tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65114231405532135822012-02-01T08:11:14.174-08:00The latest information for WSU Online studentsWSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.comBlogger3111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-43244835905799875802012-01-25T14:47:00.000-08:002012-01-25T14:47:55.611-08:00

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 Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-20267506786474151192012-01-20T10:47:00.000-08:002012-01-20T10:47:35.816-08:00

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

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-44012497290307354172012-01-10T11:20:00.000-08:002012-01-10T11:20:26.481-08:00

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.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-29419444719054952912012-01-09T10:30:00.000-08:002012-01-09T10:30:15.204-08:00

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

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-4860256631901777072012-01-06T11:28:00.000-08:002012-01-06T11:29:46.614-08:00

Gearing up for the start of classes on Monday? So are we. WSU Online Program Assistant Kay Huffine is helping send out lab kits for several courses, including 40 boxes for Allyson Beall’s ESRP 101, Environment and Human Life. Those boxes include seeds, a pot, and a full-spectrum light so students can grow plants indoors. For more about Allyson, the course, and a link to a Monty Python video,

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-73996221092346856752011-12-22T09:44:00.000-08:002011-12-22T09:44:57.425-08:00

SuperScholar website has ranked WSU Online among nation’s top five online degree programs. The judges said that WSU Online has "proved itself to be one of the premier online degree programs in the country.” Here’s the news release.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-63342791126303901132011-12-21T12:56:00.000-08:002011-12-21T12:56:43.400-08:00

In the past year, we’ve posted 65 stories on this blog and most were about determination: Students determined to graduate, determined to change their lives, determined to improve the lives of those around them. Among the many students profiled here were Jules Dossou Azatassou, who is driving cabs in Spokane while he aims for a career in law enforcement. Alex Esparza, who works at a juvenile

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-24036714167182301652011-12-12T13:25:00.000-08:002011-12-12T13:48:47.363-08:00

One highlight of Friday night’s pregraduation reception was a speech by WSU Online grad Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell, who kept studying in the face of incredible adversity. Below are excerpts: For me, it took over 22 years to complete something that I started. My scholastic journey began in 1989 after I joined the Navy. But because of the demands of the military and being a wife and mother of two

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-63417211600790138222011-12-01T10:27:00.000-08:002011-12-01T16:15:04.355-08:00

Mike Urban needed only two courses to certify into his major. But they were offered at 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. He had a job, he had a 30-minute commute. So he took a quarter off from college. Then another, then another.      Nineteen years went by. The Mount Vernon, Wash., resident became a planning commissioner, fire commissioner, Rotary Club president, and YMCA board member. He owns an equipment

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-15370611381221006912011-11-29T08:40:00.000-08:002011-11-29T08:42:52.477-08:00

By Kelli Hadley/Moscow-Pullman Daily NewsWhen Washington State University students get into trouble with the Pullman Police Department, they probably don't realize one of their peers may be the one busting them.      Chris Engle, a part-time student and full-time police officer with PPD, grew up in Pullman and graduated from Pullman High School in 2002. He attended Western Washington University

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-4459719474228087602011-11-28T11:08:00.000-08:002011-11-28T11:08:29.725-08:00

A news item from today’s WSU Announcements:“As we approach the end of the semester, you may encounter students participating in a game of Humans vs. Zombies around campus. “Through December 9, the group will simulate a 'Zombie Outbreak' on campus. Participating students may only play outside of any WSU facility while marked by a pre-approved (fluorescent green) bandanna handed out from the

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-75658832131072785432011-11-08T16:16:00.000-08:002011-11-08T16:51:16.641-08:00

WSU Online Academic Consultant Joy Thompson, center, with WSU enrollment counselor Kim Mickey.     Most of the young people in the Spokane Falls Community College student lounge on Monday morning aren’t talking. They’re typing on laptops and tapping on phones. But, in a large room off to the side, representatives from 15 colleges and universities are holding a transfer fair.      Live people? Isn

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-57539359645648885822011-11-04T10:02:00.000-07:002011-11-04T10:03:42.999-07:00

Today’s Daily Evergreen has a nice piece about Winter Session, which lets students earn three credits in three weeks, all online. This year’s session is open to all students, and registration opens Nov. 7. (Tip: You'll have access to the course space the day after you register. That can really ease the workload.)Go to the Winter Session website for more info.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-24909757059852524742011-10-28T13:35:00.000-07:002011-10-29T09:39:18.380-07:00

Burl Battersby got sidetracked into success.  He wanted to be a teacher. One day, when he was working at an Arizona hotel, the food and beverage director came over. Instead of studying to become a teacher, the director said, why don’t you take hotel management courses? If you do, the hotel will pay for your classes.      That was nearly 20 years ago. Burl Battersby stayed in the hotel business.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-5980859455090646352011-10-24T13:10:00.000-07:002011-10-24T13:10:11.387-07:00

Choosing an online degree program came down to one word: Legitimacy.      “The fact that WSU’s online degree is considered the same as its on-campus degree is very important to me,” said Emily M. Carstens Namie as she sipped a 16-ounce triple Americano at a Spokane coffeehouse. “It’s about legitimacy. I wanted something legitimate, and for me that’s a real school with a real campus.”      But a “

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-47546817848620882842011-10-14T14:52:00.000-07:002011-10-14T14:52:18.848-07:00

Cold weather. Jammed stores. Incessant holiday music. How would you like to avoid all that while accelerating your education? This winter, you can enroll in WSU Online’s Winter Session, which lets you earn three credits in three weeks over the holiday break.Winter Session runs from December 17 to January 8. Eleven courses are offered. You can take only one, due to the time demands. Your academic

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-17309508995473595392011-10-11T16:18:00.000-07:002011-10-11T16:18:13.654-07:00

Join fellow students, friends, family and WSU Online staff for a party at 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Silver Cloud Hotel Seattle-Stadium, 1046 First Ave South, in Seattle. The party includes free food, socializing, and the chance to give Butch T. Cougar a high-five. At 7:30 p.m., you can walk across the street and watch the Cougs battle Oregon State on CenturyLink Field. Here's a link to

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-79532956534651139862011-10-06T14:15:00.000-07:002011-10-06T14:27:04.609-07:00

WSU Professor Samantha Swindell discusses online education. By Katie Roenigk/Moscow-Pullman Daily News      There is a growing group of Washington State University students who rarely set foot on school property.      They may not even live near Pullman, Spokane, Vancouver or the Tri-Cities while taking classes. They are members of the university's fifth campus - the one that exists primarily

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-77603158113105581962011-10-03T08:35:00.000-07:002011-10-03T08:44:29.844-07:00

We love it when students stay in touch after graduation. Here’s a note Academic Consultant Maria Greaney Curry, below, recently received from Wendy Mau, above, who majored in social sciences. The mail carrier just delivered to me one of the most precious envelopes in my life – my WSU diploma. I smiled when I looked at the words: Magna Cum Laude. Again, thank you for your help and encouragement

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-60206998563441780032011-09-23T11:29:00.000-07:002011-10-02T16:53:31.139-07:00

WSU plans to launch an online master’s degree in sport management this spring.The degree “gives students entering the field a big advantage when seeking employment,” said Tammy Crawford, above, a clinical assistant professor at WSU’s College of Education.  More information is in today's WSU News.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-29504368404614012562011-09-21T11:09:00.001-07:002011-09-21T11:09:40.521-07:00

The 2012-2013 WSU Academic Scholarship Application is now available at this link. All students are eligible to complete this application to apply for the more than 700 scholarship programs throughout the university. The deadline for the application is January 31, 2012. Library help. WSU has created a couple of videos that help students navigate the library websites. You can watch them here.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-83412167153938954592011-09-16T17:12:00.000-07:002011-09-20T08:12:01.016-07:00

This hasn’t been officially announced yet, but WSU is offering Winter Session for the second time this year, and it will now be open to WSU Online students. Winter Session, Dec. 19-Jan. 6, lets you earn three credits in an intense three weeks by taking one online course. Registration opens Nov. 7, and you can get a preliminary look at the 12 courses being offered by going to the website.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-85236530245757686222011-09-09T14:06:00.000-07:002011-09-09T14:08:52.815-07:00

The invitation went out 48 hours ago, but more than 50 people have already signed up for WSU Online’s pregame party in Seattle on October 22.The party includes free food, socializing, and the chance to give Butch T. Cougar a high-five. It will be held just before the Cougs battle Oregon State on CenturyLink Field. The exact time depends on when the game is scheduled. The party is at the Silver

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-90078140982400176582011-09-06T09:50:00.000-07:002011-09-06T09:50:19.048-07:00

Planning to graduate this December? It’s easy to overlook one small but crucial requirement: You must apply for graduation by filling out a very short form. The deadine is Oct. 7.To get that form, please send an email to Alma Rocha, above right, or call her at 509-335-9268. Honor rolls: Congratulations to all our many honor roll students. You can see your name on the list.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-66459638666279993422011-08-25T13:50:00.000-07:002011-08-25T13:50:15.108-07:00

One-credit in-person seminars are a good way to advance toward your degree. WSU Online is holding October seminars in Everett, Spokane and Wenatchee. Snacks will be provided and some of our academic consultants will be there to answer questions and offer advising sessions.Go to the events page for more information.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-36622429736931285962011-08-24T09:55:00.000-07:002011-08-24T14:52:09.418-07:00

It’s been nearly a year since we checked in on the cutest baby ever in the whole wide world. Talia is the daughter of WSU Online Academic Consultant Thomas Wilson and wife, Naomi. Talia was born in July 2010, and is now 13 months old.“She’s growing like a weed,” reports Thomas.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-21354855506364650672011-08-17T08:22:00.000-07:002011-08-17T08:22:35.104-07:00

     At WSU Online, graduates sometimes stay in touch with their advisors for years. We always enjoy hearing where their degree has taken them.      Heidi Hiatt wrote us last September to describe her grad school studies in forensic psychology. This week, she wrote again to tell us she not only finished her master’s, she also graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA. Congratulations, Heidi!

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-20402436131951823322011-08-11T15:01:00.000-07:002011-08-12T13:39:12.892-07:00

Richard Rupp, above, in a video from the new course.     Most maps have two dimensions. Very few have three. Geographic Information Systems creates maps with a fourth dimension, a new topography of digital information.      GIS works like this. Data is collected about anything that can be measured or calculated: Income levels, water pipes, traffic, soil composition, animal habitat, the widgets in

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-16838993496984799382011-08-08T08:31:00.000-07:002011-08-08T08:43:05.750-07:00

Debbie Whitney is enrollment manager at the CDPE.      Some stones should be left unturned.      From 2004-2007, students taking Geology 210 through WSU Online had to identify rocks in their neighborhoods, and send nickel-size pieces to the professor. Instead, students sometimes sent 30-pound boxes filled with “boulders,” as described by Debbie Whitney, enrollment manager at the Center for

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-83822545938051166792011-07-21T11:59:00.000-07:002011-07-21T12:20:09.365-07:00

Natalie and Gene Kolczynski, and their daughter Emily Seaman, are all teachers. It was time to join the pride: Natalie Kolczynski had seen two daughters graduate from Washington State University, and one become a teacher. She’d seen her husband, also a WSU grad, become a teacher after decades in the printing industry. Natalie had a degree in nursing – a career she set aside to be a mom – but

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-72137558600432501202011-07-19T10:38:00.001-07:002011-07-19T10:38:48.750-07:00

Our staff is using cartoon creations to fight global pandemics -- and improve courses. Here's the story.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-90906234186057595642011-07-11T13:00:00.000-07:002011-07-11T13:08:02.793-07:00

The SAP rules are changing. SAP stands for “Satisfactory Academic Progress” and those requirements may affect your eligibility for financial aid. Here’s a link to a summary of the changes. Need more information? You can find the complete SAP Manual on the WSU website.Once you’re done reading the entire manual, you may wish to rest your eyes, then contact our financial aid office for help. You

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-12479401606960949942011-07-05T08:52:00.000-07:002011-07-05T08:53:07.579-07:00

     Here's yet another pseudo-story on what degree you should get. Why pseudo? Perhaps because of the ads inserted between paragraphs. Or the idea that popularity equates to suitability. Or the lead: "Forget about skinny jeans. The most popular accessory in school these days is a business degree."      Let's put aside the idea that a degree is an "accessory." Let's instead discuss skinny jeans:

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-43432066209377543532011-06-29T15:16:00.000-07:002011-06-29T15:16:35.128-07:00

     As expected, WSU tuition is going up due to a big cut in state support. Here’s a link to the new rates.      The good news is there are lots of financial aid options, plus WSU has a great financial aid staff to help students find the funding package they need.      The other good news is that college degrees are getting more and more valuable. This is from an excellent article in last Sunday

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-56840067449032439622011-06-28T13:24:00.001-07:002011-11-04T10:24:18.613-07:00

WSU Online is part of the WSU unit called the Center for Distance and Professional Education. That unit also includes Conference Management, which kept things running smoothly for 400 teenagers and 100 adults during a three-day 4-H conference.Honor rolls released. The Spring 2011 honor rolls are now available at this link.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-67878861186967521332011-06-10T09:32:00.000-07:002011-06-10T09:32:40.954-07:00

WSU Online’s student government has launched a blog, and the most recent posts feature an introduction to new President Joseph Nutting, and a message from outgoing President Larry Lawrence. Check out the CyberCoug.The student government funds scholarships, organizes social events, and generally works to make life better for WSU Online students. For more information, go to the ASWSU-Online page.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-77539368503784960022011-06-07T10:49:00.000-07:002011-06-07T10:49:15.621-07:00

After last week's approval of the "gainful employment" rules meant to protect students, WSU Online Executive Director David Cillay suggested that prospective students also need to look out for themselves. How do you compare online programs? With this top 10 list.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-66334192518822051692011-06-01T10:19:00.000-07:002011-06-01T10:19:25.049-07:00

The Mary Cone Barrie Scholarship is offering two awards of $2,500 each. Applications are due by July 29. WSU also maintains a list of private/donor scholarships, and several new options have been recently added.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-15319419900843254372011-05-18T09:27:00.000-07:002011-05-18T10:44:41.283-07:00

     When she quit college, Tess White was 19, newly diagnosed with epilepsy and had a 1.9 grade point average.      Fifteen years later, White had become a stay-at-home mom with three children, including a daughter with autism.      “Having a child who isn’t developing ‘normally’ made me more aware of development in general,” she said. “I wanted more knowledge — and I was the first person in my

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-2837372360687476642011-05-11T15:29:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:24:02.996-07:00

    On a rainy Friday, Kerry Clark rode his bike to the Donut Parade in north Spokane. He rarely drives. Too expensive.      Clark has four roommates. He survives on financial aid and military benefits. The financial aid is through Washington State University, where he’s an online student.       "I view studying as a job,” he said. “Just like any job, I want to do well at it.” Clark couldn’t do

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-71316903103917054832011-05-09T10:57:00.000-07:002011-05-09T11:03:02.974-07:00

Article by Kelsey Husky/Moscow-Pullman Daily News      Things come naturally to 16-year-old Kayla Heard.      "It's a God-given gift," she said. "Ever since I can remember, it's been this way."      Heard is the youngest student on record to graduate from Washington State University. She's walking in commencement today with a degree in history and political science.      She completed her

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-15309065553826458392011-05-04T12:06:00.000-07:002011-05-04T12:06:11.299-07:00

The Spokane Police Department is hiring, says spokeswoman Jennifer DeRuwe. Here's a link.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-61658421951282574642011-04-29T11:40:00.000-07:002011-04-29T14:47:55.694-07:00

From left, Cory, Elijah and Jules. The young cab driver seems easygoing.      Jules Dossou Azatassou is unfailingly polite. His smile is warm. He addresses a visitor as sir, and Mr. Richard. Jules is so personable that he won Spokane’s 2010 First Impression Transportation Award: “My cab is always clean, I am always on time, and I respect people no matter who they are,” he said.      But,

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-17408453267732451892011-04-27T08:40:00.000-07:002011-04-27T09:55:57.591-07:00

     Teenager from Union, Wash., could talk when she was 1, and read at 18 months. She started first grade at age 3, graduated from high school at 10, and began community college at 11.      Check out the story on KING 5 news.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-16735865195660701592011-04-22T13:37:00.000-07:002011-04-22T15:01:03.191-07:00

Center for Civic Engagement Director Melanie Brown, left, Erica Vieira, and Assistant Director Kim Freier. They don’t give the T-shirts to just anybody.      WSU’s Center for Civic Engagement reserves them for people who complete more than 25 hours of service, said student involvement coordinator Michael Schwartz-Oscar. However, when a student said she had volunteered, but hadn’t tracked it

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-88622539567488934022011-04-19T13:39:00.000-07:002011-04-19T15:12:11.859-07:00

Kayla and Teresa Sheeley are both artists. When her daughter enrolled at Washington State University Pullman, Teresa Sheeley felt restless. She’d attended community college, but always regretted not finishing her four-year degree.      Teresa lives in Omak, Wash. She’s widely known for her artwork, which tends to be in the cozy home décor category: tea towels, warm paintings, designs you might

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-6109429557729848092011-04-13T08:41:00.000-07:002011-04-13T08:41:53.264-07:00

The College of Business is changing its business course prefixes. The change will become effective fall semester. What does this mean to you? Schedules of Classes to change. In the Schedules of Classes, business courses for the summer semester are cross-listed (listed in more than one unit within the college).  Beginning fall 2011, business courses are assigned to only one specific department/

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-77967114509986657882011-04-12T12:07:00.000-07:002011-04-12T12:08:12.868-07:00

     U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, Admiral John Scott Redd and R. James Cook, Washington State University dean and professor emeritus, will be the featured speakers at WSU’s 115th spring commencement Saturday, May 7, at Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum.      Gates will speak at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony. There’s more information in this news release.      If you’ll be here for

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-18880518452712838672011-04-08T10:50:00.000-07:002011-04-14T11:22:46.795-07:00

Alex Esparza is getting used to his job – and he doesn’t like that.      “You get desensitized to things,” said Alex, a corrections officer at the Skagit County Juvenile Detention Center. “Kids charged with robbery or assault. That used to be shocking and heartbreaking. But, after time, it gets normal.”      He’s been a corrections officer for eight years, and was recently promoted to shift

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-41218577208818928612011-04-05T08:35:00.000-07:002011-04-05T08:35:49.835-07:00

     If you’re already an online student, here’s another reason for gloating. Our friends at the University of Wisconsin have created a simple calculator that shows how much you save by not having to leave home. Check it out.      A day at the beach. Our South Puget Sound students can use some of the gas they save to spend a fun day on the beach at Oakland Bay. Activities include bird-house

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-84704564215444749032011-04-04T08:56:00.000-07:002011-04-04T08:56:57.642-07:00

US News lists these Eight Scholarships for Procrastinator and Overachievers. One offers $1,000 for writing a three-sentence essay about a weekly topic. Can you make a persuasive argument in three sentences? Heck yes! Question: “Why do you need a $1,000 scholarship?” Answer: Bills. Bills. Bills. WSU also keeps a list of private scholarships on its Web site. Check it out.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-87352821973772287342011-03-31T09:34:00.000-07:002011-03-31T09:34:46.312-07:00

     Sheila Carrigg was working with kids, and she got some kind of infection. Her clothes turned crimson and gray. Her head buzzed with the Cougar fight song. This peaceful preschool educator found herself smack-texting her four Husky siblings: “You’re going to get a beatdown.”      It all started when she volunteered at a Mount Vernon, Wash., youth group. “More than 60 percent of the staff

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-45045147803020353612011-03-28T09:32:00.000-07:002011-03-28T11:50:15.141-07:00

     Nearly 200 people attended WSU Online face-to-face events last Thursday in Seattle and Saturday in Tacoma.      Both days featured one-credit academic seminars and a chance for students to meet with their academic consultants. Saturday’s Tacoma Rendezvous also included free museum passes, a catered lunch, and, for a lucky few, a massage from a big lovable fur ball named Butch.      Our next

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-41677617357147204062011-03-21T11:51:00.000-07:002011-03-21T11:51:14.311-07:00

WSU Today article on instructor Allyson Beall discusses how students turn their homes into labs – and includes a link to a Monty Python video.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-81524754481136960542011-03-16T09:00:00.000-07:002011-03-16T09:03:19.628-07:00

     The public perception of spring break includes beaches, parties and students gone wild.      We know that’s not true for most on-campus students. We know it’s even less true for online students, who tend to have more home-life responsibilities.      To help keep online students on course, WSU Online staffer Kay Huffine offers these tips for spring break: The last day of spring semester is

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-65468475012856784642011-03-15T10:30:00.000-07:002011-03-15T11:04:10.635-07:00

     Joseph Nutting has won the race for ASWSU-Online student government president by a single vote.      Nutting defeated incumbent Larry Lawrence, who had previously served as senator and vice president.      “I'm excited to have the chance to serve the WSU Online community,” Nutting said. “I hope that, with the help of ASWSU-Online and the WSU Online staff, I can promote positive change from

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-65247148953155021452011-03-02T06:50:00.000-08:002011-03-02T08:51:42.076-08:00

No hard math required, WSU prof says.Since its launch in 2009, WSU Online’s accounting major has quickly become one of the online degree program’s most popular majors. In Fall 2009, 6 percent of new students chose accounting. That number has risen every semester. This spring, it’s the choice of 18 percent of new students. The top choice has steadily remained Social Sciences.Why the increase?

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-90590722064308492232011-02-24T09:54:00.000-08:002011-02-24T13:12:41.974-08:00

     This year’s race for ASWSU-Online president pits incumbent Larry Lawrence against newcomer Joseph Nutting. For bios of the two candidates, please go to the website. Voting is held online and runs from March 4-12.      Lawrence was previously a senator, then vice president. He’s been president of the online student body for 14 months. The biggest challenges facing ASWSU-Online

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-63968800090114604652011-02-24T05:35:00.000-08:002011-02-24T13:13:44.276-08:00

Kathy Halfacre lives in a Walla Walla firehouse converted into a dance studio. Video: Kathy and troupe dance to a Lady Gaga song. A skateboard ramp sits at each end, a drum kit waits in the back, and a black cat named Girlfriend lounges wherever she likes.      “It’s like a circus,” Kathy said from the living quarters of Substance Dance Center. “Middle-school kids with skateboards,

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-82602127016350993772011-02-18T18:34:00.000-08:002011-02-24T13:19:10.370-08:00

The 700-foot hat is displayed in Sandpoint, Idaho.     Gini Woodward proves the value of patience.      In December, she graduated from WSU Online with a degree in Social Sciences, 42 years after she left the Pullman campus to get married. In January, she set a Guinness World Record for a feat she’d accomplished 33 years earlier.      While the WSU diploma was carefully planned, the world record

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-56957126178895406352011-02-15T08:32:00.000-08:002011-02-15T08:33:50.832-08:00

The March 10 academic seminars will be held at CenterPlace in Spokane Valley. The one-credit in-person seminars last three hours, and also require finishing an assignment from the instructor. The Spokane seminars are: 1:30-4:30 pm: Psychology 301 (SLN 78899) - If Only We Could Forget: Targeting Reconsolidation as Treatment for Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Taught by Dr. Brendan Walker (Snacks

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-16724211891492421792011-02-11T09:02:00.000-08:002011-02-11T11:16:40.886-08:00

     Scammers would be a lot more dangerous if they hired a proofreader.      The latest scam, according to WSU’s IT Department, involves an email purportedly from info@wsu.edu. The subject line is “Re-Confirm your Wsu.Edu to avoid closure.” Here’s how it starts, typos and all:      “We are detected some unusual massage from your Webmail account,to avoid you loosing your account or suspention,you

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-46000950006630615192011-02-08T10:20:00.000-08:002011-02-08T13:33:08.819-08:00

The priority filing date for 2011-2012 FAFSA is next Tuesday, Feb. 15. If you miss this date, you may lose out on thousands of dollars in additional aid. Please go to the financial aid website for more info. You can also call 1-509-335-9711 or send an email to finaid@wsu.edu. And here’s a sad story about one student who had to leave college because he missed the FAFSA date.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-61833894467043966632011-02-04T11:01:00.000-08:002011-02-04T11:02:19.073-08:00

Jerry Petersen, top, leads a seminar at the 2010 Tacoma Rendezvous. Below right, Butch mingles with a student after lunch.WSU Online staff invites all students, family and friends to our annual Tacoma Rendezvous on March 26.      The Rendezvous includes a lunch hosted by the ASWSU Online Student Government for students and guests, as well as free admission to the Tacoma Museum of Glass, the

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-31374309952908574442011-02-01T12:50:00.000-08:002011-02-01T12:51:17.053-08:00

“I fell in love with the culture, the language and the lifestyle” of Spain, said Coty Nisbet. “The warm winters and beaches aren't bad, either.” Here's the story.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-17723966868808096322011-01-31T16:10:00.000-08:002011-01-31T16:18:43.600-08:00

When we checked in last May with Ahmad Baitalmal, he was a happy man. He was about to graduate from WSU with a BA in business and a 4.0 GPA. He and his family were enjoying the party that WSU Online throws for its students the night before commencement. And he’d lost nearly 100 pounds.      Now, Baitalmal has another reason to celebrate. He’s been accepted into the prestigious Sloan Master’s

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-84114685581388270592011-01-28T10:26:00.000-08:002011-01-28T10:27:31.576-08:00

The latest issue includes information on the upcoming online student government election. For the three paths to academic supremacy, check out this essay by ASWSU Online Senator P. Simon Mahler.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-59116292598687103642011-01-24T10:06:00.000-08:002011-01-24T10:06:32.504-08:00

Congratulations to all our Fall 2010 Honor Roll members! You can see if your name is on the list by checking the website.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-8063640645884718192011-01-19T14:50:00.000-08:002011-01-19T14:50:15.518-08:00

WSU Online offers a lot of support services, but sometimes there’s no substitute for getting together face-to-face with a classmate or two. The Hometown Locator lets you find other online students in your area, based on your ZIP code. You can share only as much info as you like when you sign up.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-32082846585532106732011-01-18T13:26:00.000-08:002011-01-20T09:59:02.409-08:00

When we wrote about the recent retirement of longtime dean Muriel Oaks, we traced the history of online education back to its beginnings. Now, our new leader, David Cillay, answers questions about his plans in this WSU Today article.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-57794230022999251032011-01-10T14:37:00.000-08:002011-01-10T14:37:22.766-08:00

At this time of year, spring break may be far from your mind -- or always on it. In either case, if you're looking for something fulfilling and fun, how about volunteering with WSU's Center for Civic Engagement? There's an Eastern Washington event this spring in which students and faculty travel to various state locations to work on sustainable agriculture, natural resource, and food systems

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-78872599735497211882011-01-06T08:47:00.000-08:002011-01-06T08:47:42.274-08:00

Online courses are ideal for people with alternative sleeping habits. "Does WSU Online offer that program where you learn how to get people’s blood?” In five years of student service experience, I had never been asked about bloodletting, blood sucking, or  any thing regarding blood before. I’ve heard all sorts of crazy questions, but this was the first of the vampire variety. After a little

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-753995743176602802010-12-30T08:53:00.000-08:002011-01-06T08:42:39.957-08:00

WSU Online may use a lot of fancy technology, but we still put a high value on an old-fashioned asset: A real live person who answers your call and helps make things right. Rebecca Stull is one of those problem-solvers, and she offers these tips on how to be a successful online student: One thing I’ve noticed is that savvy students always know the deadlines! They print off the Academic Calendar

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-7152894028978055732010-12-27T16:35:00.000-08:002010-12-27T16:41:23.818-08:00

Spring semester is just a couple of weeks away. Classes begin Jan. 10, and the deadline to register without a penalty is Jan. 9. When you start classes, here are some useful links you will find on your WSU Online My Account page: Technical support is available 24/7. Select the Tech Support link from the lower left menu to see whom to call, and find a link to the speed test to check your Internet

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-81037833031786513212010-12-16T10:47:00.000-08:002010-12-16T10:47:22.331-08:00

Uncle Patrick gargles his wine. “I taste blackberries and cherry and oak,” he says, “and a lot of tannins.” The only thing you know about wine is that it comes in different colors. But, with holiday meals approaching, here’s how to puncture wine windbags, thanks to Washington State University Professor Kathleen Williams: Precipitate saliva. When Patrick says he tastes tannins, you say: “

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-63034848944473254432010-12-15T13:30:00.000-08:002010-12-16T08:20:02.351-08:00

It will be a bleak Christmas homecoming.      This past fall, a Washington State University freshman moved to Pullman to start a new life. Then his financial aid ran out. He can’t register for spring semester. He can’t stay in the residence hall. He will pack his university career into cardboard boxes and go back home.      WSU financial aid counselor Kathryn Sutton met with the student and his

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-65445699371180840372010-12-13T14:25:00.000-08:002010-12-13T14:27:30.255-08:00

     “We are immensely proud of you,” WSU President Elson S. Floyd says of WSU Online graduate Sylvia Guzman, shown above on the big screen during Saturday’s commencement ceremony.      Guzman has had quite a journey, from homeless migrant worker to being praised by WSU’s president in front of the crowd at Beasley Coliseum. She was even featured on the front page of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-59998961556511426262010-12-13T09:38:00.000-08:002010-12-13T09:43:26.868-08:00

Giant tube worms live in the darkness of the deep sea, next to hydrothermal vents. They grow up to 8 feet long and, at their tips, have red plumes rimmed with blood vessels. They resemble a cross between a tentacle and a tube of lipstick.      These weird invertebrates are called riftia. WSU Online student Allison Drake studied them this past spring during an internship at the Smithsonian

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-10297016939851235642010-12-07T08:29:00.000-08:002010-12-07T08:29:44.730-08:00

WSU Online students can earn credits this summer by studying business in China, food and wine in Italy, and health care in Peru. Other faculty-led programs include trips to Paris, Spain, Thailand, Greece, and Switzerland.The programs are open to all WSU students from any academic major.For more information and a list of all the available programs, go to the Education Abroad website.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-35004079984414647722010-12-06T10:35:00.000-08:002010-12-06T10:43:18.109-08:00

Check out the latest installment right here. On a less cheery topic, if you're interested in WSU's preliminary plans for cutting $13.5 million from its budget, here's a link. In addition, WSU has to temporarily cut $11.2 million. Here's that plan. The good news is that no academic programs are scheduled to be eliminated.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-3829085328034610352010-12-01T14:14:00.000-08:002010-12-01T14:14:12.201-08:00

     A WSU Spokane professor has been named one of the top 25 interior design educators in the nation by the journal DesignIntelligence.      John Turpin, who is interviewed in today’s Daily Evergreen, began teaching his first WSU Online course this past summer; his venture into online education is detailed in this WSU Today story.      Turpin is offering the same course -- ID 250, History of

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-10259026838499213752010-11-29T16:27:00.000-08:002010-11-29T16:27:31.271-08:00

     The band didn’t make it to Seattle. But the cheerleaders did, along with about 400 WSU students, staff and alumni who braved icy temperatures and snowy streets for last Tuesday’s party before Cougars beat the Pilots in the Hardwood Classic basketball game.      The event was organized in conjunction with WSU Online’s student government, and included dinner, an appearance by Butch T. Cougar

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-13157238722115242982010-11-18T09:17:00.001-08:002010-11-18T09:17:50.185-08:00

New online course on wines and vines requires a willingness to challenge your tastebuds. The story is in WSU Today.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-10246415537932390862010-11-18T09:09:00.000-08:002010-11-18T09:09:54.076-08:00

     Would you like to win an iPad? All you have to do is come up with a great name for WSU’s Student Information System, which we like to call SIS for short.      Along with getting a shiny new iPad, you’ll also be leaving a lasting legacy at WSU as generations of staff, faculty and students refer to our computer system by the name that you came up with. But, don’t worry. You won’t be blamed

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-28338534249073214192010-11-18T07:36:00.000-08:002010-11-18T08:33:18.350-08:00

Sylvia Guzman, above, has been chosen as a highlight student for the December commencement. Guzman is the third consecutive online student to be honored, following Sandy Thomas and Debby Poris. The 2009 article below describes Guzman’s journey from homeless migrant worker to speaking before a national Head Start conference in Washington, D.C. A dozen preschoolers puff into plastic wands,

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-91246283978648429922010-11-17T09:31:00.000-08:002010-11-18T08:29:48.488-08:00

     WSU's online master's program not only helps working engineers build management skills. It also pays off for their employers, such as Boeing. Read about the profitable interaction of classroom and company here.      For more information on the Engineering Management Program, go to the website.      Back in 2008, we talked to an enthusiastic engineering graduate as he visited campus to

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-85157319458219372572010-11-15T13:41:00.000-08:002010-11-15T16:28:21.738-08:00

     Students, friends, families and staff gathered in Pullman for dinner and bowling during this ASWSU Online-sponsored event.      If you couldn't make it to Pullman, please join us in Seattle on Nov. 23 for a party before the Hardwood Classic basketball game. Along with a hosted dinner and play time with Butch T. Cougar, there will be a special appearance by the Cougar Alumni Band.      For

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-50475672313092697372010-11-12T15:37:00.000-08:002010-11-18T08:32:34.748-08:00

WSU Online’s Virtual Mentor program has won a first-place innovation award from the Center for Transforming Student Services. Instructional designer Rebecca Van de Vord, right, and Faculty/Student Services Coordinator Margy Fotopoulos run the program at WSU Online.      Virtual Mentors are past and current WSU Online students who monitor online courses and who reach out to students to assist with

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-5660371972811293122010-11-03T15:54:00.000-07:002010-11-03T16:43:33.111-07:00

The latest Cyber Coug newsletter  is now online. You can get more information about ASWSU Online at the student government website, and you can see videos of past events on our video page. While you're on the video page, be sure to check out all the food at the 2010 graduation party. If that whets your appetite, consider joining us for our Nov. 23 party at Key Arena in Seattle. This should be a

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-62503554083869696522010-11-02T10:05:00.000-07:002010-11-02T10:05:39.452-07:00

“If you look at the past 20 years, there’s probably a half dozen people who have changed the way universities deliver education in this country,” said Samuel H. Smith, president of WSU from 1985 to 2000. “Muriel is clearly one of the leaders of that group.”See the story in WSU Today.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-2659641192994714362010-10-29T16:23:00.000-07:002010-10-29T16:23:32.094-07:00

WSU has partnered with several companies to offer discounts on computer software. Here's the link. You'll need to sign in with your student ID.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-37163677474589213332010-10-12T11:10:00.000-07:002010-10-12T14:24:01.286-07:00

He can be himself, sometimes. At the Eastern Washington community college where he co-founded “She threw something at me and chased me out of the house, screaming." a club for gays and lesbians. In a WSU Online classroom, where he can “give the gay perspective on different issues.” When he got Elton John to do him a favor.      Other times, concealment is required. He learned that

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-88756882167292329432010-10-11T13:43:00.000-07:002010-10-11T13:43:21.826-07:00

WSU Online student and ASWSU Online Senator Erica Vieira talks about her academic experiences on the Division of Student Affairs website.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-23211350053832306422010-10-07T16:28:00.000-07:002010-10-07T16:33:04.501-07:00

     Free Wi-Fi has spread from coffee shops to copy shops.      Over the summer, Starbucks began offering free Wi-Fi at its stores, letting WSU Online students pursue their studies in a fully caffeinated frame of mind.      Now FedEx/Kinko’s is following suit. About 1,000 stores nationwide have started offering free Wi-Fi, with another 600 or so due to join by the end of the month. The FedEx

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-33968845337019970992010-10-01T09:44:00.000-07:002010-10-01T09:44:25.911-07:00

New edition of the CyberCoug: ASWSU Online student newspaper reports that Cougars frolic in the alleys during bowling get-together in Pullman. Security alert: If you get an email saying, “(Your) E-mail Box has reached its maximum limit of 20 GB," don't take the bait, WSU computer expert says in the Daily Evergreen. WSU Online's Lenore Chambers says she's seeing a different scam: "The WSU Online

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-34007350284680868372010-09-29T08:39:00.000-07:002010-09-29T08:39:00.538-07:00

     In an online course, no one knows if you look different. They also don’t know if you look the same.      For identical twins Katrina, in red, and Kanethia Williams, that’s a relief. In grade school, looking the same wasn’t so great. “Hey! Twin!” their classmates shouted. “Which one are you?”      The sisters still lead twin lives. They live together in Federal Way, Washington, work for the

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-5201248037123515562010-09-28T08:27:00.000-07:002010-12-09T10:31:33.392-08:00

We love to stay in touch with our grads. So we were delighted to receive a letter from Fred Misumi. Fred earned a 2005 business degree from WSU’s online program and graduated with a 4.0 GPA. Here are excerpts from his August letter to his academic advisor: I just graduated from Pennsylvania State University MBA last week!  Ended with a GPA of 3.88, and have some recommendations set up for

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-73497180570152596742010-09-20T13:45:00.001-07:002010-09-20T13:45:42.908-07:00

Two professors team up with graduate student to offer revamped online sociology course. The story is in WSU Today.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-74256587668609232682010-09-20T08:33:00.000-07:002010-09-20T08:41:10.906-07:00

     The statistics are startling: More than 40% of all babies born in the United States are born to unmarried women, and the number of new marriages among American women over the age of 15 has declined by roughly 50% since 1960.      "Americans get an F on marriage," says WSU Associate Professor of Anthropology, Dr. Nancy McKee, who will discuss the reasons behind the numbers at three free,

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6511423140553213582.post-68105352907695455632010-09-15T14:42:00.000-07:002010-09-15T14:45:34.075-07:00

This Newsweek article on good values in online education highlights WSU-affiliated program that offers professional certificates in fitness.

WSU Onlinenoreply@blogger.com1