The College of Business recently completed its AACSB peer review. Peer visits occur routinely as a formal part of AACSB accreditation. The review team was favorably impressed with the accomplishments of the College of Business and determined that accreditation remains warranted, but was concerned about the faculty resources dedicated to the master of accounting degree at WSU Vancouver. As a result, university administrators have suspended the degree on the Vancouver campus until sufficient faculty resources are secured. Students currently in the degree program and those entering the program in summer 2014 will still be able to earn their master of accounting degrees at WSU Vancouver.

Last year, the Washington State Legislature established two new premium surcharges for PEBB members that take effect July 1, 2014.

The first is a monthly $25-per-account surcharge in addition to your premium if you or any enrolled family member uses a tobacco product.

IMPORTANT! You must respond either way. If nobody on your PEBB account uses tobacco, you must log on to My Account between April 1 and May 15 to let the Health Care Authority know or else pay the $25 premium surcharge beginning July 1. If you or any family member on your PEBB account does use tobacco products, log on to My Account to let the Health Care Authority know. The surcharge will be added to your premium.

The second is a spousal or domestic partner coverage premium surcharge. A $50-per-month surcharge will be required in addition to your premium if your spouse or domestic partner is enrolled on your PEBB medical coverage, and if that person has chosen not to enroll in his or her employer’s medical coverage that is comparable in premiums and benefits to Uniform Medical Plan Classic.

If you do not have a spouse or domestic partner enrolled on your PEBB medical coverage, you don’t need to do anything. You will not be charged.

If your spouse or domestic partner doesn’t have other medical coverage available through their employer, log on to My Account between April 1 and May 15 to let the Health Care Authority know. If you have not responded by May 15, you will pay a premium surcharge starting July 1.

It is important to be informed about these changes. Learn more by visiting: https://fortress.wa.gov/hca/ecoveragepebb/login.aspx

This year, commencement will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 10. Faculty who process and sit on the stage are required to wear regalia. If you don’t own your regalia, you can rent it from The Bookie. Regalia rental orders must be placed by March 26. For more information about regalia and commencement, visit the faculty and staff commencement webpage.

Lunchtime March 11
Dengerink Administration Building Café

Enjoy rainbow tortellini with sausage marinara or basil pesto sauce served with broccoli and garlic bread for $5.39 plus tax. The soup of the day will be Italian wedding soup, sold separately for $1.89 a cup or $3.69 a bowl.

Support students in need by participating in the Fill a Bag, Feed a Coug food drive, March 12 – 14. Go through your cupboards and pantries or hit your local grocery store for nonperishable food items. Most requested items include peanut butter, canned tuna, canned meat, canned fruit and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, pasta and sauce, instant potatoes, rice, healthy cereals, beans (canned or dry), canned meals (soups, chili, stew) and boxed milk (dairy, soy, almond). Grocery bags will be placed in your department's mailroom/workroom for your convenience.

The Cougar Food Pantry has fulfilled 16 requests for food this semester alone. Its shelves need restocking, and you can help! For more information, contact Kafiat Beckley, food pantry coordinator, at 6-9593.

TIAA-CREF is offering personal financial counseling sessions on campus March 18 – 20 in the Undergraduate Building, Room 360. To sign up for a one-hour appointment between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., call 877-842-2028 and press 5. Use your session to develop a long-term strategy, find the right allocation mix or learn about TIAA-CREF retirement income flexibility.

Due to small changes in design, there is less room for an inscription. Faculty and staff were previously asked to provide 42 – 72 characters. Now the Mace Committee is looking for three to five key words that best represent WSU Vancouver. Send your submission by March 13 to Nancy Youlden, chair of the Mace Committee.

8 a.m. – 4 p.m. March 21
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 129

Learn how to respond to adult, child and infant emergencies. Complete the one-day course and be CPR-certified for two years. Free and open to all students, faculty and staff. Class size is limited to 20. To register, contact Kevin Crowley.

CSEJ’s presentation of “Ecoaesthetics and Place-based Education” has been rescheduled from March 5 to 12 p.m. April 16 at a location TBA. 

“Indigenous Land Rights and Resistance” scheduled for 12 p.m. March 12 has been moved from the Dengerink Administration Building, Room 129, to Room 110.