Dear WSU��Tri-Cities��Cougs,

For our new��Cougs, or��Cougs��new to the Tri-Cities campus, welcome to the awesome ���سԹ���community!��For our returning��Cougs, congratulations on finishing the spring semester!

We know you want to be here on campus, and we want you here, too.��If you are like me, this was not the summer��we were��planning. But I hope you all have the opportunity or make space to relax,��rejuvenate, and enjoy the beauty of Washington state or wherever you call home.��Yesterday, I took the afternoon off from Zoom to enjoy a hike at White Pass, just two hours from the Tri-Cities.��It is one of my happy��places,��and the fresh air did some good.

While we are planning for a slightly altered��kind of Tri-Cities��Coug experience this fall, it will still be an experience filled with��support and resources to promote your academic and personal success.��We are here for you every step of the way.��I know you and your families have a lot of questions, and we have resources to help you get prepared for the fall semester and connected with the most up-to-date information.

�ճ������DzԲԱ𳦳ٱ������dzܲ�s��student newsletter, which features updates about the ���سԹ� campus, resources for a successful school year and where you will find pertinent��information about the return to learning in the fall,��is sent��to��your WSU email every Monday. It��is also��posted on ���سԹ� social media channels (@wsutricities).

My office is hosting virtual office hours at 4 p.m.��every��Tuesday and at noon every Wednesday to��connect with you, parents, and family members.��You and your family and friends are welcome to attend any time to get your questions answered, talk about resources,��or to just say “Hi.”��.

We are��continuing��to work with local health authorities to adopt��procedures��for a safe experience on campus this fall. Social distancing requirements, sanitation practices and more will all be in place for a safe start to the semester. Additionally, as Cougs, we all have a responsibility��to fully commit to protecting our collective health and well-being by following best practice health guidelines and requirements. As such, we are��asking everyone to follow all local��and state ordinances and the��,��including the statewide requirement to wear facial coverings in��public – both indoors and outdoors.��To access the most up-to-date health guidelines and related information, visit websites for the��,���ٳ����,����and��your other local public health agencies.

���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes recently sent out an��. If you haven’t, yet, I encourage a read of��that letter. It outlines a range of ways we are preparing for a safe return and what to expect for fall.

I look forward to seeing all our ���سԹ� Cougs��this fall!��As always, feel free to reach out to me directly if you have any questions, or if there is a way I can assist or help.

Go Tri-Cities��Cougs!��

Sincerely,

Chris Meiers, Ph.D.��
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs/Deputy Title IX Officer
chris.meiers@wsu.edu��|��509-372-7381��|��

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Chris Meiers, ���سԹ� vice chancellor of student affairs, was recently elected as the regional director for the Northwest region of the , also known as NASPA.

As regional director, Meiers will lead region V, which encompasses Alaska, British Columbia, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, Idaho and Nevada. His duties in the role will consist of representing region V on the national board and leading the regional board of directors in professional activities and services. He has been involved with NASPA for more than 20 years in various regional and national appointments.

“It is an honor to be selected to serve a professional organization that has meant so much to me and other professionals,” Meiers said. “NASPA is where you find some of the most dedicated professionals in higher education and the work that we do on our campuses has a direct impact on student success, graduation and outcomes for the communities that we serve.”

Meiers will officially start serving as NASPA regional director at NASPA’s annual conference in Los Angeles in March. He will serve in the position for two years.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession. The organization provides professional development, advocacy and research for 15,000 members in all 50 states, 25 countries and eight U.S. territories.

For more information about NASPA, visit .