WSU moving to distance delivery for the fall semester

The Cougar Pride statue at the WSU Pullman campus.

Washington State University will deliver undergraduate education at a distance, with very limited exceptions, during the Fall 2020 semester, though each campus may take slightly different approaches taking into account issues specific to their communities.

Plans for graduate-level coursework and instructional delivery methods will be announced on Aug. 1, according to a message from President Kirk Schulz, Provost Elizabeth Chilton, and Vice President of Student Affairs Mary Jo Gonzales.

“We make this decision with the health and safety of our students, faculty, and staff foremost in our minds, and that principle will continue to guide us going forward,” WSU leaders wrote in a systemwide communication July 23.

The message, available online, was specifically directed to the WSU Pullman community. The university system’s four other physical campuses have announced similar approaches.

  • WSU Spokane

    WSU Health Sciences Spokane is moving to a predominantly remote model, though each of the three colleges based on the campus are taking slightly different approaches.

  • WSU Vancouver

    WSU Vancouver is following in the steps of WSU Pullman and moving undergraduate and graduate course to distance delivery for the fall semester.

    “That means we will not hold face‑to‑face classes or labs on campus,” WSU Vancouver Chancellor Mel Netzhammer wrote. “Courses will be online with very few exceptions.”

  • WSU Tri‑Cities

    WSU Tri‑Cities faculty and staff have spent the summer being trained in the latest technology for remote instruction, and are prepared for kicking off the fall semester in a mostly online format.

    “I understand that this decision may be disappointing for some of you and a relief for others,” WSU Tri‑Cities Chancellor Sandra Haynes wrote. “I am certain that many of you did not imagine that your college education would be disrupted this way and are concerned about your experience and education. Rest assured that while we focus on safety, we are fully committed to providing the excellent education and the student services you have come to expect from WSU Tri‑Cities.”

  • WSU Everett

    The WSU Everett academic and campus life experiences will reflect current recommendations and laws for protecting the health and safety of its community. As such, the fall semester will see remote instructional delivery of undergraduate education with extremely limited exceptions.

    “The health and safety of our Cougar community is central to our decision-making process, as a WSU system and as the WSU Everett campus,” WSU Everett Chancellor Paul Pitre said. “Students throughout the state have been asked to stay home if they are able.”

  • WSU Pullman

    For Pullman, the system’s only residential campus, students are asked to live at their permanent residences during this phase of the COVID‑19. Students with demonstrated institutional need can seek approval to live on campus in Pullman. More information can be found on the university’s housing website.

    Dining halls, recreation and community centers will be open at WSU Pullman for limited in-person services. Cougar Health Services will continue to provide medical and mental health care for WSU Pullman students.

The latest information on the university’s response to the ongoing global health pandemic can be found on its COVID‑19 website.

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