WSU Vancouver hosted the WSU Board of Governors and Board of Trustees, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce’s Southwest Washington Tour, WSU’s annual Congressional and State Staff Fact-Finding Tour, and Senator Maria Cantwell this summer. Guests were able to tour campus and hear presentations from staff and faculty members. A special thank you to those who took time to present to our guests:

• Dana Baker, associate professor and director for the program of public affairs
• John Barber, faculty for the creative media and digital culture program
• Steve Bollens, professor and academic director for the School of the Environment
• Allison Coffin, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Cynthia Cooper, assistant professor of molecular genetics in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Jane Cote, academic director for the College of Business
• Alexander Dimitrov, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Dene Grigar, associate professor and director of the creative media and digital culture program
• Hakan Gurocak, professor and academic director for the School of Engineering and Computer Science
• Mistie Josephson, manager of Business Growth MAP in the College of Business
• Dave Kim, associate professor and coordinator of mechanical engineering for the School of Engineering and Computer Science
• Carolyn Long, associate professor for the School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs
• Brett Oppegaard, assistant professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Christine Portfors, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences
• Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens, clinical associate professor for the College of Arts and Sciences

Blue T-shirts and crimson buttons could be spotted throughout campus all last week. Thank you for participating in the effort to welcome new and returning students.

Connor Savage has joined the Office of Development and Alumni Relations as assistant director of development and will focus his fundraising efforts on the creative media & digital culture program.

Connor, ’02 WSU Pullman, has been working in development for non-profit organizations since 2003. He sits in the Dengerink Administration building, room 214 and can be reached at 6-9281 or by email.

4 – 5:30 p.m. Sept. 3
Firstenburg Student Commons

Celebrate the university’s commitment to diversity at Connections. The event will promote an environment where everyone feels welcomed and valued.

“Advancing diversity is a part of our strategic plan and Connections is a great way to reflect the importance of diversity to our campus,” said Bola Majekobaje, assistant director of student diversity.

Connections is free and open to the public. The event will feature multicultural food, music and artwork. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about diversity-related student organizations and non-profit organizations in the community.

Connections will be the debut for the museum-quality, traveling photo-text exhibit “In Our Family.” The exhibit focuses on 20 families representing a breadth of diversity and family configurations. The positive and realistic photographs, along with the candid interviews with family members of all ages, affirm an inclusive and expansive vision of family life today.

Following Connections, “In Our Family” will be on exhibit in the Dengerink Administration building gallery through Oct. 4.

Each year WSU closes the campus to all non-essential business operations at all locations between the Christmas holiday and the New Year Holiday as a way to save money. The timing of the holidays dictates December Closure days.

Monday, Dec. 23 is a normal work day. WSU will be closed in observance of holidays on Dec. 24, 25 and Jan. 1. WSU will be open for essential operations only, on Dec. 26, 27, 30 and 31.

Essential operations include designated business offices as well as public service operations.

Employees not deemed as part of essential operations are to account for the closure dates with appropriate accrued leave, personal holiday and/or leave without pay.

The December Closure calendar through 2015 can be accessed online. FAQs are available, too.

Please contact the human resource department at 6-9094 if you have questions regarding December Closure.

A copy of the WSU Vancouver Annual Security Report is available online. The report is also available in print upon request by contacting Public Safety at 6-9001 or by email.

The security report includes statistics for the previous three years concerning reported crimes that occurred on campus, in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by WSU Vancouver, and on public property within or immediately adjacent to and accessible from the campus. The report also includes institutional policies regarding campus security.

Please let interested students know the College of Pharmacy at WSU Spokane is participating in the national pharmacy school Early Decision program. Students who are interested in pharmacy school only at WSU can apply earlier, be interviewed earlier and commit to WSU if offered admission. The Early Decision application deadline is Sept. 3. Please note the WSU pharmacy program is now located completely in Spokane.

More information about the program and its benefits are available on the pharmacy website. Additional questions may be directed to Pharmacy Student Services by email or (509) 368-6605. The regular annual deadline for students applying through the national pharmacy school application process to multiple schools is Dec. 2.