WSU Insider

Closeup of a cat and small dog cuddling with one another.

How does COVID‑19 affect our household pets?

January 21, 2022

As the COVID‑19 omicron variant continues to spread, some pet owners may be wondering how the virus will affect their favorite furry friend. The fictional feline Dr. Universe discusses the topic in this recent piece.

Avishek Chanda and Vyasgowtham Prabhakar demonstrate part of the process of turning hazelnut shells into architectural panels.

Hazelnut shells get new life as strong, sustainable panels

January 20, 2022

A polar bear eating blocks of lard from a tray

High protein diets could harm polar bears, shorten lifespans

January 19, 2022

Good To Know

WSU Regents name planned indoor sports complex after generous supporters

January 21, 2022

Murdock grant funds digital infrastructure

January 20, 2022

Hentges to chair WSU’s neuroscience program

January 19, 2022

WSU experiencing anticipated surge in COVID‑19 cases

January 18, 2022

Campus & Community

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivering his I Have a Dream Speech at the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. 08/28/1963. Photo courtesy of National Archives.

Honoring the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.

January 18, 2022

Washington State University is hosting programs and activities throughout the month and in to early February.

University holds first systemwide community service project

January 14, 2022

WSU Global Campus is offering all Cougs a chance to give back to their communities in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr. by organizing the first‑ever Caring Cougar Cards project.

WSU students make, distribute blankets for those in need

January 13, 2022

The students chose different patterns, mixing two layers of fabric for each blanket. The blankets were donated to two groups based in Spokane: the Crosswalk Youth Shelter and Women’s Hearth.

Abstracts for Academic Showcase and GPSA Research Exposition due next week

January 11, 2022

WSU’s annual poster sessions allow faculty, staff, and graduate students to share their knowledge and innovations. Aspiring participants must submit abstracts of their work by 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Science & Technology

Murdock grant funds digital infrastructure

January 20, 2022

A research team has received an MJ Murdock Charitable Trust grant to develop a market-ready wireless receiver for data communications systems.

Undergraduate researchers tackle important questions in sciences, humanities

January 19, 2022

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, relieving chronic pain, understanding protest behavior, and conserving wildlife are among the goals of eight faculty-mentored undergraduate research projects.

High protein diets could harm polar bears, shorten lifespans

January 19, 2022

A high protein diet appears linked to kidney disease and shortened lifespans for captive polar bears, a relationship similarly suspected in humans, according to a paper led by a WSU wildlife biologist.

3D printing for materials innovation

January 18, 2022

WSU researchers provide a roadmap for industry and academics to use 3D printing to design new alloys.

Benefits & Training

Employee Assistance Program: ‘Strategies for Stress Management’

January 13, 2022

This is a special offering from the Washington State Employee Assistance Program. We all experience stress from time to time. Some of it is “good” and some we call “bad”. Most of us could benefit from adopting effective strategies for managing the stress that comes our way. During this presentation, we will: Explore what stress […]

Pre-retirement seminar

January 11, 2022

Are you considering retiring? Join a pre-retirement seminar to assist you in your planning. Topics include: Retiree Medical, Dental, and Life Insurance Enrollment Processes; Medicare and Social Security; Voluntary Employee’s Benefit Association Medical Expense Plan (VEBA MEP); Annual Leave Payment; Voluntary Investment Programs; Retirement Income, and; Retirement Supplementation for WSURP participants. These seminars are open […]

University Affairs

WSU Regents name planned indoor sports complex after generous supporters

January 21, 2022

The Washington State University Board of Regents unanimously voted to name the Pullman campus’ long-awaited indoor sports complex in honor of a generous Coug couple.

Hentges to chair WSU’s neuroscience program

January 19, 2022

Shane Hentges has been a professor for the past 14 years at Colorado State University. She takes over for Steve Simasko, who has chaired the program since 2008.

WSU announces modified operations for spring semester

January 14, 2022

While WSU remains committed to a robust in-person experience this fall, some temporary changes to operations are being made in the interest of public health.

WSU Board of Regents hosts first meetings of the year Jan. 20–21

January 14, 2022

Committee meetings as well as Friday’s Board of Regents meeting will be broadcast online for those wishing to observe the proceedings.

Arts & Culture

Mefford’s pet portraits will be on display through mid-May at the Animal Health Library, Wegner Hall 170, part of the WSU Libraries’ “Art in the Library” program.

Art in the Library exhibit features digital artwork of third‑year vet student

January 14, 2022

Winnie Mefford’s digital art portraits offer her friends and classmates another perspective of their pets and a chance to remember them.

WSU Schnitzer Museum announces ‘Indie Folk: New Art and Sounds from the Pacific Northwest’

January 11, 2022

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Washington State University reopens Tuesday, Jan. 18 for the spring semester with the new exhibition.

WSU art featured in new Spokane sports complex

January 10, 2022

The installation consists of 11 pod‑like pieces made of salvaged Western cedar. On the inside, the pods are painted different colors and illuminated with LED lights in the evening.

Student-created identity stories air on community radio and online

January 5, 2022

From humorous to tender and scary to profound, the collected stories provide intimate glimpses into people’s actual lives and reflect that nonfiction doesn’t have to be dry or presented as documentary to be effective.

Politics & Society

WSU’s cannabis research center names new leaders

January 14, 2022

The new director of the Center for Cannabis Policy, Research, and Outreach, David Gang, and the new assistant director, Tracy Klein, have complementary expertise in plant biochemistry and human health.

Outreach program aims to recruit future physicians

January 7, 2022

A Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine mentorship program intended to inspire students to enter health sciences careers will enroll 155 new junior and high school students from Stevens County this year.

Air pollution from wildfires, rising heat affected 68% of U.S. West

January 6, 2022

Large wildfires and severe heat events are happening more often at the same time, worsening air pollution across the western U.S., a study led by WSU researchers has found.

Analysis: No systematic agency bias in Washington State Patrol traffic stops

December 2, 2021

WSU researchers analyzed data on more than 7 million trooper contacts over a five‑year period, including more than 3.4 million traffic stops, 47,000 calls for service, and 175,000 collisions.

Health & Medicine

How does COVID‑19 affect our household pets?

January 21, 2022

Respiratory viruses that hijack immune mechanisms may have Achilles’ heel

January 18, 2022

One viral protein could provide information to deter pneumonia causing the body’s exaggerated inflammatory response to respiratory viruses, including the virus that causes COVID‑19.

Workplace adjustments could be the answer to nurses’ burnout

January 12, 2022

New WSU research shows following mandatory nurse-to-patient ratios, increased nurse autonomy, and the end of mandatory overtime are all potential solutions to addressing burnout.

WSU partnership addresses vaccine hesitancy

January 4, 2022

Faculty from the Murrow College of Communication, WSU Extension, and the College of Education will lead engagement efforts to reduce vaccine hesitancy in rural and underserved communities with a nationwide initiative.

Veterinary Medicine

A researcher working at the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Grants to improve animal disease detection

January 13, 2022

The grants will help WSU scientists at Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory implement a new notification system that will alert local, state, and federal agencies of testing results more efficiently and quickly.

WSU to offer reproductive medicine and surgery for dogs and cats

January 11, 2022

A new specialty service at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital will help ensure certain genetic disorders aren’t passed onto future generations of animals.

Aspen’s Fund to make giant impact for pets

January 6, 2022

The death of their beloved cat Aspen inspired Tim Ma and Melissa Greenough to establish a new fund at WSU to help pet owners pay for treatments for their animals they otherwise couldn’t afford.

Students continue emergency care for wildlife

January 4, 2022

As the demand for WSU’s care for client-owned animals continues to increase, veterinary students will now be on call at all hours to intake wildlife.

Food & Agriculture

Postdoctoral researcher Avishek Chanda, left, and doctoral student Vyasgowtham Prabhakar, right, demonstrate part of the process of turning hazelnut shells into strong, eye-catching architectural panels. Shells are packed into a mold, left, and infused with resin. The team is working to increase the fiber content and maintain the required structural standards while scaling up to commercial-sized panels.

Hazelnut shells get new life as strong, sustainable panels

January 20, 2022

Scientist Vikram Yadama has found a new way to upcyle leftover hazelnut shells into durable panels for cabinets, tables, and other products.

Block grant to support affordable testing to fight Little Cherry Disease

January 14, 2022

The new three‑year, $530,000 grant will help to expand testing capacity at WSU’s Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab in Pullman.

Bee center filling up, honey extractor moves in

November 29, 2021

Honey will soon be made at WSU’s Honey Bee & Pollinator Research, Extension, and Education Facility in Othello after a large equipment move.

Better hops, better beer

November 22, 2021

WSU researchers are developing disease and pest-resistant hops as well as biocontrols that feed on damaging insects as part of a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant.

Business & Economics

Not everybody hates looking at themselves on Zoom

January 3, 2022

People low in the trait of public self-consciousness tended to have more positive attitudes toward virtual meetings the more often their own faces were visible to them, according to a WSU study.

Masks level playing field for hospitality workers

December 16, 2021

While attractive hospitality workers typically earn higher customer service scores than their peers, wearing face masks—a practice widely adopted during the COVID‑19 pandemic—levels the playing field, a new study says.

WSU Tri‑Cities launches new Entrepreneurs in Residence program

November 19, 2021

Through the program, students will have the option to meet with entrepreneurs to receive free advice and coaching as well as networking connections to industry for potential partnerships.

WSU Tri‑Cities launches online certificate program to train winery, tasting room servers

November 18, 2021

Course participants will learn about Washington wines, sensory attributes, and wine business customer service as well as sales suggestions.

Reports & Updates

WSU experiencing anticipated surge in COVID‑19 cases

January 18, 2022

We are asking each of you to do your part to help keep our communities healthy.

A message from Kirk and Noel Schulz

January 13, 2022

Spring is a time to move forward with important changes, including those arising as part of the continued growth and evolution of WSU as a statewide system.

Thank you, Cougs!

December 21, 2021

Congratulations on a successful fall 2021 semester.

Light posting ahead for WSU Insider

December 9, 2021

The last day for regular daily posting to the website for the remainder of the year—including WSU Announcements—will be Friday, Dec. 17, ahead of the holiday and reduced operations schedule the following week.

Awards & Achievements

Two WSU students receive State Department scholarships for study abroad

December 16, 2021

Zenna Glaser and Claudia B. Jacobo have been awarded the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, which is designed to help American students gain proficiency in diverse languages.

WSU graduate student wins Science Coalition student video challenge

December 15, 2021

Soil sciences graduate student Molly McIlquham took first place in the graduate student category of The Science Coalition’s third‑annual Fund It Forward Student Video Challenge.

Nursing student selected for mountain rescue team at Olympics

December 13, 2021

Longtime ski patroller and soon-to-be Coug nurse Daniel Voltz will leave for China on Jan. 20 to be part of the Mountain Rescue Service for the XXIV Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.

Students win environmental challenge competition

December 9, 2021

Civil and environmental engineering students recently took the top prize in the 2021 Pacific Northwest Air & Wastewater Management Association Environmental Challenge for their creative solutions to climate change.

Good To Know

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