News

Washington State University faculty and staff are encouraged to meet with employers when students and others seeking jobs and internships attend this fall’s Career Expo and Technical Fair on Oct. 3 and 4. “It’s a great way for us to connect academia to employers offering jobs and internships, and to learn directly from recruiters what job skills are in demand for our students,” said Amanda Morgan, associate director of Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC). “Of course, we also hope faculty and staff will encourage their students to attend the event. More than 250 employers will be there and that offers great opportunities.”

For the first time in its 16-year existence, the Washington State University Common Reading Program has produced a detailed guide to help faculty and staff better use the year’s common book strategically and effectively in classes, assignments, activities, and programming. “The 58-page booklet is online and packed with information, ideas, examples, and references to bring to life the 2022-23 book, Braiding Sweetgrass, for first-year and other students in creative and even fun ways,” said Samantha Solomon, principal investigator on the grant that funded the guide’s creation.

Washington State University faculty have been awarded the university’s inaugural Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) grants for advancing inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) to advance teaching and learning systemwide. “The four funded projects show a remarkable depth and breadth of creativity in terms of IDEA initiatives,” said Erika Offerdahl, director of the Transformational Change Initiative. “We are pleased the grants will support innovative projects that can be in place for students as early as fall semester.”

Five Washington State University faculty proposals for Smith Teaching and Learning Grant awards have been approved for funding, said William B. Davis, interim vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement. “The five projects funded by Smith grants will literally impact the student success and academic progress of hundreds of WSU students, and we are impressed by the innovative ideas advanced by all of the applicants. We will look forward to seeing the progress on, and the results from, these projects, with final reports due in August 2023.”

The Washington State University Division of Academic Engagement and Student Achievement (DAESA) hosted a spring event where numerous, diverse awards were presented to faculty, staff, and students for their outstanding accomplishments throughout the 2021-22 academic year. “The efforts made by dedicated, engaged team members and individuals impact the student success of every student at our university, and it’s an honor for DAESA to recognize many of those who made exceptional contributions,” said William B. Davis, interim vice provost.

WSU’s commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) is taking another step forward with the announcement of new Transformational Change Initiative (TCI) grants now available to faculty. “Applications are open through April 4 for these latest innovative awards from the Provost’s Office,” said Bill Davis, interim vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement. “We’re enthusiastic about the TCI IDEA grants because they are available to a wide range of instructors across the WSU system, the projects will focus on innovation in teaching and learning, and many will be underway as early as this summer.”

WSU announces that applications for the next Richard G. Law Excellence Award for Undergraduate Teaching will be accepted through Thurs., March 10, 2022. Following reviews by the Law Award Committee, the recipient will be announced mid- April at the annual awards event for the Division of Academic Excellence and Student Achievement (DAESA). “The Law Award recognizes exceptional educators for their efforts to provide top learning experiences for WSU students,” said Clif Stratton, UCORE director. Recipients of the Law Award are described as educators who inspire curiosity into, and understanding of, an area of study.

Washington State University faculty with innovative ideas to enhance teaching and learning are encouraged to apply by March 14, 2022 for a Smith Teaching and Learning Grant of up to $5,000, announced William B. Davis, interim vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement. “Innovative faculty have benefitted from Smith grant awards for many years and have created a number of projects to advance education and pedagogies that ultimately benefit our students and their success,” said Davis.

WSU is using the immersive digital environment of virtual reality to connect high schoolers with mentors to help prepare them for college. “Using cutting-edge technology, we’re using immersive VR experiences to engage in simulated environments that give the sense that the students—or actually their avatars—are meeting in person with their WSU student mentors,” said Ray Acuña-Luna, director of College Access Programs in the Office of Academic Engagement.

The Washington State University Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President has filled two new interim vice provost positions with experienced program directors and alumni Terese King and Michael Highfill. “These appointments support the evolving role and responsibilities of DAESA at the university,” said William B. Davis, DAESA interim vice provost for academic engagement and student achievement. “We appreciate the vision and leadership they will bring to their new roles and look forward to the many valuable contributions they will make.”