Happy President’s Day

There are no classes today.

Wellness incentive helps PEBB employees save $125

The Public Employees Benefits Board and the Health Care Authority want us all to strive for overall wellness. In doing so, they have offered a Wellness Incentive to all benefit-eligible faculty, staff and hourly employees.

You may be eligible for a $125 incentive by responding to a wellness attestation questionnaire and participating in and tracking your wellness activities. Depending on your WSU/PEBB medical plan, you will receive: 

• A $125 reduction in your 2016 PEBB medical deductible (if enrolled in a PEBB classic and value health plan), OR
• A one-time deposit of $125 into your health savings account (if enrolled in a PEBB consumer-directed health plan).

Learn more, including how to participate and deadlines, online.

In search of the 2015 Student Achievement award winner

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Achievement recognizes an outstanding graduating student each academic year. Students are selected based on academic achievement and love of learning, overcoming barriers, future leadership potential, involvement in campus life and other examples of achievement. This award is presented annually at commencement.

Nominations are accepted from faculty, staff and students. The Student Achievement Award Committee will review nominations and make recommendations to the Chancellor, who will then select the award recipient. Nominations are due March 31.

2015 committee members include:

• Renee Bartocci, chair, chief of staff to the chancellor
• Nikki Hinshaw, student activities advisor, Office of Student Affairs
• Kristin Huggins, assistant professor, College of Education
• Susanna Maria, secretary senior, School of Engineering and Computer Science
• Jennifer Miltenberger, director of development and alumni relations
• Sean Philbrook, student
• Nischala Reddy, assistant professor, Carson College of Business
• Cambri Shanahan, student
• Nancy Youlden, vice chancellor for student affairs

“Heterotopia” by Michael Endo on exhibit beginning Tuesday

Feb. 17 – March 31
Dengerink Administration Building Gallery

“Locked in a loop of familiarity and ambiguity, my gestural paintings, glasswork and sculptures exist in a moment of tension between the unnamable source and fiction. They suggest an original reference but are independent of it,” said Michael Endo, whose work will be on display in the Dengerink Administration Building Gallery beginning tomorrow.

Endo’s work has been exhibited internationally. In 2011 he was the recipient of a Regional Arts and Culture Council Grant and was a finalist for the Seattle Art Museum's Betty Bowen Award. Endo is currently the curator at Bullseye Projects.

Come to Kindergarten Information Night

6:45 – 8 p.m. Feb. 18
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110

Attend this adults-only information session to learn about school districts in Clark County and WSU Vancouver’s on-campus, private kindergarten program. Tour WSU Vancouver’s kindergarten classroom and meet the teachers.

Topics include:

• Know whether your child is ready for kindergarten
• How to help your child prepare for kindergarten
• Criteria needed for entrance to kindergarten
• What options for kindergarten exist in school districts within Clark County
• What kindergarten program is offered through WSU Vancouver

For more information, contact Kathy Austin.

Attend V-DAY

10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Feb. 25
The Quad

V-Day is part of a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. Listen to performances, learn about resources in the community and start your own conversation. Performers are a brave group of students, staff and faculty. Performances will take place on the hour starting at 11 a.m.

If you have questions, contact Amanda Shannahan, 6-9182.

Plan your retirement now

Feb. 26
Engineering and Computer Science Building,
Room 201M

Take advantage of the opportunity to attend any of the following seminars.

8 a.m.—PERS 2/3 Plan Choice Seminar: Overview of the differences between Plan 2 and Plan 3 for new employees and for transfer-eligible employees who can switch from Plan 2 to Plan 3 in the month of January. Many existing PERS 2 or PERS 3 members attend this seminar to learn about their plan even if they have no intention of switching.

9 a.m.—Plan 3 Workshop: Learn about online calculators that compute projected retirement estimates from Plan 3. If you’d like help using the calculators to see your projections, bring a printout of your last quarterly statement. New employees may want to calculate a comparison of Plan 2 and Plan 3 using Financial Modeling Software. The presenter will show you how.

10 a.m.—Getting to Know Plan 3 Seminar: Get a review of Plan 3. There has never been a more important time to make sure you understand what you are invested in and whether that is appropriate for your risk profile and time horizon. This seminar will give you a simple step-by-step process to help you feel confident about making your Plan 3 investment decisions. This is also an opportunity for you to get your questions answered regarding your statements and the recent changes to the Plan 3 Investment lineup.

11 a.m.—Withdrawing From Plan 3: Get an outline of Plan 3 pay-out options, examples of payout income streams and retirement investing strategies. This seminar is especially helpful for Plan 3 members who might separate from service within the next five years.

Understand what our region values most, AND hear WSU Vancouver make a special announcement

4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Feb. 26
Dengerink Administration Building, Room 110
RSVP

Last year you were asked to complete the 500,000 Voices survey. The findings, which show what this region stands for and where it wants to go, will be announced at Opening Conversation. This free event on campus will review key findings of the survey, and explain why rich, deliberative discourse is needed now more than ever to open dialog and help our region address its most pressing issues.

Carolyn Long, associate professor in the School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs, will then make a special announcement to shed light on the process ahead and explain how you can help make it successful.

Join Cougs in the Community in helping Habitat for Humanity

9 a.m. Feb. 28
Habitat for Humanity ReStore, 10811 SE 2nd Street

Cougs in the Community will join Habitat for Humanity for a store improvement day. The project will involve assistance with organization, recycling items and fixing cabinets and other furniture. You should wear outdoor attire with sturdy, closed-toed shoes and are invited to bring your own tools. The cleanup will finish at noon. RSVP online or for information, contact Jake Bredstrand.