Please encourage students to apply for the 2014/2015 Student Ambassador Team. Student Ambassadors represent the university to prospective students, their families and the community at large. Applications are due Feb. 3. For more information visit the Ambassador Application website.

Protect yourself and others by getting immunized against influenza. As the spring semester begins, increased flu activity is reported across the country and Clark County. WSU is urging staff, faculty and students to get a seasonal flu vaccination. This year’s vaccine includes the H1N1 strain, the most prominent flu virus in Clark County now. It’s not too late to get vaccinated, but don’t delay. The vaccine takes two weeks to build up antibodies to protect against the flu.

You can also help prevent the spread of illness by practicing good respiratory etiquette, such as covering your mouth and nose when sneezing, washing hands frequently, and taking care not to touch your eyes, nose and mouth.

Jan. 23, Engineering Computer Science Building, Room 201M

Attention PERS 2 and PERS 3 members: If you think important retirement decisions are only made when you're getting ready to retire, you're in for a big surprise. The most important choices you can make with your retirement plan happen while you're still working, preferably 10 to 30 years before you retire. Attend one of these seminars—it's never too early to start planning for retirement.

• 8 a.m. PERS 2 and 3 Plan Choice Seminar
• 9 a.m. Plan 3 Workshop
• 10 a.m. Getting to Know Plan 3 Seminar

For more information, contact Merlinda Sain.

7 – 9 p.m. Jan. 29
Library, Room 265

The first speaker in the 2014 Professional Writers Series will be Karen Karbo, presenting “Writing from the Heart and the Funnybones.” Karbo has written novels, memoirs, young adult fiction and nonfiction. Her best-selling “Kick Ass Women” series includes, most recently, “Julia Child Rules: Lessons on Savoring Life” (2013).

The Professional Writers Series brings award-winning writers from a variety of genres to campus for public presentations. This spring, six Pacific Northwest writers will speak about the trajectory of their careers, their successes and challenges.

2 – 3:30 p.m. Jan. 30
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 129

Staff and faculty are invited to attend a military student presentation by Jackie McReynolds, senior instructor in human development. Jackie has researched critical issues in academic advisement for military veterans. This session is designed to raise awareness of the specific challenges that military students face in higher education and to stimulate discussion of how our campus can best meet their needs.

Approximately 180 service members and their dependents are currently using their GI educational benefits at WSU Vancouver.

Military students have needs, challenges and experiences specific to military culture, and those often clash with the higher education environment, resulting in very low retention rates. The value of having a “safe place” for military students to gather on campus and a mentor who understands their challenges have been well documented.

5 – 8 p.m. Jan. 30
Science and Engineering Building Gallery

Meet artist Tom Relth, whose exhibit “Light and Pigment” is currently on display in the Science and Engineering Building Gallery, at a reception in his honor. Enjoy his works, tea, Moroccan cookies and live music by violinist C. Douglas Canoose.

Relth recently returned to the U.S. after teaching art to high school students in Casablanca, Morocco, for five years. “Light and Pigment” was influenced by the education, art history and work of Moroccan peer artists, driving him to bring the light and color of Morocco to his work. Relth works mainly with large canvases and wood panels. He uses both tube paints and dry pigments, such as mineral pigments and dried herbs and spices found in Mediterranean cuisine.

The January edition (PDF) of IT Happens is available. In this issue you'll find information about student computer lab hours, wireless access, videoconference services and more.