WSU Reaches Out to Those Who Can’t Make It to Campus

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University will host a free, hands-on workshop April 8 in Olympia to discuss distance education with those would-be students who are unable to get a degree the conventional way—in the classroom.

The workshop is set for 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, located at 2300 Evergreen Park Drive, Olympia. To RSVP or view the agenda, visit https://online.wsu.edu/. The event is designed to show people how they can balance an online education with a busy lifestyle. There will be information about WSU’s online degree programs, career opportunities for graduates, how to finance an education and more.

The first university in the state to offer online degrees, WSU has met the needs of thousands of students living in the United States and abroad. More than 70 percent of the university’s distance learners live in western Washington.

“In contrast to some of the options available online, WSU’s distance degrees are an integral part of an established research university that has offered quality degrees for more than 100 years,” said Muriel Oaks, dean for the Center for Distance and Professional Education. “Our online courses are taught by renowned professors, and students have access to unparalleled support services, including academic advising, tutoring and career counseling.  All of this adds up to a powerful combination of academic resources available to students no matter where they live.”

WSU started its distance program in 1992 with a pilot program in social sciences. It started with just 51 students and was limited to rural Washington. Today it offers bachelor’s and master’s degrees and certification in a number of programs. Nearly 3,000 students around the world are enrolled in WSU’s Distance Degree Program, including two military personnel serving in Iraq.

The workshop is co-sponsored by the WSU Department of Information Systems and the College of Business.