WSU Spokane Campus Bulletin
Issue 2004-1 (January 7, 2004)


IN THIS ISSUE

Underline

Looking Forward to 2004

A message from Chancellor Rom Markin

Wishing you health and happiness in the New Year!Illustration of campus (c) Robert Krikac, Washington State University.

Washington State University Spokane anticipates a tremendous 2004, with a number of milestones and accomplishments we will celebrate throughout the year.

In 2004, with your help and through the efforts of our world-class faculty and staff, Washington State University Spokane plans to:

  • Welcome a new Campus Chancellor and WSU Vice-Provost for Health Sciences.
  • Maintain and increase our research productivity: Annual average is now close to $5 million and growing.
  • Welcome our 14th class of students, congratulate our 2,000th graduate at this year’s Commencement, and continue to expand academic offerings to meet Spokane’s needs.
  • Continue physical development of the campus: We will work to obtain construction funds for the Academic Center, and begin design of the nursing building to follow.

We look forward to working with you to make the coming year a success for Spokane and for Washington State University.

We have shared this same message with campus friends and community leaders in a card illustrated by interior design faculty member Robert Krikac (Pullman campus). We appreciate their ongoing support.Return to the Top of the Page

Campus Planning Dialogue Jan. 8

Many of you participated actively in the development of the campus strategic plan over the course of 2001-2002. Your caring and creativity show in every page of the final document and the goals identified there.

At the Jan. 8 planning dialogue, 8 a.m.-noon in the Phase I Classroom Building, we are discussing the university’s strategic goals, our campus priorities as identified in that planning process, and the new systemwide principles currently under development.

In our work, we will identify relevant and appropriate benchmarks to measure our progress toward campus goals. Units will then take this process to the next step to develop department-specific outcome measures.

Information from this work session will be archived at www.spokane.wsu.edu/thefuture.

Background material

University goals

  • Offer the best undergraduate experience in a research university.
  • Nurture a world-class environment for research, scholarship, graduate education, the arts, and engagement.
  • Create an environment of trust and respect in all we do.
  • Develop a culture of shared commitment to quality in all of our activities.

Campus goals

  • Academic Programs: Expand and enhance academic programs within a thoughtful, systematic approach to program development and delivery.
  • Student and Learning Experience: Offer the best possible learning experience for all campus constituencies: students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors, and others.
  • Learning Environment: Sustain and enhance a stimulating physical and intellectual learning environment that meets the needs of our campus community and enhances our urban context.
  • Academic and Information Services Infrastructure: Ensure effective educational and institutional information infrastructure to support students, staff, and faculty in the delivery of expanded academic offerings, research, and service and administrative support functions.
  • Research: Lead the development of Spokane's research community.
  • Community Engagement: Focus, coordinate, integrate, and capitalize upon community linkages to serve the region and enrich the campus.
  • Recognition of Faculty, Staff, Students, and Stakeholders: Strengthen the campus as a celebrative, open, purposeful, caring, inclusive, just, creative, and disciplined learning community that invests in all members of the community and recognizes the value of contributions from both internal and external stakeholders.
  • Identity: Communicate a consistent, distinctive campus identity based on mission and strengths.

Related reading

Making WSU Spokane more accessible

Kenny Bisagno and Lonny Waddle of Information Services have been hard at work creating more accessibility for the hard-of-hearing in the Health Sciences Building.

They have hooked up an assistive listening device to the Polycomm conference microphones in the HSB conference rooms, thus making it possible to hear people in a crowded room or at the far end of a table. This solution uses existing equipment, thereby saving money.

The new set-up can solve a major problem in conference meetings, where several people speak and it can be difficult to hear. For the many "late-deafened" hard-of-hearing who do not know sign language, this use of assistive technology can help improve accessibility.

The technology could also help hard-of-hearing students in interactive seminars; clients of speech and hearing, and/or hard-of-hearing people participating in rehabilitation, independent living, gerontology or other seminars.

To schedule use of these accessible rooms, contact scheduling coordinator Adi James, adijames@wsu.edu, 8-7536. Be sure to let her know you want to use the assistive listening devices in your AV set-up. Return to the Top of the Page

Belly dancing, ballads & magic

Partygoers had a great time at the 2003 Holiday Party, Friday, Dec. 19 at Northern Lights Brewery.

 Faculty and staff were entertained by the sweet voices of Katie and Laura Chamberlain, dazzled by Doug and Anne Marie Stephens’ magic shows, and awestruck by Zahirah’s belly dancing. As always, the raffle baskets were a huge hit! Thank you to all departments that donated, contributing to the success of the event. WSU Spokane holiday party 2003

Congratulations to the CALS planning committee on an entertaining event! The Holiday Party Committee for 2003 included the entire CALS staff: Jeannie Smith, Dee Rodgers, Cathy Dorman, Rietta Pew, Michelanne Adams, and David Buxton, along with Mimi Salamat and Doug Stephens of Speech and Hearing Sciences.

Dennis Dyck has volunteered HREC to organize next year's party, to be held at Arbor Crest.

A picture speaks 1,000 words! WSU Spokane faculty members Harry Mielke and Chuck Madison enjoy Zahirah’s belly dancing at the 2003 Holiday Party. To view more pictures see the images page. Return to the Top of the Page

Spokane Alliance for Medical Research
Web page launches

WSU Spokane is one of the leading partners in the newly formed Spokane Alliance for Medical Research (SAMR). Associate dean for research Dennis Dyck serves as SAMR’s director, and a search is under way for a director of the sleep research initiative that will be the first major SAMR initiative.

Sicco Rood and Lorri Bays have developed the new Web page for the SAMR, found online at www.spokanemedicalresearch.org.

For recent news coverage, see "Army abuzz over WSU research on sleep: Pentagon awards $1.5 million for cooperative research program in Spokane," a Dec. 17, 2003, article in the Spokesman-Review that also ran in the Seattle Times and on KING 5 TV in Seattle.Return to the Top of the Page

Personnel and staffing changes

Comings
Hergen Eilers, Associate Director of Applied Sciences with the Institute for Shock Physics effective 1/1/04

John Roll, Research Associate and Assistant Director of Substance Abuse and Other Addictive Disorders Research with the Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training effective 1/1/04

Bonnie Wagner, Model AHEC/Health Careers Coordinator with the Area Health Education Center effective 1/1/04

Recruitments
Custodian Lead, Facilities Operations, apply by 1/12/04

Searches
Research Professor, Sleep Research Initiative, Health Sciences, position is open until filled
Assistant/Associate Director, Development, position is open until filled
Clinical Assistant Professor (3 positions), Pharmacotherapy, positions are open until filled
Chancellor & Vice Provost for Health Sciences, WSU Spokane, position is open until filled

AHEC becomes first to join universitywide Extension

"The Fourth H"Linda Fox, Associate Dean/Associate Director for WSU Extension, and Wayne Madsen, Northeast District Extension, congratulate Steve Meltzer, AHEC director

“…(I pledge) my health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.”

Many a former 4-H’er can still recite that pledge (and if you can't, check out this Web page).

In mid-December, the fourth H took on new meaning for WSU Extension, as the Area Health Education Center at WSU Spokane became the first unit to join the new Extension under its universitywide mission.

Linda Fox, Associate Dean/Associate Director for WSU Extension, and Wayne Madsen, Northeast District Extension, congratulated Steve Meltzer, AHEC director at the Dec. 18 partnership celebration. Watch for the full article in the upcoming issue of WSU Today.

Service learning workshop Jan. 22

The WSU Spokane campus has been actively moving forward in the past year in developing a model for greater implementation of service learning across all curricula and departments. Service learning is a widely used pedagogy that enhances learning by engaging students in academically relevant community projects.

WSU Pullman has a very well developed and rich Community Service-Learning Center that involves 2,000 students each year in curricular as well as co-curricular service learning and annually supports faculty teaching more than 50 classes with community-based learning components.

We are pleased offer a short session to help whet your appetites, encourage your participation and answer your questions!

Service-Learning at WSU Spokane:
Creating Campus-Community Connections and Enhancing the Curriculum

Presenters:

  • Melanie Brown, Director of the WSU Community Service-Learning Center. Melanie has been involved with the Center since its inception over ten years ago and has a wealth of information about service-learning and how it fits our WSU mission.
  • Jeff Sellen, Faculty, Dept. of General Education. Jeff has been very active incorporating service-learning into courses and can respond to many questions faculty may have.

Date: Thursday, January 22
Time: Noon-1 p.m.
Location: HSB Quad 110C
For more information/RSVP: Student Services Office (8-7978) Return to the Top of the Page

Community Connections

SIRTI Technology Showcase VI Jan. 13:
Value-Added Agricultural Technologies

Have you heard of harvesting insulin from a barley crop? Would you build a straw deck? Can you imagine snacking on lentils instead of popcorn? When you hear AgTech do you think of combines? Yes?

Well, the researchers from WSU have a few things to share with you at the SIRTI Technology Showcase VI on Tuesday, January 13 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Inn, Ballroom, Salon 4, 322 N. Spokane Falls Court, Spokane.

The theme of the event is Value-Added Agricultural Technologies, with a keynote address from James Moseley, Deputy Secretary, United States Department of Agriculture. Admission is free and hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Presentations include:

  • Biopharming: A New Value-Added Agriculture: Presented by R. James Cook, Ph.D., Member, National Academy of Science, Interim Dean, College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences
  • Crispy Puffed Lentil Snacks: Presented by Denny Davis, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Biological Systems Engineering
  • Straw in Extruded Natural Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites: Presented by Donald Bender, Ph.D., Director, Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory, Weyerhaeuser Distinguished Professor of Wood Materials and Engineering

For more information e-mail showcase@sirti.org or call (509) 358-2000.Return to the Top of the Page

Economic Update Rally Jan. 15
to Focus on Higher Education

The quarterly Spokane Area EDC Economic Update Rally on January 15 will focus on the important subject of higher education as a significant contributor to the economy of the Spokane region. With more than 65,000 students enrolled in the regions colleges and universities, students and tuition are only one aspect of this multi-million dollar economic driver.

The program will also include an overview of the University District initiative and brief presentations from each college or university president, including WSU Spokane Interim Chancellor Rom Markin. Collaborating on this informative program are the Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber’s Higher Educational Leadership Group.

The Rally will be held in the Lair Student Center building on the campus of Spokane Community College at 7:30 a.m. A continental breakfast will be available at 7:00 a.m. Admission into the event is free. RSVPs are requested by January 13 to 363-6820 or pmackey@spokaneedc.org. Return to the Top of the Page

For further information visit www.spokaneedc.org.

Academic program changes

The BS Computer Engineering, MS Electrical Engineering, and MS Computer Science (coursework) programs are no longer accepting applications from new students for the programs at WSU Spokane. Students currently enrolled and making satisfactory progress will be able to complete their degrees.

See information on the BS Computer Engineering program at WSU Pullman for information on degree options there.

Way to go!

Would you like to thank someone publicly for going the extra mile? Send your “way to go!” comments to Renee DeWees at dewees@wsu.edu and watch for your thanks to be published in an upcoming issue of the Campus Bulletin!Return to the Top of the Page.

Find it on the Web

  • Research and Service at WSU Spokane: Have you looked lately at the overview page that describes our research and service programs and projects? Newly updated to feature federally funded projects.
  • Interdisciplinary Design Institute: Have you checked out the complete redesign that wrapped up in 2003? If you haven't yet, mouse on over and see the stellar work of academic coordinator Jaime Rice, Web designer Denise Palmen, and campus Webmaster Sicco Rood
  • Neighborhood News: Launched as a service to individuals and businesses in the vicinity of campus. Check it out, forward it to people you know who work or live nearby, and suggest additional content to Barb Chamberlain, chamberlain@wsu.edu
  • Bulletin Archives: Missed that article? Want to reread the "Way to go!" someone sent in about a coworker? Read back issues of the Campus Bulletin online.
  • In the News: Media coverage of campus programs and people.
  • News Releases: Wondering what our news has been in diabetes research, interdisciplinary design, or criminal justice? From this page, you can follow the link to news releases organized by subject.
  • Events Calendar: Don't miss a thing!
  • Department Overviews: Links to background information on campus units (Word documents)Return to the Top of the Page

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The Bulletin is usually published on Wednesday biweekly during the academic year, every three weeks during breaks and summer session. Deadline is Monday of the week of publication.
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The Bulletin covers news of interest to the faculty and staff of WSU Spokane and other units of Washington State University. Regular columns cover personnel changes, upcoming events, professional accomplishments, opportunities for involvement in the campus community and the Spokane community, notices of new developments on campus, and other news.

The Bulletin also serves as a source of information for external communications directed to alumni, future and current students, and friends of WSU Spokane. You'll read it here first!

Editorial staff:

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