Curriculum Committee saw the opportunity to be more intentional as to how instructors across the university teach using the UNIV curriculum, and to create processes to ensure centralized review of new UNIV course proposals and also that defined student learning outcomes are built into syllabi across every section taught,” said Michael Highfill, interim assistant vice provost for academic engagement and student development, and committee chair.

Washington State University faculty with innovative ideas to advance teaching and learning are invited to apply by March 13 for awards to fund projects. Both funding opportunities must directly attend to issues related to inclusivity, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA). Smith Teaching and Learning and TCI IDEA grants have similarities but are quite distinct, with key differences between the two. Smith Teaching and Learning grant proposals must address classroom culture and instructional pedagogy through innovative practices that improve student learning. Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) Grants for Advancing IDEA fund collaborations and projects of varying scope.

Washington State University students can explore job possibilities by meeting with more than 100 employers at the spring Career Expo days, Feb. 6 and 7. The virtual expo on Monday runs from noon to 3 p.m., and the in-person expo Tuesday is from noon to 4 p.m. in Beasley Coliseum. “We’re expecting more than 120 employers to be at tables in Beasley, and about 45 employers are ready to engage virtually with students the day before,” said Amanda Morgan, associate director of the Academic Success and Career Center, which organizes and hosts the Career Expo. All students from all majors and years in college are invited to the event and should register beforehand on Handshake.