No images? Click here Campus FYIMay 23, 2022 West side of the Engineering and Computer Science Building closed todayGood news. A Verizon cell tower is being installed on the roof of the Engineering and Computer Science Building bringing 5G service to campus and surrounding areas. Bad news. The installation requires the west end of the building to be closed today 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. as a crane lifts materials onto the roof. This is the first of two crane lifts. The second will impact the Engineering and Computer Science Building and the Physical Plant Building at a date to be announced. Thank you for supporting the OurWSU Faculty and Staff CampaignWSU Vancouver historically has the highest employee participation rate in the OurWSU Faculty & Staff Giving Campaign systemwide. This year, WSU Vancouver reached 57% participation. Students are fortunate to have faculty and staff who value academic excellence and take pride in the campus. Many funds were established by current and former colleagues as a way to directly support the needs of students, research and the sustainability of WSU Vancouver’s programs. Every year, the Development and Alumni Relations team is inspired by the generosity of faculty and staff and their dedication to students. Go VanCougs! Enrollment/retainment is a team sport—brush up on customer service techniquesStudent Affairs and Enrollment is partnering with WSU system colleagues to bring Dana Evans Amberg from Paskill, Stapleton & Lord to present a student-first culture customer service workshop. It takes an entire campus to enroll and retain a student, and this training will focus on the student experience across all areas of campus: A student-first campus culture is key to enrollment health. College employees may not be aware of their roles in recruiting or retaining students until bad experiences happen and institutions suffer optically and/or financially. This workshop is designed for administrators, faculty, admissions, financial aid and student support service employees. It provides an opportunity to share ideas on improving services, gain consensus to put ideas into action, and build teamwork and morale on campus. All staff and faculty are invited to participate (not recommended for student employees). Staff may choose to attend: 9 a.m. – noon or 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Register online. Engineering and Computer Science Building will be out of power May 26The Engineering and Computer Science Building will be out of power, with the exception of emergency (generator) power from 8 to 11:30 a.m. May 26. Plan accordingly. Volunteer to support orientationNew student orientation gets new VanCougs off on the right foot! Volunteers are needed for:
EAP offers community violence support and resourcesWhen violent incidents such as mass shootings occur, you may experience a variety of emotions, including shock, grief, numbness, fear or anger. Multiple shootings covered by the media over a short period of time can make emotional recovery more difficult. When shootings are racially or politically motivated, members of the targeted groups are particularly impacted. Below are suggestions to care for yourself and others in the aftermath of community violence. Guidance for all—
Reminders
EventsNavigating Change in Challenging Times In our ever-changing world, learning how to navigate change is an essential skill—one that can be developed. In this webinar we'll talk about the impact of change, actions you can take to navigate change based on your unique response to stress and resources available to support you. Building Resilience to Manage Stress This presentation looks at the part resiliency plays in helping us get through, and cope with, difficult and uncertain times. Resiliency is not a strategy to help you reduce stress but rather it is designed to help you become stronger as a result of experiencing stress. Practicing resiliency helps us learn from stressful events in our lives, adjust and become stronger. Leading in Cougar Country Leading in Cougar Country is a virtual event for workplace leaders hosted by WSU Human Resource Services. With the events over the past year and as we look ahead to the future of the workplace, the goal of this event is to re-energize and re-engage faculty and staff leaders systemwide. BaCE Pedagogy Summer Academy The 2022 BaCE Pedagogy Summer Academy provides equity-minded tools and supports implementation of culturally responsive teaching practices to impact student success, retention and sense of belonging. The academy is open to all faculty, including graduate student associates. BaCE, Flipping the Script: Illuminating the Strengths of BIPOC Students This 50-minute workshop asks you to reflect on your professional beliefs of what it means to be a “college ready” student, especially right now. The notion of college readiness is often grounded in deficit thinking of historically underrepresented students in higher education, particularly students of color. Explore ways to tap into the assets of historically underrepresented students while challenging yourself to ask how you may become a “student-ready” educator. BaCE, Disability Etiquette This workshop explores physical and attitudinal barriers, as well as barriers to course designs, that may prevent full student participation in the classroom and university community. At the end of this workshop, you will have learned more about your role in the accommodations process, and have more comfort and confidence in teaching and working with people with disabilities. You will learn how to become a source of empowerment and change in reframing the traditional notions of disability. Event accessibility WSU Vancouver In The NewsScientists develop ‘smart’ pacifier to treat infants in hospitals Researchers at Washington State University have developed a “smart” pacifier that can detect certain minerals in a saliva. The new device could potentially help caregivers check if premature infants are dehydrated. Other sources Everyday Heroes: Class of 2022 at WSU Vancouver includes 81-year-old Close to a thousand students took that walk across the stage last week to become WSU Vancouver's official graduating class of 2022. Other sources Way to Go!Peter Boag’s new book, “Pioneering Death: The Violence of Boyhood in Turn-of-the-Century Oregon” will be released this month by the University of Washington Press. The Oregon Historical Society is hosting an event with a short reading, a conversation about the book and Q&A with the audience at 7 p.m. June 8. Andra Chastain, department of history, has been awarded a 2022 New Faculty Seed Grant. Chastain will research how urban air pollution is represented, experienced and ultimately understood as a public health crisis in Santiago, Chile; Mexico City and Los Angeles. Learn more online. The College of Arts and Sciences recognized the following faculty members with 2022 awards: Interdisciplinary Catalyst—Luz María Gordillo, associate professor of history; Teaching Excellence Award—Stephanie Porter, associate professor of biological sciences; Excellence in Graduate Advising and Mentoring—Laurie Mercier, professor of history; and Public and Community Engagement—Cheryl Schultz, professor of biological sciences. Srijanie Dey, doctoral candidate in mathematics, had her first, "Mapping and Validating a Point Neuron Model on Intel's Neuromorphic Hardware Loihi," accepted in Frontiers in Neuromorphic Engineering. Associate Professor of Mathematics Alex Dimitrov is her co-author. The manuscript will be part of the Frontiers Research Topic Neuroscience, Computing, Performance and Benchmarks: Why It Matters to Neuroscience How Fast We Can Compute. Its publication in this context will ensure broader dissemination of her work and increase awareness of WSU Vancouver as a hub for research in neuromorphic computing. Forrest Fearington was named one of WSU’s Top 10 seniors. Fearington received his bachelor’s degree in neuroscience in December and works in Professor of Neuroscience Allison Coffin’s lab as a research technician. In June, he will leave WSU Vancouver for medical school at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering Feng Zhao, supported by a grant from the U.S. National Science Foundation, used honey to make components for computer systems that mimic neurons and synapses of the human brain, known as neuromorphic computers. His work was highlighted by the NSF in “Engineers use honey to make brain-like computer chips.” This work has been widely reported in the media. Bala Krishnamoorthy, professor of mathematics and statistics, has been named the first recipient of the Yang “Wendy” Liu Award for Excellence in Teaching International Students. Krishnamoorthy received the award at the International Students’ graduation gala on May 6. In a videotaped acceptance, he said, “I am incredibly honored to accept the Yang Liu award from International Programs. Wendy set a really high standard for teaching international students well. It is a great honor for me to even be considered for filling the shoes that she left.” Read more online. |