WSU Spokane Campus Bulletin
Issue 2008-03 (March 12, 2008)


IN THIS ISSUE

 

WSU Announces New Executive MBA Program in Spokane

By Frances Ryan, College of Business

The College of Business at Washington State University announced the creation of a new executive MBA at WSU’s Riverpoint campus in Spokane, Washington. The new program will offer the WSU master of business administration to busy professionals through a combination of online course work and weekend classes taught by world-class WSU faculty.

“Spokane’s many colleges and universities are already a big draw for companies looking to attract and retain quality employees in the Inland Northwest,” said Rich Hadley, president and CEO of Greater Spokane Incorporated. “WSU’s executive MBA program will help our mission at Greater Spokane Incorporated of keeping our talent in the region for careers that position them and their employer for success in a competitive world economy. The program gives managers looking to move up the corporate ladder one more reason to stay in Spokane.”

The 18-month program, which begins August 2008, combines a half-century of experience teaching MBA students with input from industry and area business leaders. The result will be rigorous interdisciplinary course work designed to build upon students’ managerial knowledge and will reflect real-world challenges facing organizations today.

“The skills students gain with the executive MBA will benefit their current organization while at the same time enhancing their leadership potential,” said associate dean for graduate programs David Sprott. “We are excited to be able to offer this program in Spokane’s emerging business market.”

The curriculum will include five integrated modules, specifically sequenced to build upon one another and designed to align closely with the professional experiences and challenges of the students. An international business module focuses on global business practices and concludes with an international trip, while the final module is a capstone project incorporating material from all previous courses. The culminating experience for the degree is participation in an executive-level business plan competition, based on the successful biannual WSU Business Plan Competition.

“With its entrepreneurial climate and growing business community, Spokane provides an ideal home for the WSU executive MBA program,” said WSU president Elson S. Floyd. “Investing in the development of leadership talent in Spokane benefits the region and the state. With the creation of this program, the university strengthens its ties to the Spokane community, and we look forward to continuing our productive partnership.”

For more information, visit the executive MBA Web site at www.emba.wsu.edu.

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Washington Institute Changes Name

The Washington Institute for Mental Illness Research and Training (WIMIRT) recently changed its name to better fit with the times. The institute—which was established by the Washington State Legislature in 1989 to improve the quality of behavioral health services—is now called the Washington Institute for Mental Health Research and Training (WIMHRT).

The new name was announced last month by the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Washington State University, in collaboration with the Washington State Mental Health Division.

“The primary purpose for the name change is to reflect the shift from focusing on a person’s illness, to supporting their recovery,” said Ken Stark, director of the Governor’s Office Mental Health Transformation Project.

The institute consists of an eastern branch—directed by John Roll—that is housed at WSU Spokane and a western branch at the University of Washington. Together, they work to promote the recruitment and retention of highly qualified professionals at state hospitals and in community-based programs—including providing expanded training opportunities to existing staff—as well as to foster an understanding of treatment orientation, possibilities, and challenges between state hospitals and community treatment professionals.

WIMHRT also aims to improve clinical care through innovative, science-based treatment models (known as evidenced-based practices), and is at the forefront of implementing and evaluating new treatment approaches within the Washington public behavioral health community.

The institute has become known as an independent resource of high-quality research on policy issues and clinical services and as a source of professional training that prepares future and current staff for public service. It brings together university researchers, teachers, and programs into a close working relationship with the public behavioral health system.

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Stier Lecture Explores End-of-Life Decisions

By Judith Van Dongen

When we reach the inevitable end of our lives, how can we make our treatment wishes known and make sure that they are followed? This was the topic of discussion at this year’s 2008 Robert F.E. Stier Memorial Lecture in Medicine, presented earlier this month at the Riverpoint Campus by Patrick Dunn, MD, FACP, director of ethics education and assistant director at the Center for Ethics in Health Care at Oregon Health and Science University.

Addressing an audience of faculty, staff, students, and community members, Dunn explored the forces shaping our culture with respect to end-of-life decisions, showing that significant changes have occurred in the last few decades. Combined with advances in medical technologies that are allowing us to live longer, the coming of age of the baby-boomer generation has resulted in an increasingly aging population. In addition, doctor-patient relationships have become much more collaborative in nature, and fewer people die in hospitals than two decades ago (39 percent of deaths nationally in 2004, versus 63 percent in 1980).

Under these changed circumstances, it is increasingly important to make sure that our wishes are known so they can be honored. Dunn emphasized that in addition to helping ourselves, this also assists loved ones and physicians.

“We have a tendency to deny that death might occur, and because of that we forego having important discussions that could help us in making sure our wishes are honored, but also that our loved ones don’t have the burden of decision-making not knowing what our wishes might be,” he said.

During the lecture, Dunn identified two helpful tools for making our wishes known. Anyone can communicate his or her decisions in a written document referred to as advance directives. Dunn indicated that although studies have indicated that people want to discuss their wishes about 90 percent of the time, more than 50 percent of those with advanced illnesses do not have advance directives.

Advance directives help you specify to what extent you would want to receive life-prolonging treatment in the event of a terminal condition. It also gives you an opportunity to designate a health care agent who would have the authority to make health care decisions for you if you were to lose the capacity to make informed decisions for yourself. Benefits of advance directives include preventing physicians from undertreatment and family members from overtreatment, as well as helping individuals stabilize their values.

Those who are estimated to be in their last year of life should also consider filling out a “Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment” (POLST) form and keeping it in a location where it can be easily found. Designed to supplement the advance directives, the POLST forms translates the values from the advance directives into medical orders that are understood by emergency medical personnel and other personnel from hospitals and long-term care facilities.

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The Robert F.E. Stier Memorial Lecture in Medicine was offered by the Area Health Education Center of Eastern Washington, WSU Extension, and the Spokane Society of Internal Medicine. Those wanting more information on advance directives and the POLST form can visit the patient resources section of the Washington State Medical Association Web site:

• Advance Directives: http://www.wsma.org/patient_resources/advance-directives.cfm
• POLST: http://www.wsma.org/patient_resources/polst.cfm

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People’s Clinic Committee Recommends New Approach
to Caring for Underserved

By Michelle Galey

Following the recommendations of a panel comprised of academic and community experts, nurse practitioners at Washington State University are in the process of developing a clinical practice contract with one or more existing clinics in Spokane. This action will allow the nurse practitioners to continue to offer services within the community, but without the administrative responsibilities of operating a clinic.

Subsequently, the People’s Clinic will phase out its operation by May 15, 2008. Located in downtown Spokane, the original People’s Clinic opened in 1998 and was designed to improve access to health care and mental health services in the Spokane community for underinsured and low-income families. It also provided primary healthcare education to WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing students, and was utilized to develop a community partnership model of primary health care.

“A key recommendation of the committee was that the nurse practitioners should continue their legacy of clinical service in the Spokane community rather than administratively manage a clinic,” said Patricia Butterfield, dean of the Washington State University Intercollegiate College of Nursing. “Based on this recommendation, we are exploring affiliation agreements with federally qualified community health centers in Eastern Washington. We will announce the details of such partnerships as soon as they become available.”

The People’s Clinic stopped taking new patients as of March 1. Nurse practitioners at the clinic are assisting existing patients in transferring to new healthcare providers by May 15. Letters will be sent to all People’s Clinic patients explaining their health care provider options.

Students attending Washington State University will continue to receive contracted health care services at the People’s Clinic through May 2008; Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College students will continue to receive contracted health care services through June 2008. New student health contracts will be renegotiated for fall 2008.

“Both care continuity and patient choice are important to us,” noted Margaret Bruya, director of the People’s Clinic. “We have been providing care for over nine years and want to give our existing patients the option of continuing to work with us if they choose. We also want to provide them with information about other clinics so that they can pursue the care options that are most comfortable to them.”

The People’s Clinic currently employs six employees who will work with the university’s human resources department to explore alternative employment.

The possible closure of the clinic was first announced in June 2007 after the College of Nursing was informed that federal funding for the program, which totaled approximately $400,000 each year, would not be renewed effective June 30. Washington State University president Elson S. Floyd later announced that the university would provide bridge funding to ensure continued health care for People’s Clinic patients as they made the transition to other health care providers.

“The People’s Clinic has performed an important service for many people in Spokane who need access to health care,” said Floyd. “It was important for us to do everything possible to see that the patients’ interests were protected and that transition plans were put into place this past year. I’m pleased to hear that the panel has come to a recommendation that will allow the clinic’s nurse practitioners to serve patients and capitalize on Spokane’s strengths in the health care sector.”

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Floyd Outlines His Plans in State of the University Address

By James Tinney, WSU News Service

President Elson S. Floyd mapped out a strategy designed to make Washington State University one of the nation’s leading public land-grant research institutions in his State of the University address on February 25.

Floyd, who became WSU’s 10th president in May 2007, said the university must focus on areas of strength and leverage its investments to maximize its positive impact.

“We simply cannot be all things to all people. We need to focus on excellence and quality in all that we do,” Floyd told an audience gathered in Bryan Hall on the Pullman campus. The speech was also video-streamed to sites on the Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver campuses and in Seattle.

Floyd said it is vital today for the state to have two outstanding research universities. He discussed a wide range of initiatives that the university has undertaken during his tenure to build on its strengths in undergraduate and graduate education, in research and in extension.

Among the changes that he highlighted in his speech was the appointment of John Gardner as vice president of economic development and extension to oversee the university’s outreach efforts; the appointment of Viji Murali as vice president for information services to enhance the university’s high-tech infrastructure and the appointment of John Fraire as vice president for enrollment management to continue the university’s growth both in enrollment numbers and diversity.

Floyd outlined an ongoing process, being led by provost and executive vice president Robert Bates, to examine the university’s programs and reallocate resources to areas of highest priority. He acknowledged that process would not be easy, but, he said, “We must be strategic in all that we do to maximize our competencies in the support of our centers of excellence. Our mantra must always be excellence and quality.”

Floyd talked about efforts to build on programs at each of the university’s campuses. At WSU Spokane, he has asked chancellor Brian Pitcher to lead an effort to create a model of a comprehensive health sciences network of services and programs. At WSU Tri-Cities, he said the campus will become a leader in clean technologies through its partnership with the Pacific Northwest National Laboratories and development of the Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory. Floyd predicted that WSU Vancouver would continue its growth into a traditional comprehensive campus serving undergraduate, transfer and professional students.

In Pullman, Floyd pointed to the effort to build on research strengths in agriculture and, through the establishment of the School of Global Animal Health, in veterinary medicine.

The archived video-stream of the speech can be found at http://www.experience.wsu.edu/NewSite/Index.aspx 

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Be Prepared—Sign up for Emergency Notifications

By Judith Van Dongen

As the last of our record-breaking snow is melting away, make sure your emergency preparedness mindset isn’t going the same route—emergencies can hit us at any time of year, and being prepared is the key to achieving the best possible outcome.

As a part of emergency preparedness efforts at WSU, a notification system is in place that can be used to let faculty, staff, and students know when an emergency arises. As we found out during the snow event in early February, the system is only as good as the accuracy and completeness of the contact information it contains.

To make sure we can reach you during future events, whatever they may be, please take a moment to register your phone number(s) and/or e-mail address in the system. Go to http://my.wsu.edu, log in with your user name and password, and click on the “register” link in the Emergency Notifications section at the bottom of your welcome screen.

Don’t forget to update your information every now and then as you change phone numbers and/or e-mail addresses!

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New Student Leaders Ready to Rise to the Task

By Judith Van Dongen

Last week’s student government elections yielded two new leaders who will be representing WSU Spokane’s student population for 2008-09. Their campaign to “break barriers for a united campus” got Josh Donaldson and Manpreet Chahal elected as president and vice president of the Associated Students of Washington State University Spokane (ASWSUS), respectively.

Building on their previous experience in student government, Donaldson and Chahal plan to focus their efforts on creating a new and improved Web site for ASWSUS, working on housing issues, and lobbying for WSU Spokane needs at the city, regional, and state level.

Donaldson, a fourth-year bachelor of landscape architecture student, grew up in Sultan, Washington, at the western edge of the Cascades. His preparation as a student leader at WSU started early—as part of a family of loyal Cougs, he could sing the fight song while he was still in elementary school and got more practice during his years at Sultan High School (which uses the same tune for its fight song).

Donaldson is currently active as events coordinator for ASWSUS and is a member of the chancellor’s advisory committee and the WSU Turf Club, a student chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. In his spare time, he enjoys watching old movies—especially those starring John Wayne—and sporting events.

Chahal is currently in his second year of the doctor of pharmacy program, and is also pursuing a PhD in pharmacology/toxicology. Born in India, he emigrated to the United States at age 16. He landed in Seattle, where he earned his bachelor of science in cell and molecular biology from the University of Washington. Upon his graduation from WSU, which is slated for 2010, he plans to pursue a hospital residency and practice in an oncology pharmacy.

Currently based at WSU Pullman, Chahal serves as president of the Graduate and Professional Students Association (GPSA) and is a member of the provost search committee and the president’s student advisory council. He looks forward to moving to Spokane next year to continue his education, and hopes his service to ASWSUS will help make a difference in students’ lives. When he’s not studying or looking out for his fellow students’ interests, Chahal likes to spend his time sleeping, learning how to play the guitar, and hiking.

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Attend Showcase 2008 on Friday, March 28

By Judith Van Dongen

Join your friends and colleagues in celebrating scholarship, research, and the arts at Showcase 2008, held at the Pullman campus on Friday, March 28.

WSU’s daylong celebration of faculty and staff achievement will kick off with the Academic Showcase, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Bohler Gymnasium. Come admire the displays showcasing the achievements of individuals engaged in the advancement of scholarship, research, and the arts, including a number of Spokane faculty, staff, and students:

Following the Academic Showcase will be a luncheon presentation featuring Washington State University’s 2008 Distinguished Faculty Address; a reception honoring 2007 patent holders; a reception for WSU retirees; and Celebrating Excellence, the university’s recognition banquet for faculty and staff.

For more information, including a detailed schedule of events, go to www.showcase.wsu.edu.

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MESA Science Competition Tests Eighth Grade Scientists

By Becki Meehan

Over 180 young scientists will put their minds and creations to the test during the annual Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) eighth grade science competition. All six Spokane public middle schools will be represented from 9:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. Friday, March 14, at the East Central Community Center Gymnasium, 500 South Stone Street.

The enthusiasm for science is sure to be contagious as the engineering competition unfolds. Students will test their stick towers (a surprise event) for height and stability and their trebuchets for accuracy and distance. Students will test their science skills against their peers and compete for the coveted traveling trophy during the engineering and logic game competitions.

Trebuchet testing will run simultaneously with the logic game tournaments, beginning at 9:45 a.m. Plaques and medals will be presented to all individual and team winners from 1:35 to 2 p.m.

The goal of MESA is to provide globally competitive and individually competent students in mathematics, engineering and science with full participation of under-represented students, including African Americans, Latinos(as), Native Americans, and females of all ethnicities. This competition is a celebration of their efforts and an excellent opportunity to see young scientists in action.

For a full schedule, visit http://www.wsunews.wsu.edu/storymedia/MESA08Schedule.pdf

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Crossing with Safety

By Becki Meehan

Many pedestrians on the Riverpoint Campus find that crossing Spokane Falls Boulevard is a bit daunting. Traffic moves along quickly and it's difficult to determine who sees you and who doesn't until at least one driver stops and the rest follow suit.

Now a new measure is in place to increase your safety as you cross. Pedestrian safety flags are stationed at the crosswalk between the east side of the Phase I Building and the west side of the South Campus Facility. Simply take a flag out of the container and hold it up to alert traffic that you plan to cross—traffic will likely stop at this point. Then cross the street and place the flag in the container on the opposite side of the street.

As always, please cross with caution. The flags are only one way to increase your visibility in the crosswalk. They do not guarantee that every driver will see you. So, don't just step off the curb and hope for the best...be sure to look both ways and wait for traffic to stop and then cross.

Safety concerns are taken very seriously on the Riverpoint Campus. If you have concerns about campus safety or need more information about the resources available to you, please visit the Safety and Security website.

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Weather Protection for Your Bike

By Becki Meehan

If you bike to campus, you now have a new parking option available to you—and it's indoors. Thanks to a grant secured by the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Committee, there are now three indoor locations where you can park your bike out of the weather. Each location offers three wall-mounted spaces with a secure bar to attach your bike lock.

These indoor spaces are reserved for CTR members. To join CTR, contact Teresa Kruger at kruger@wsu.edu or Cy Parker at cparker@mail.ewu.edu.

As you check out these locations, take a moment to stop by the campus security office to get more information about the bike registration program—an excellent resource available to you. You may also want to visit the Bike to Work Web site to see what other resources are available for your chosen commuting option.

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Milestones
 

If you or one of your colleagues or students has received a special honor or award, or reached another professional milestone, please e-mail the information to Judith Van Dongen at jcvd@wsu.edu.


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Community Connections


Personnel and Staffing Changes


Comings:

Searches:

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A Warm Welcome to...


Hazel Strand, who joined Facilities Operations as a custodian. She was previously employed in housekeeping.

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Way to Go!

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 Cinda Romans, and watch for your thanks to be published in an upcoming issue of the Campus Bulletin!


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Find It on the Web

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The Bulletin is a monthly publication that is usually published on the second Wednesday of each month. The exact publication date may shift due to holidays. If you have an item that you'd like us to include, send it to us by Friday in the week before publication.
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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.

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

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Editorial staff