PULLMAN, Wash. – A multi-departmental committee formed by Matt Skinner, associate vice president for enterprise systems, last month began planning to rename Washington State University’s online information portal, which provides a wide array of electronic systems and services to students and staff, to “myWSU.”
The renaming effort was first proposed by WSU President Elson S. Floyd, who expressed concerns that the name “zzusis,”which was used originally to describe the WSU student information system, has evolved in common usage and within various university communications and materials in recent years to describe not only the student information system, but the entire online portal, including zzusis and the other services accessed through it.
Co-chaired by Brant Schroeder and Robert Strenge, the renaming committee is currently working with WSU employees in departments all across the university to help identify instances where references to “zzusis” in online and printed university communications will need to be changed to “myWSU.”
Although the committee expects full and final implementation of the name change will not be completed until sometime next year, Schroeder said some materials may need to go to press this summer with the myWSU name. These materials are used in recruitment and other student communications and have long lead time requirements.
As a resource for colleges and departments that will need to revise such publications and websites, the committee is planning to produce a web page that will serve as a “online toolbox” related to the name change, providing graphics and other information useful in editing information and materials. The committee hopes to have the web site functioning by July 1, Schroeder said.
He encouraged WSU managers in areas that may be affected by the name change, but who have not yet been contacted by members of the transition committee, to contact one of the two committee co-chairs with questions or concerns.
“Our committee’s biggest challenge right now is identifying areas within the university that will be significantly impacted by this name change and ensuring that they coordinate with us as we move through the planning process,” he said.
Schroeder can be reached at 509-335-0985 or at brant@wsu.edu. Strenge can be reached at 509-335-3583 or at rstrenge@wsu.edu.
Other members of the committee able to provide information on the planning effort include Debbie Stellyes, Cheryl Hansen, Susan Poch, Mary Pat Dutton, Jordyn Wright, Kim Mickey, Debbie O’Donnell, Dr. Porismita Borah, Jenny Saligumba-Graham, David Downing and Nancy Wehrung.
The committee is also working with ASWSU and other student groups in planning for the name change.