New 3D‑printing method builds structures with two metals
Taking a cue from the structural complexity of trees and bones, WSU engineers have created a way to 3D-print two types of steel in the same circular layer using two welding machines.
Campus & Community
University welcomes 81 students from 23 states for summer research
The students will be working with faculty mentors on STEM projects that range from crop resiliency and hemp research to cybersecurity.
WSU Vancouver faculty and staff create PRISM for LGBTQ+ community
Being the only LGBTQ+ person in an office or department can be isolating. That’s why WSU Vancouver faculty and staff created PRISM, an affinity group for LGBTQ+ individuals, advocates, and allies.
‘Feeling it, being a part of it’ enhances Juneteenth appreciation
Taking part in local Juneteenth celebrations can be as important to understanding the spirit of the holiday as learning about the history behind it.
WSU Pullman parking permit sales
Annual parking permits for the Pullman campus will go on sale beginning July 11. Customers can purchase available permits online by logging into their WSU parking account.
University Affairs
Salary increases for WSU employees on the way
Classified staff at WSU are set to receive a 4% salary increase effective July 1. A 2.5% salary increase for faculty and administrative professionals will be going into effect Oct. 1.
Requests open for Fall 2023 Cougar Cage event
This fall, students, faculty, and staff will have an opportunity to pitch their game-changing projects in need of funding as part of an upcoming Cougar Cage event hosted by the Palouse Club.
New guidance available on AI and data stewardship
The nature of open-source artificial intelligence tools means that entering non-public data or information poses privacy and security risks, according to new guidance issued by WSU’s Office of Compliance and Risk Management.
Observing Juneteenth
This commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States has been celebrated for more than a century, though it only recently became a national holiday. From small backyard gatherings to large festivals and parades, people come together in unity and purpose.
WSU-related Podcasts
From WSU:
Food safety, WSU stories, science answers for kids, and more—listen to podcasts from Washington State University.
About WSU:A selection of programs about Washington State, produced by alumni and friends.
WSU PodcastsBenefits & Training
DRS Pre-Retirement Seminar — June 2023
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 split […]
WA State Employee Assistance Program: ‘Disruptive and Bullying Behaviors: Considerations for the Workplace’
This live webinar, presented by the Washington State Employee Assistance Program, will review opportunities to identify disruptive and bullying behaviors, how to place disruptive behaviors on a continuum of concerning behaviors, and learn about the impacts of disruptive and bullying behaviors on physical and emotional safety. May 31, 11 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Register now to save your spot and learn […]
Awards & Achievements
WSU Vancouver students’ commitment to DEI recognized with new awards
Meenakshi Richardson and Alyn Rivera received Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence Awards from the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.
Doctoral student receives fellowship from The Learning Partnership
Antranik Kirakosian in the Educational Psychology program will receive the fellowship aimed at graduate students and early-career researchers with the potential to promote STEM equity and educational excellence.
WSU Vancouver professor named fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry
Praveen Sekhar, associate professor of electrical engineering at WSU Vancouver received the honor in recognition for his contributions to the study of electrochemical sensors.
WSU historian Raymond Sun wins 2023 Library Excellence Award
For his role in introducing students to World War II library archival research, Associate Professor of History Raymond Sun has been named the 2023 recipient of the WSU Libraries’ Excellence Award.
Science & Technology
New 3D‑printing method builds structures with two metals
Taking a cue from the structural complexity of trees and bones, WSU engineers have created a way to 3D-print two types of steel in the same circular layer using two welding machines.
Kalispel Tribe and WSU collaborate on 5,000‑year‑old archeological excavation
Ancient Tribal earth ovens built long before the Egyptian pyramids are being excavated as part of the first archeological project made public by the Kalispel Tribe of Indians.
Ticks prove resilient to extreme temperatures
Tick season is here, along with increased danger of Lyme disease, and it turns out the tiny arachnids are even tougher than previously thought.
Plants can distinguish when touch starts and stops
Even without nerves, plants can sense when something touches them and when it lets go, a WSU-led study has found.
Food & Agriculture
The Great Butter Debate: cold or room‑temp?
Many people have strong opinions on whether butter should be served chilled or at room temperature. WSU experts weigh in on the long-standing debate.
Mobile service to improve access to large animal veterinary care
The new Large and Agricultural Animal Ambulatory Service offers preventative and general care for cattle, horses, camelids and other large mammals in a 60‑mile radius around WSU Pullman on weekdays.
WSU scientists studying plant systems to increase understanding of oil production
The project, funded by a $1.2 million National Science Foundation grant, will help researchers figure out how to make plants produce more oil, which could be a viable substitute to petroleum-based products in the future.
Self-teaching web app improves speed, accuracy of classifying cereal DNA variations
Agricultural Research Service and WSU scientists have developed an innovative web app called BRIDGEcereal that can quickly and accurately analyze the vast amount of genomic data now available for cereal crops.
Health & Medicine
Study on how memories influence drug relapse receives $2.9 million grant
Years into sobriety, seemingly innocent stimuli — like songs, smells or specific visuals — can trigger memories of earlier drug use and an intense craving that can cause even a long-recovered addict to relapse.
Alcohol harm reduction can also reduce other substance use
Quitting alcohol or drugs was not a top priority for people experiencing homelessness in a harm reduction treatment study, yet participants still reduced their use of both.
Reduced Doctor of Pharmacy tuition for non‑resident students
The 30% reduction is intended to help address the acute pharmacist shortage by drawing more students to study and serve in Washington.
Science-focused messaging could help reduce cannabis use during pregnancy
WSU researchers found that conveying simple, scientific facts about how THC can harm a fetus was associated with reduced intentions to use cannabis while pregnant.
Veterinary Medicine
Practice management curriculum gives veterinarians a head start
The university has one of the few veterinary programs in the nation with a deep practice management curriculum focused on the financial basics of business and veterinary medicine.
Internship offers in‑clinic veterinary experience to undergraduates
For nearly two decades the three‑semester Veterinary Teaching Hospital Undergraduate Internship has provided pre‑vet undergraduates a glimpse into veterinary general and specialty services for small, large, and exotic animals.
WADDL plays important summer role screening fish for emerging diseases
A federally funded project at WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine could be pivotal in detecting emerging viruses that may threaten important and at‑risk aquatic species like salmon.
WSU lab joins network identifying new pathogens
As part of the $1.7 billion Pathogen Genomics Center of Excellence, the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory will play a key role preventing the spread of disease-causing pathogens, including new COVID-19 variants.
Arts & Culture
Students support small town with museum dreams
As part of WSU’s Rural Community Design Initiative, students are working with the LaCrosse community on ideas for an Ice Age Floods and Heritage museum at the site of an old gas station.
Recycling fashion helps educate WSU students
Designers will be showing off their upcycled apparel and accessories, including dresses made from kitty litter bags and discarded liquor pouches, as part of this year’s Washington State Recycling Association’s Trashion Show.
WSU Schnitzer Museum begins ‘What Was Always Yours and Never Lost’ exhibit May 16
The exhibit provides an essential introduction to recent works of video art and experimental documentary by Indigenous film and video makers across North America.
Faculty artists gain valuable support for their work
WSU faculty members are among 16 artists statewide to each receive $10,000 Artist Trust Fellowship awards in recognition of their artistic excellence.
Business & Economics
The future of work: insights from Pacific Northwest’s Gen Z employees
The Carson College of Business’ third annual report surveying the youngest members of the workforce reveals Gen Z employees are facing the dilemma of advancing their careers amid predictions of an upcoming recession.
Video game advertising venture wins big at 20th annual Business Plan Competition
Business software solutions and mobile app technology for social good were collective themes presented at the 20th annual Business Plan Competition on Thursday, April 27.
WSU online graduate business programs receive global recognition in CEO Magazine
CEO Magazine ranked online MBA and executive MBA programs from WSU’s Carson College of Business as No. 27 and No. 26, moving up in rankings from No. 34 and No. 55 the previous year.
Cash prizes available for students who create sustainable solutions to linen waste
Pullman Marriott Hotels is funding prizes for the three best products created from hotel linen waste by WSU students.
Politics & Society
Misconceptions abound in push to deny gender-affirming care
As state after state enacts new restrictions on providing gender-affirming care, there are a few misconceptions that WSU’s Dr. Jaime Bowman says need to be “mythbusted.”
Sharing American political and judicial expertise overseas
Recipient of a Fulbright Senior Specialist award for a three-week visit to Slovakia, WSU’s Cornell Clayton held a series of lectures for graduate and undergraduate students focusing on contemporary American politics.
Committee works to eliminate hazing at WSU
The committee creates regular opportunities for representatives across the WSU system who work with student groups, departments, and organizations to share hazing prevention strategies and learn from one another.
Aggregating data on AAPI groups can be ‘a form of erasure’
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Micronesian, and Pacific Islander groups — alongside a growing number of data scientists — are concerned about the practice of collecting their many identities under one demographic category.
Reports & Updates
Cougar Athletics budget update
WSU has made steady progress toward balancing the athletics budget the past several years. Unfortunately, though, we are facing tremendous headwinds that will make closing out fiscal year 2023 more challenging than expected.
An update on the WSU system strategic plan
A brief update on some of the progress made in the past year and highlights of some of the notable achievements.
Addressing WSU’s rankings and reputation
Rankings shouldn’t drive how WSU educates or serves its communities but the university should take steps to ensure everything practically possible is being done to improve the university’s national reputation and rankings.
Our long-term fiscal health
President Kirk Schulz provides some details on how WSU has navigated its long‑term fiscal health since 2016, including comparisons with peer public research universities.