WSU Spokane Campus Bulletin
Issue 2006-4 (March 1, 2006)


IN THIS ISSUE

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WSU Class Provides Interdisciplinary Window on China

WSU students don’t wait until graduation to venture out into the world. Throughout the curriculum, there are many opportunities for students to explore new territory and turn the world into a laboratory for learning. Sixteen students from WSU Spokane and WSU Pullman recently took advantage of such an opportunity when they took a trip to China as part of David Wang’s “China: Built Environment and Culture” course.


The twelve-day trip—which took place over the winter break—constituted the beginning of Wang’s spring-semester, interdisciplinary course, which is cross-listed under architecture, interior design, landscape architecture, general education, and the Honors College. Participating students represented majors varying from the design disciplines to business, education, and psychology.

“It was a mixed group of students, and that really added to the dynamics of the experience,” said Wang, associate professor of architecture at WSU Spokane’s Interdisciplinary Design Institute.

The trip took students to the cities of Beijing, Suzhou (the so-called Venice of China), and Shanghai, and focused on gardens of all scales, from residential to imperial; old and new housing; and the urban construction boom in Chinese cities.

The students had been assigned to keep journals that detailed their experiences and observations during the trip, ranging from their thoughts about Chinese architecture to reports on the foods they ate and the sites they saw.

Architecture student Angie Love noted, for example, that “now that China has no more dynasties and emperors, their newer buildings seem to copy those in the West … but what will happen in the future for Chinese architecture…?” Looking at bonsai plants as an artistic expression, she wrote, “They take time … it’s therapeutic, which I think all art and design can be. Perhaps this is why humans have always turned to art.”

Wang’s students submitted their journals in early February, and are now working on a research paper—due by the end of the semester—that will be the culmination of their class.

The variety of paper topics represents the interdisciplinary nature of the group: an architecture student is making a comparison of the history and contemporary urban form of Washington, D.C., and Bejing; a business major is doing case studies on Chinese contracts before and after globalization; an interior design student and an architecture student are jointly tracing the philosophical roots of feng shui, after which they will design a house according to those principles; and a landscape architecture student is researching the use of roof gardens on high-rise buildings as a means of reducing urban pollution.

Based on the success of the trip, Wang is hoping to see the course repeated in the future. He stressed the importance of the experience, especially for students in the design disciplines. “You can’t teach design totally from books,” he said. “Going there is unbeatable.”

While WSU offers many design trips to Europe, Wang’s course is the only one that takes students to Asia. “Architecture accreditation boards are encouraging schools to develop their Asian architecture component, so this fits in very nicely with that,” Wang said.
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WSU Spokane Earns Gold-Standard Certification in
Health & Fitness

The Exercise Physiology and Metabolism bachelor’s degree program at Washington State University Spokane is now one of a select number of programs endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), widely considered the gold standard in health and fitness certifications and professional memberships.

Known as ExMet, the degree program is the only one of its kind in the Pacific Northwest, offering an interdisciplinary degree integrating concepts and principles of exercise science and nutrition. The integration of the two concepts is achieved by focusing on the biological and social/psychological interrelationships and the effect of this interaction on the health of individuals. The program provides health care professionals the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to prepare students for the ACSM Exercise Specialist® certification examination.

ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 international, national, and regional members are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

ACSM endorsed the ExMet degree program’s curriculum as meeting the academic standards needed to prepare students for health, fitness and /or clinical exercise training and positions.


Spokane Campus Hosts Noted Diversity Author

Nationally acclaimed diversity author and speaker Allan G. Johnson visited WSU Spokane on February 14 for a series of presentations on issues of social inequality and privilege.

The author of numerous books, including the recently published second edition of Privilege, Power and Difference—a text widely used in college classrooms to teach about race relations and social justice—Johnson presented his thought-provoking lecture to three varied audiences.

He addressed leaders from the Spokane community during the Community Leaders’ Breakfast; led a lunch-time discussion among members of WSU Spokane’s Diversity Committee and key campus administrators; and concluded his visit with an afternoon session for WSU students, faculty, and staff and members of the general public.

Addressing his afternoon audience, he expressed the desire to share with them “ways of thinking about these difficult issues that can get us unstuck and break the paralysis.” Throughout the 90-minute lecture, he talked about the system of white privilege, both historically and in a current-day context.

Johnson has made multiple visits to WSU since his first lecture, in 2003, received rave reviews. Of one of his earlier visits, associate vice president for equity and diversity Felicia Gaskins said, “He spoke to standing-room-only crowds … we had so many students tell us how his presentations really opened their eyes to the problems of race relations and other forms of discrimination.”

In addition to the lecture on the Spokane campus, Johnson also made an appearance on February 15 on the Pullman campus, where he participated in an interview and a presentation. Those who missed out on Johnson’s visit can view a videostream of the interview at http://www.caheinfo.wsu.edu/video/stream.html (look under “recent video streams”).

The lecture series featuring Johnson was sponsored by WSU’s Office of the Provost and Office of the Vice President for Equity and Diversity.

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Detlor Announces Retirement as Dean of
College of Nursing 

Dorothy Detlor, who has served as dean of the Washington State Intercollegiate College of Nursing for more than eight years, has announced that she will retire from that position on September 1, 2006. “Dr. Detlor has served the university well in her leadership role,” said Provost Robert C. Bates. “She is a leader in nursing and healthcare-related issues across the state as well as nationally. During her years in the role of dean, she has led the college as it extended its program offerings across the state, increased its student numbers by about 65 percent, expanded its focus on research and evidenced-based practice, and enhanced the visibility of the college through its service activities.”

“Nursing is integral to the healthcare system, and our programs are vital to the communities we serve. The college is now well- positioned to move into the future with the forthcoming new building in Spokane, the transition of the headquarters of the college to the Riverpoint campus, our expanded research focus, and the planned implementation of a Ph.D. in nursing program. This is an appropriate time to seek a new leader to take the college to the next level,” Detlor said.

Detlor said she and Bates have agreed that she will continue to work with the college on a part-time basis over the next year or two to assist with the transition process.

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WSU Reports Small Enrollment Increase for
Spring Semester

Washington State University spring semester enrollments were up slightly university-wide, according to enrollment reports released on February 2.

Overall, head-count enrollments at the four WSU campuses for spring 2006 are 21,903, compared to 21,894 last spring. The total of full-time equivalent students, a measure of credit hours taken, shows a greater increase, from 20,527 in spring 2005 to 20,662 in spring 2006. WSU Spokane, WSU Vancouver and WSU Tri-Cities all showed increases in FTE enrollment from last spring, while Pullman’s FTE enrollment remained steady.

WSU Spokane showed an increase in head-count enrollment of 2.6 percent over spring 2005, to 1,485 students. Full-time equivalent students increased from 1,177 to 1,272, an increase of 8.1 percent. Sixty-nine percent of students at WSU Spokane are women; 12.6 percent are students of color.

The spring enrollment figures reflect a change in the way that the credit hours taken by some distance degree students are counted. Students enrolled at a regional WSU campus who also take distance degree classes now have their distance degree credit hours counted toward the campus they attend. This change reflects the services provided by the regional campuses for these students. Previously, most distance degree enrollments and course hours were credited to WSU Pullman where those programs are administered.


Washington State Collaborative Project Focused on
Patient Care

The Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing Academic Health Services has received a $10,000 scholarship from the Washington State Collaborative: Diabetes Management and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention.

A team of faculty nurse practitioners and support staff from the college and People’s Clinic will work together with clinic teams from across the state for 18 months focusing on improving chronic care management for patients with diabetes.

Teams will test changes in their individual practices and collectively share lessons learned. The efforts will be focused on evidence-based care. The opportunity to work with other state teams allows best practices to be put in place.

People’s Clinic, a nurse-managed healthcare clinic system, will focus on the adolescent and adult diabetic population whose access to primary care is impaired by economics, transportation, lack of insurance, cultural barriers, and disabilities.

 

WSU to Host Conference on Latinos and Latinas
in the Pacific Northwest

Washington State University will host “El Otro Norte: Raza, Race, and Resistance in the Pacific Northwest,” an all-day conference on the Latinos and Latinas in the Pacific Northwest, March 4 at the Smith Center for Undergraduate Education building.

A complete schedule of the conference events and locations can be found at http://www.josealamillo.com/latinonorthwest.htm. 

“The Latino/a population in the Pacific Northwest, which includes Washington, Oregon and Idaho, has more than doubled in the last decade, growing faster in each state than any other racial/ethnic group," said Jose Manuel Alamillo, WSU assistant professor of Comparative Ethnic Studies. “These growing population numbers, however, have not translated into greater political and economic power, higher educational achievement rates, easier access to healthcare or more attention by researchers.”

Devon Peña, from the University of Washington, will deliver the keynote address "Indigenous Diasporas and the Future of Eco-Justice in North America."

The closing plenary will feature newly published research and explore the future direction of Chicano/a Studies in the Pacific Northwest. Marcos Pizarro, from San Jose State University, will discuss his new book, Chicanas and Chicanos in School: Racial Profiling, Identity Battles, and Empowerment. The book examines racial identity formation is a crucial variable in Chicana/o students' success or failure in public schools of East Los Angeles and rural Washington State.


Renowned Scholar, Social Activist Peter McLaren
to Speak at Gonzaga

Washington State University Spokane and Gonzaga University will co-host a lecture by internationally renowned education scholar and social activist Peter McLaren in the Barbieri Courtroom at Gonzaga University’s School of Law from 7 to 9 p.m., Wednesday, March 8.

The presentation and a subsequent question-and-answer period, followed by a reception, are free and open to the public. The lecture is titled, “A Pedagogy of Praxis” and precedes the opening of the 2nd Annual Globalization, Diversity, and Education Conference at Washington State University in Pullman, where McLaren is a featured speaker.

As a professor of urban schooling at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, McLaren has authored some of the most important books on educational theory and philosophy in the last 20 years. As a “philosopher of praxis” and social and political activist, he is considered among the primary architects of what has come to be known as “critical pedagogy.” An award-winning author and editor, McLaren has published more than 40 books on a wide range of educational topics.

McLaren lectures worldwide, and his works have been translated into 15 languages. He is the inaugural recipient of the Paulo Freire Social Justice Award from Chapman University. McLaren’s work has been the subject of numerous international conferences, and recently a group of educators in Mexico established La Fundacion McLaren de Pedagogia Critica to advance the work of critical pedagogy throughout the Americas.

McLaren’s book Life in Schools was recently named by an international panel of experts as among the world’s 12 most important educational texts. McLaren is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World.

For more information, please contact Gonzaga Associate Professor Mary Jeannot at (509) 323-6559 or WSU Professor Bernardo Gallegos at (509) 432-5464 or visit the following Web site: http://www.emmps.wsu.edu/globalization/index.html.
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Reduced Price Bus Passes Available for Students

Students at WSU Spokane can now enjoy guilt-free commutes to their classes, thanks to Teresa Kruger, parking operations supervisor and chair of the Commute Trip Reduction Committee—a collaborative effort of WSU Spokane and EWU to reduce single occupant vehicle travel to and from the Riverpoint Campus. Kruger successfully negotiated with Spokane Transit and Associated Students of WSU Spokane (ASWSUS) to offer students reduced price bus passes.

Monthly Spokane Transit passes are available to WSU students for $11.00 including tax, which represents a substantial savings over the regular cost of $33.00. Two thirds of the discount is funded by ASWSUS, with the remaining funding provided through a grant from Spokane Transit.

“This is a great initiative to provide affordable local transportation to WSU students, while at the same time promoting good environmental practices,” said Jon Schad, director of facilities operations at WSU Spokane.

Passes can be purchased at the Riverpoint Parking Operations Office. Return to the Top of the Page


Community Connections

  • Once again, Ferris High School's Ham on Regal is raising funds for academic and other programs, by offering this year's musical comedy production—The Ferrist of Them All.  The show is a take-off on fairy tales, with lots of fun and intrigue, along with singing and dancing groups and amazing props. WSU Spokane colleagues Kerry Brooks and Jack Severinghaus are helping with the show this year (and Dave Wang's wife Valerie is also in the show). You can contact them for tickets: kerrybrooks@wsu.edu (358-7911)or severing@wsu.edu (358-7533). Here is ticket information:  March 15 -18, evening show at 7:30 p.m., ticket price of $8.00; March 18, Saturday matinee at 1:30 p.m., ticket price of $6.00.

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Personnel & Staffing Changes

Comings:

  • Bethany Fruci, Research Assistant, WIMIRT, effective 3/1/06
  • Kathi Hoffman, Program Assistant, Institutional Review Board, HREC, effective 3/1/06

Goings:

  • Keely Friesen, Research Assistant, WIMIRT, effective 2/28/06

Searches:

  • Assistant/Associate Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, review of applications began 10/15/05
  • Assistant Professor, Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, review of applications began 01/17/06
  • Clinical Assistant Professor (3 positions, two in Spokane, one in Yakima), Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, review of applications began 01/17/06
  • Assistant/Associate Professor, Architecture, review of applications began 1/1/06
  • Associate Professor/Associate Dean, WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing, review of applications began 10/01/05
  • Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Program in Health Sciences, review of applications begins 4/1/06
  • Sleep Study Coordinator, Sleep & Performance Research Center, deadline to apply is 3/31/06
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Way to Go!

"I would like to send a "Way to Go!" to Brady Ratsch, Brian Valley, and Daren Noe (along with Linda Peppel et al. in Pullman WHETS) for their assistance and guidance with our Spring 2006 Berger Partnership sponsored lecture. It was a WHETS event and also needed to be videostreamed and taped and archived. This was one of the first events that the Design Institute needed videostreamed and the crew was wonderful. Much thanks to all!"  (from Kristie Wardrop)

Here's where you make someone's day a little brighter by extending your thanks for a job well done. Send your “Way to Go!” comments to Laura Scholtens, scholtens@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


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The Bulletin covers news of interest to the faculty, staff, and friends of Washington State University Spokane, and associates on other WSU campuses and on the Riverpoint Campus.

Regular columns cover professional accomplishments, opportunities for involvement in the campus community and the Spokane community, notices of new developments on campus, upcoming events, personnel changes, and other news.

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Editorial staff