By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – School is back in session at Washington State University Tri-Cities on Monday, Aug. 23, with in-person classes and COVID-19 requirements in place. Among many updates, the campus features a new academic building, renovations to an existing space to allow for a new learning commons for students and an expanded Veterans Stories Memorial.

“We are thrilled to welcome students back to campus after over a year-and-a-half of offering virtual learning.” Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. “We have safety measures in place for students, employees and visitors and we look forward to a fantastic fall semester. Students and the community will find the new spaces particularly welcoming.”

In-person learning

With the exception of a few classes, ���سԹ� classes will be offered in-person and at normal capacity.

Updated COVID-19 requirements

Starting Aug. 23, students, employees and visitors will be required to wear masks while indoors at all WSU locations, per the new mandate announced this week by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Employees must declare their vaccination status via an internal WSU process by Aug. 23, and be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or file for a religious or medical exemption by Oct. 18, per the state mandate.

Students must provide proof that they have initiated or completed the vaccination process or must request an exemption for medical, religious or personal reasons by Sept. 10. After any of the three currently approved vaccines receive full U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, personal exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine will no longer be an option. Students will have 45 days following the FDA approval date to provide proof of vaccination (or initiation of the vaccination) or file for a medical or religious exemption.

New and renovated facilities

Construction for Collaboration Hall, ���سԹ�’ new academic building, is complete and will host classes beginning Monday. The building features a range of state-of-the-art teaching laboratories, classrooms and collaboration spaces – including the addition of a grandstand staircase ideal for presentations and an outdoor amphitheater that seats 100 individuals. A grand opening celebration for Collaboration Hall will be held from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Sept. 22.

The ���سԹ� library was renovated this year to house expanded study spaces and support resources for students. The traditional library was moved upstairs and a range of student services, study spaces and collaborative areas are now hosted downstairs in the learning commons where students can access academic support such as tutoring, writing assistance, academic advising, career services, and TRIO Student Success Programs.

Thanks to generous donations from Cliff Thorn Construction, several subcontractors and Eric and Susan Schmieman, the ���سԹ� Veterans Stories Memorial was expanded to feature raised flags for each of the military branches with lighting for evening times and a seating area.

New Crimson Coug Cart courtesy of STCU – press reveal event 12:30 p.m. on Monday

STCU has generously donated a $25,000 Coug-branded golf cart, named the “Crimson Coug Cart,” to ���سԹ� that will be unveiled at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 23, at Collaboration Hall as part of a press event. The golf cart will be used for a variety of purposes around campus – from events, to campus tours and more.

With the golf cart, STCU will host random acts of kindness days sporadically throughout the year where they will offer prizes to individuals on campus, in addition to supporting a range of campus events.

Week of Welcome activities and events sponsored by STCU

Throughout the first week of school, students will enjoy a range of celebratory events and activities sponsored by STCU that will welcome them to campus. For a full list of activities as part of the ���سԹ� Week of Welcome sponsored by STCU, visit .

 

Media contacts:

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� director of marketing and communication, 509-372-7333 (office), 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

Changes to vaccination requirements and dates

The deadline to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a request for exemption has been changed.

Students must provide proof that they have initiated or completed the vaccination process or must request an exemption by Sept. 10. Employees must submit a vaccine declaration or request an exemption by Aug. 23.

The changes are in response to the ever-changing circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the spread of the Delta variant rising and with particularly high rates of spread in Benton and Franklin counties, taking steps now to mitigate the spread is prudent.

Processes for campus community members

Students must either submit proof of initiation or completion of a COVID-19 vaccination or request an exemption through the��.

Employees are required to declare their vaccination status or request an exemption via��. More information is available on��.

Students, faculty and staff who work in healthcare or clinical settings in Washington state are subject to��. These individuals are not permitted to request a personal/philosophical exemption.

After FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccine, personal exemptions no longer��an option

After any of the three currently approved vaccines receive full FDA approval, personal exemptions will no longer be an option. Exemptions for religious and medical reasons, however, will be allowed. Students will have 45 days following the approval date to provide proof of vaccination (or initiation of the vaccination) or file for a medical or religious exemption. Upon FDA approval, the updated process for filing a new medical or religious exemption will be provided.

COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective

COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective at preventing severe disease, and breakthrough infections for COVID-19 vaccinated individuals remain uncommon. Local data indicates that more than 90% of new COVID-19 infections are among unvaccinated people. We encourage you to talk to your health care provider about your best options.

On-campus COVID-19 vaccine clinics beginning Aug. 18

Every Wednesday through end of September 2021
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Mobile medical unit in CIC parking lot

The vaccine clinics are open to the public and do not require an appointment. There is no cost for the vaccine.

Join ���سԹ� with a gift to support student success and student hardship relief as part of #CougsGive Day on Wednesday, April 14!

���سԹ� is raising dollars for the following funds as part of��#CougsGive Day:

• ���سԹ� Chancellor’s Excellence Fund
• ���سԹ� Scholars Excellence Fund
• ���سԹ� Emergency Hardship Fund

To donate, visit cougsgive.wsu.edu/tricities.

Every dollar goes toward supporting student success and preventing student hardship. It’s been a tumultuous year. Let’s celebrate our students with a donation that celebrates them!

 

SEB/ASWSUTC Student #CougsGive Day Sharing Challenge
Win Coug prize packs or a $200 Bookie gift card
Winners announced at noon (prize packs) and 8 p.m. (gift card)

Share a quick sentence or story about someone at ���سԹ� who changed your life for the better on , or and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

• Five students will be randomly selected to win a ���سԹ� prize pack (announced at noon)
• One student will be randomly selected to win a $200 gift card to The Bookie (announced at 8 p.m.)

 

Alaska Airlines Faculty Challenge
Faculty can earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines voucher for their department
Winner announced at 1 p.m.

The ���سԹ� academic department with the most donations from faculty to one of the three�����سԹ� #CougsGive Day funds��will earn a $2,500 Alaska Airlines flight voucher for their department.

 

HAPO Cares Challenge
Unlock a $500 HAPO matching gift
Announced at 3 p.m.

The first 10 gifts to the�����سԹ� Scholars Excellence Fund��unlocks a $500 gift from HAPO Community Credit Union.

 

Show Your Cougar Pride Challenge
Win a Coug prize pack
Winner announced at 5 p.m.

Share on��,�����ǰ�����about why you give to ���سԹ� and tag @WSUTriCities AND #CougsGiveTC.

A winner will be selected to win a ���سԹ� Coug prize pack.

 

CougsGive Employee Challenge
Unlock a $500 Advancement matching gift
Announced at 7 p.m.

The first 10 ���سԹ� employees to give to the�����سԹ� Student Emergency Hardship Fund��will be matched by the ���سԹ� Advancement team (up to $500).

 

���سԹ� Chancellor Challenge
$500 and $250 additional gifts from Chancellor Haynes
Winner announced at 10 a.m. next day (April 15)

The top two�����سԹ� #CougsGive Day funds��with the most unique donors will unlock $500 and $250 gifts, respectively, from Chancellor Sandra Haynes.

 

Dear�����سԹ� students,

The faculty and staff at ���سԹ� are��keenly aware that students across the country and the world are experiencing many uncertainties and challenges. We primarily wish to underscore our commitment to��helping you achieve your degree,��equity,��and to encourage self-care, balance, meaningful learning and care for others.

With midterms��wrapped up, we want to make sure you are taking care of yourself.��Even though many��support��services might look different than what you expected, they are still available to help you succeed��academically and personally.��Remember these things while working through the semester:

• �������-��������.��Self-care is of high importance, especially in times of crisis. We recognize that many students are��economically struggling,��facing losses and hardships of countless kinds,��and��are��merely seeking to get by.��We encourage all students to be gentle with themselves during this time,��and as Tri-Cities��Coug, take advantage of��Campus Recreation,��Cougar Cupboard Food Bank,��Mental Health and Counseling, and many��more services��������������������.
• Academic work.��Your academic engagement and��work during this time matter to us, but given the circumstances of many families, we recognize that you may face obstacles to academic work.��Reach out to��Academic Advising,��tutoring,�����Ի���writing services,��in addition to faculty office hours��for assistance.
• Your safety and others. This��pandemic has created a��vast��array of needs,�����Ի���we fully commit to protecting our collective health and well-being. The��Connected Coug��newsletter is��sent out every week to your��WSU��email address and is an excellent resource to help you��contribute to the recovery of our communities.��If you are concerned about a peer, you may submit a��Cougar Cares��and a member of the support services team will reach out to them.
• Civic participation.��We value��the responsibility to prepare students to be informed and active citizens and��understand��the importance of��your��voice in all local, state, and national elections. To that end, the campus��and your student government association (ASWSUTC)��are��committed to promoting voter registration activities, dialogue, and participation.��Don’t forget to��
• Extracurricular activities.We also understand that��this pandemic has impacted activities, and��there are��some challenges��in conducting events that you were expecting virtually or at a distance.��Potential internship opportunities, jobs, and other types of��meaningful engagement��are��accessible��to you via the��campus career services��and the��Student Engagement and Leadership.

If I can ever be of assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly���ǰ�����with someone from the Student Affairs team.

�Ҵ�����dzܲ���!
��

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

 

Learn more about Washington State University Tri-Cities and WSU System Policies��

��|����|����|����|��Student Grievances��

By Maegan Murray, ���سԹ�

RICHLAND, Wash. – Regional community members, students, faculty and staff are invited to participate in a feedback session and workshop to identify goals for a new Washington State University Tri-Cities Center for Inclusion and Student Success from noon – 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, in Floyd 140.

During the whole event, individuals can drop by to share their thoughts on what inclusion means to them, what they want in an inclusion center, how they want the center to look and function, as well as what resources would allow for the greatest success for students and others who use the center.

At 1 p.m., ���سԹ� Chancellor Sandra Haynes will provide a short presentation, which will be followed by remarks by Mary Jo Gonzales, WSU Vice President of Student Affairs, as well as student leaders with the Associated Students of ���سԹ�.

Lunch will be provided from noon-2:00 p.m. as part of the event.

“After over a year of planning and listening to the campus community, we are very excited to make the center a reality,” said Chris Meiers, vice chancellor of student affairs. “This is a great opportunity for both our general and campus communities to provide their feedback for the fall opening and to celebrate this milestone for our campus.”

ASWSUTC Vice President Savanna Kresse said the center will provide an immense resource for students from a variety of backgrounds.

“This is a way for us to grow inclusivity efforts at ���سԹ� by having a space for students to authentically be themselves and to ensure that they get the resources they need,” she said. “The Inclusion Center also allows students to share and celebrate their diversity as well as connect with others who are both similar and different from themselves.”

The Center for Inclusion and Student Success is set to open in Fall of 2019.

 

Media contacts:

Chris Meiers, ���سԹ� vice chancellor for student affairs, 509-372-7381, chris.meiers@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� public relations specialist, 509-372-7333, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. – Registration is now open for employers to sign up for a booth at the 2018 Washington State University Tri-Cities Career Fair, which will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 20,��in the Student Union and Consolidated Information Center buildings on campus.

Held each fall, the career fair is open to ���سԹ� students, alumni and the general public. The career fair offers employers an opportunity to reach its staffing goals while allowing ���سԹ� students to search for and connect with potential employment and internship opportunities. The career fair provides employers access to more than 1,900 students, local alumni and public job seekers.

Employers should register for the event before Sept. 17. The cost is $100.

��is open until Sept. 17 for employers paying with a credit card.

Employers requesting to pay by check should contact the ���سԹ� Career Development office at��tricities.careers@wsu.edu.

Late registration costs $125 and is subject to space availability after Sept. 17. For late registration availability, employers should contact Jason Yi, ���سԹ� career and internship coordinator,��509-372-7613��or��jason.yi@wsu.edu.

For more information about the Career Fair, visit��/careerdev/careerfair.

 

Contacts:

• Jason Yi, ���سԹ� career and internship coordinator, 509-372-7613, jason.yi@wsu.edu
• Maegan Murray, ���سԹ� public relations specialist, 509-372-7333,��maegan_murray@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities will honor 12 individuals as part of its 2018 Women of Distinction class during a gallery exhibition opening and reception at 4 p.m. on April 20 in the Consolidated Information Center Art Gallery on campus.

The ���سԹ� Women of Distinction program recognizes female students, staff, faculty, alumnae and community members who have made notable contributions to the campus and their community through service, teaching or involvement.

“It is our honor and privilege to recognize exceptional female leaders, mentors and overall professionals that have given back to the university and their communities,” said Chris Meiers, ���سԹ� vice chancellor of student affairs. “These are individuals who have improved access to educational opportunities, created pathways for others to be successful and generally provided incredible support to the next generation of leaders.”

Those being honored as the ���سԹ� 2018 Women of Distinction class include:

• LoAnn Ayers – United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties president and CEO
• Eadie Balint – ���سԹ� professional development and community education coordinator
• Diahann Howard – Port of Benton director of economic development and governmental affairs and Tri-Cities Research District executive director
• Savanna Kresse – ���سԹ� junior studying history and pre-law
• Kate McAteer – ���سԹ� assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs
• Mysti Meiers – ���سԹ� senior academic advisor
• Judy Morrison – ���سԹ� academic director for the College of Education and associate professor of education
• Maegan Murray – ���سԹ� public relations/communication coordinator
• Sarah Newcomer – ���سԹ� assistant professor of education
• Darlene Scrivner – Columbia Basin College special assistant to the president
• Karen Sinclair – Mission Support Alliance project manager
• Dani Young – ���سԹ� junior studying civil engineering

After the ceremony on April 20, all photos and biographies of the award recipients will be on display in the East Building hallway next to The Bookie, ���سԹ�’ student bookstore.

The honorees will also be highlighted on the ���سԹ� Women of Distinction website at /women-of-distinction/.

 

Contact:

Danielle Kleist, ���سԹ� specialist assistant to the vice chancellor for student affairs, 509-372-7104, danielle.kleist@wsu.edu

RICHLAND, Wash. – Washington State University Tri-Cities will honor its international students, faculty and staff members with a new international flag installation and celebration that will take place at 1:15 p.m. on Monday in the Floyd Atrium on campus.

There will be an initial total of 32 flags represented of the known 32 countries of current international students, faculty and staff that will be hung as part of the installation. Members of the public are welcome to attend the celebration.

“These flags are displayed in a prominent place in recognition of faculty, staff and students who have come to our campus from countries around the world and of their diverse backgrounds and experience strengthen the campus,” said Jana Kay, campus registrar.

As part of a brief celebration for installation, the campus community will hear from Kate McAteer, assistant vice chancellor of academic affairs, Israa Alshaikhli, president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Tri-Cities, and Yuna Okamoto, a student in the Intensive American Language Center, on the importance and impact of having the installation on campus.

If there are flags not represented of current campus community members’ home countries, those individuals are encouraged to contact Erika Kraus, ���سԹ� international student coordinator, at erika.kraus@wsu.edu. Additional flags will be installed as they are identified.