Summer course schedule now online

WSU has just posted its menu of online summer courses. Summer registration doesn’t begin until April 9, but if you’re an online student, you’re probably an overachiever and want to plan things way in advance.

Among the courses offered this summer is the mind-expanding Philosophy 413, Mind of God and Book of Nature, which explores the intersection of religion and physics.
We wrote about the course when it was launched in fall 2009.

If you’re not a WSU Online student yet, please remember that the deadline to apply is March 30.

Cougar comes back to the pack

Todd Olson, bottom right, and his Cougar clan.

Not everyone in Todd Olson’s family went to Washington State University. Some went to Washington State College.
     “I count 14 relatives” who are Cougars, said Olson. That number encompasses four generations going back to the 1920s, and includes great-aunts and uncles, father, mother, sister, wife, nephews, nieces, and a variety of in-laws.
     Olson was himself working toward a degree at WSU-Pullman in 1989. Then he dropped out due to a common pitfall: Youth.
More...     “The best reason I can give you is that I was 20,” he said.  “I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I thought I would take a year off.  Then I met a girl and tried to transfer to where she got a job teaching, and didn’t get in.”
     The girl was Kelli Campbell. She’s been Kelli Olson for 19 years. The couple has two children and lives in Bonney Lake, Wash.
     Todd became director of operations for a granite and marble wholesaler in Seattle. He realized that he needed a college degree for both professional mobility and personal pride. “There are certain expectations in my family,” he said. “I’m the only one in my family who hasn’t finished college, and I always regretted that.
     Future generations also had an influence. “I have always stressed the importance of school to both of my kids,” he said, “and felt somewhat hypocritical not having finished myself.”
     Because he was working full time, he wanted an online program. Given his family history, he didn’t have much trouble choosing where to apply. Todd was accepted into WSU Online on Feb. 15 and begins work on his business degree this summer. That makes him the 15^th and newest Coug in the family. But his daughter, 17, and son, 14, are already imbued with the family tradition:
     “Both my kids knew the WSU fight song before they were in kindergarten,” Olson said.

Survey lets your voice be heard

If you've been invited to participate in the NSSE survey, and haven't filled it out yet, please do. This is a unique opportunity to help Washington State University and WSU Online improve the student experience.

Student government has new website

The ASWSU-Online, WSU’s student government, has just launched a new website.

The design makes it easier to find out about great upcoming events, like the Tacoma Rendezvous, shown above, and the spring pregraduation parties.

It also outlines the advantages of joining your student government. Please have a look.

WSU seeks Student Regent candidates

There’s never been a WSU Online student on the Board of Regents. Here’s your chance to be the first.

The board is the governing body for Washington State University. It sets policy for the university president and administration regarding the direction of WSU.

The Student Regent represents all WSU students and holds full rights and voting privileges, with the exception of votes on matters relating to the hiring, discipline, or tenure of faculty members and personnel.

Please go to the website for more information and to apply.

19-year-old guards nation, community

Gilberto Gonzalez of Benton City,
Wash., is a Marine Corps reservist, a firefighter trainee, a first generation student, and has recently become a WSU Online student.

Read his story on the WSU News website.

Free WSU Fight Song ringtone

Add some spirit to your ringtone with this cool gift from your Alumni Association. Just go to the webpage to download it. Then, when you’re in a meeting and your phone rings, you can say, “Sorry, gotta take this. It’s Butch. He might have got his tail stuck in the car door again.”

And while you’re feeling all crimson and gray, check out the other great benefits of joining the WSU Alumni Association. Coming up this month are an absinthe tasting party in Bothell and the Spring Cougar Crawl in Seattle. These events, according to the calendar, are unrelated. 

Quick look at the 28 new Coug players

Washington State University Head Coach Mike Leach has announced the names of the 28 newest Cougar football players. They include 11 offensive/defensive linemen, five linebackers, five wide receivers, three safeties, two running backs, one quarterback and a kicker.

Here are the names and profiles of the players.

WSU’s fall 2011 honor roll posted

Congratulations to all those who made the fall 2011 president’s honor roll!

To see if you’re on the list, select this link.

WSU Online in top 10 for military support

WSU Veterans Coordinator Matthew Zimmerman: "WSU Online offers a quality degree program from an accredited institution.”

Washington State University’s online degree program has been awarded a No. 6 ranking for supporting the military in the 2012 Guide to Online Schools.

"Providing a quality education is a way for WSU to give back to the military who have given so much to our country,” said Matthew Zimmerman, WSU Veterans Coordinator. "WSU Online offers a quality degree program from an accredited institution with name recognition.”

The recognition comes on the heels of several other top rankings for WSU Online. A December No. 4 ranking from the SuperScholars website noted that WSU Online has "proved itself to be one of the premier online degree programs in the country.” A January No. 6 ranking from U.S. News & World Report honored WSU Online for student services and technology.

The latest ranking looked at 30 military-friendly institutions and analyzed their responses to a questionnaire created by military education professionals.

"WSU understands the sacrifices made by military members and their families as they face frequent deployments and reassignments,” Zimmerman said. "WSU is committed to ensuring military members achieve their educational goals.”

U.S. News gives WSU Online top grades

WSU Online received a nice shout-out today from the folks who do university rankings at U.S. News & World Report.

We appreciate the recognition, especially since it comes less than three weeks after a top-five ranking from another website.

Online student helps starving dogs

Trisha Flaig, right, found a new calling while fulfilling a course requirement. The story is in WSU News.