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Congratulations, Class of 2014

Commencent photo montage of stage and graduates

Thank you to all the faculty and staff who volunteered their time to make Commencement a memorable event for our 2014 graduates.

View additional photos on Flickr.

Complete the Commencement survey

Bar graph

If you participated in Saturday’s Commencement as either a faculty member or a volunteer, please take a minute to complete the appropriate survey and help the Commencement Committee continually improve this very important event.

Deadline for completion is May 16.

25th anniversary celebration officially launched at Commencement

25

“Today is an exciting day,” said Chancellor Mel Netzhammer, speaking at Commencement on Saturday. “Exactly 25 years ago today, May 10, 1989, the Washington State Legislature formally established WSU Vancouver as one of four campuses that make up the Washington State University system. Beginning today and throughout the next academic year, we will celebrate this anniversary with our community, faculty, staff, alumni and students.”

In 1989, the State Legislature outlined two missions for WSU’s three new branch campuses:

  1. Increase access to higher education for the region
  2. Promote regional economic development through research and education

With a variety of events planned over the next 12 months, WSU Vancouver is celebrating 25 years of progress toward both goals. If you would like to be involved in planning and executing 25th anniversary events, please contact one of the Anniversary Committee co-chairs, Brenda Alling or Jennifer Miltenberger.

All WSU Vancouver student teachers pass rigorous new state test

edTPA

This year, 68 student teachers from WSU Vancouver took a brand-new, rigorous state assessment, the edTPA. Washington is one of only two states that now require a passing score on this test of teaching skills before a person can obtain a teaching license. (The other state is New York.)

One hundred percent of the WSU Vancouver student teachers passed on their first try.

June Canty, professor in the College of Education, was in the Spokane airport, waiting to fly back from a state conference, when she got the results on her mobile phone. “It was unexpected and welcome news,” she said.

And it was a measure of how well WSU Vancouver had prepared student teachers for the test, which has been evolving over three and a half years. As vice chair of the Professional Educators Standards Board, which sets policy regarding educator certification in Washington, June was involved in the development of the test.

The philosophy behind the edTPA is that “being an effective teacher isn’t just about planning or the Common Core standards, June said. “Teachers really need to know the learners in the classroom, so they meet every student’s need. I think this is going to help close the achievement gap.”

Read full story.

Christine Lundeen awarded Fulbright scholarship

Christine

Christine Lundeen, career counselor, has been awarded a scholarship to attend the International Education Administrator Seminar in Germany through the Fulbright Scholar Program. In October, Christine and 20 other award recipients from a variety of U.S. universities and colleges will attend a two-week seminar to familiarize U.S. higher education administrators with Germany’s higher education system, society and culture. She hopes to establish relationships that will benefit students interested in study abroad and international experiences.

Christine is looking forward to sharing her Fulbright experience with the campus community and local career-development community, and will apply to present at the National Career Development Association conference in 2015. Christine is particularly interested in how Germany approaches career development for students in high school through higher education and how its approach differs from the U.S. 

WSU Vancouver awarded College Access Corps AmeriCorps Grant to help K-12 students succeed

AmeriCorps logo

WSU Vancouver has been awarded an AmeriCorps Grant to manage the College Access Corps program. The new program is focused on increasing high school graduation rates and expanding access to higher education.

A CAC AmeriCorps member will be placed on the WSU Vancouver campus for the 2014/15 academic year to recruit, train and coordinate college students to serve as college access coaches. The coaches will work with low-income middle school students participating in the Boys and Girls Club of Southwest Washington College Prep program. The coaches will work with students both in groups and one-on-one to focus on preparing for college, building college success skills, paying for college, career exploration and more.

Funding comes from the Washington Campus Compact, a coalition of Washington State higher education institutions committed to serving Washington through student engagement, which received a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service for the program.

Sales program recognized

SEF logo

The WSU Vancouver Professional Sales Certificate Program was included in the 2014 listing of the Top Universities for Professional Sales Education by the Sales Education Foundation. This identifies our sales program as one of the best programs preparing students for professional selling careers.

SEF, established in 2007, was founded to promote university-level sales education programs through scholarships, educational materials and public outreach regarding the benefits of professional sales careers.

Fitness Center will offer summer classes

Fitness equipment

Beginning today, the Fitness Center moves to summer hours: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Friday. The Fitness Center will maintain group fitness classes during the summer months. Take advantage of the following free classes:

  • Monday, Wednesday and Thursday: 9:15 – 10:05 a.m., Zumba
  • Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 12:15 – 1:05 p.m., Cycling
  • Tuesday and Thursday: 12: 15 – 1:05 p.m., Circuit Training
  • Tuesday beginning June 10: 5 – 5:50 p.m., Pilates Sculpt
  • Thursday: 5 – 5:50 p.m., Booty Barre