WSU Vancouver selected to “Re-Imagine the First Year”
The American Association of State Colleges and Universities has announced that WSU Vancouver is among 44 institutions nationwide invited to participate in its “Re-Imagining the First Year of College”
project. The three-year project supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USA Funds, is aimed at ensuring success for all students, particularly those who have historically been underserved by higher education: Low income, first generation and students of color.
Member institutions will work together to develop comprehensive, institutional transformation that redesigns the first year of college and creates sustainable change for student success.
June Canty, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs, will lead the project for
WSU Vancouver and chair a 10-member steering committee. Participants will receive extensive support through national meetings, expert webinars, individual consultation, and online resources and tools. The project will build a robust collection of integrated strategies, programs and approaches that participating campuses can adapt to improve student success.
Thank you, steering committee members:
June Canty, chair, associate vice chancellor for academic affairs Mike Caulfield, director of blended and networked learning Elias Cohen, research specialist Paul Krouss, math instructor Michelle McIlvoy, director of student development Cindy Morical, academic coordinator Wendy Olson, associate professor of English and director of composition and writing assessment Andrea Olvera, student Sue Peabody, professor of history Elizabeth Soliday, associate professor of human development Aaron Whelchel, instructor in the College of Arts and Sciences
IT introduces Tech Support Service
Tech Support Services
is a newly created team in IT to provide faculty, staff and students with front-line support including: Help desk, computer purchasing and replacement, move coordination, computer labs and campus outreach. The team is led by Patti Paris and includes Marty Randolph, Sujatha Shynne, Aaron Thorne and 19 student employees.
“Imagined Experiences” by Portland-based artist Allyson Ross is on exhibit in the Dengerink Administration Building Gallery through April 8. Ross’s three-dimensional works challenge the typical use of plinths and drapery, creating sculptures that neither reveal nor conceal but simply depict protective draperies as objects unto themselves. Her hand-cut paper reliefs react to reproducibility and the affect of the commercial image on our perception of the external world.
Larry S. Sherman, senior scientist and professor at Oregon Health & Science University, will discuss the neurological basis for racial prejudice and the physiological effects of racism. Free and open to the public.
Eat catfish on Fat Tuesday
Lunchtime Feb. 9
Dengerink Administration Building Café
Culture Café brings you blackened catfish, red beans and rice, and collard greens for $5.39 this Tuesday. The soup of the day, sold separately, will be chicken and shrimp gumbo.
Celebrate Black History Month
5 – 7 p.m., Feb. 11
Firstenburg Student Commons
“Black History in Action: Celebration of Art, History and Culture” will honor Black History Month with awareness activities, talk, music and more this Thursday. Event highlights include a talk by Thabiti Lewis, associate professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and a dance performance by Hip Hop Soulsation Academy. Food provided by
PoShines Café De La Soul. The free event is brought to you by Black People United, and co-sponsored by Student Diversity Center and Associated Students of WSU Vancouver. For more information, contact Jose Scott.
This Thursday the Professional Writers Series
will host Steven Rea. As movie critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer for more than 20 years, Rea covers the industry both nationally and internationally. He is also the author of “Hollywood Rides a Bike—Cycling with the Stars” and the forthcoming “Hollywood Café—Coffee with the Stars.” He has also written for such publications as Entertainment Weekly, High Fidelity and the Paris Review. This year invited authors will discuss the trajectory of their careers, their successes and challenges.
Promote your event in the next issue of Northwest Crimson & Gray
Marketing and Communications wants to promote WSU Vancouver events in the March issue of Northwest Crimson & Gray magazine. All types of events may be included—information sessions, lectures, performances, registration deadlines, service projects and workshops. To qualify, events must: Be open to the public or other external audience; have a confirmed event title, date and time; and take place between March 16 and Sept. 1.
Send Maureen Keller your event information by Feb. 12 to make the print deadline.
Learn the tips and tricks of successful event planning
Event planning on campus is changing to accommodate growth. This semester we are testing a new fee-for-service model. No money will change hands during the test. Mock invoices will be generated to give event planners an idea of what their events may cost in the future.
Faculty, staff and students who plan events are encouraged to attend a training, “Tips and Tricks for Successful Event Planning,” to learn about
event packages and a la carte pricing, and how to efficiently and effectively plan a successful event. Hear from catering, IT, public safety, marketing and more. Learn about new online resources to help you plan from start to finish.
Volunteer for MESA Day
April 2
WSU Vancouver
Support STEM education in Southwest Washington by volunteering for MESA Day this spring. Volunteers are needed for: leading activities, food service, serving as a guide, judging, photography, and setup and tear down. No experience is necessary. To volunteer, contact Debbie Blas at 6-9355 or Dora Hernandez at 6-9122.
Aka parents not only allow their infants to handle such tools, they teach them how to do it correctly, according to a new study co-authored by
Barry Hewlett, a cultural anthropologist at Washington State University-Vancouver, who has been studying the Aka for 40 years.
In February, Washington State University Vancouver will launch MAP Tech Collective, a cohort for technology businesses. Funded by a $125,000 grant from JPMorgan Chase & Co, MAP Tech Collective will help technology businesses grow and positively impact the economy in the region.
Reminders
Campus will be open but no classes will be held Feb. 15 in honor of President’s Day
Log your carpool trips at www.clarkcommute.org through Feb. 29 for the Make Your Heart Happy campaign
Way to go!
Cory Bolkan, associate professor of human development, will receive the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences’ Individual Integrated Award at a ceremony in Pullman Feb. 17. This award is presented to an eligible faculty member for high-quality scholarly accomplishments that demonstrate the integration of teaching, research and/or extension programs.
Anthropologists and psychologists have long debated whether teaching is natural and universal to all human beings, or is a construct of Western, educated cultures. Barry S. Hewlett, professor of anthropology, reports evidence that teaching is universal in his paper “Teaching in hunter-gatherer infancy,” published by the Royal Society journal.
