PULLMAN, Wash. — Washington State University’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS) will host a free screening of “Common Ground,” a documentary film that shows a pathway to transform the current agricultural food system into a more sustainable way of growing food.

“‘Common Ground’ offers an important perspective on regenerative agriculture that shows how vital it is for society to make food production as sustainable as possible for future generations,” said Wendy Powers, the Cashup Davis Family Endowed Dean of CAHNRS. “I encourage anyone interested in food production and our environment to come and see this important film and learn about the work WSU is doing on regenerative ag.”

The screening starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in WSU’s Compton Union Building (CUB) Auditorium on the Pullman campus. WSU CAHNRS alum and philanthropist Eric Dillon is a “Common Ground” producer.

In addition to screening the documentary, CAHNRS will host a poster showcase before the film featuring current research involving regenerative agriculture from 2–4 p.m. in the CUB Junior Ballroom. A panel discussion will follow the film from 8–8:45 p.m. in the CUB Auditorium.

Directed by filmmaking duo, Josh Tickell and Rebecca Tickell, (“Fuel,” “The Big Fix,” “Kiss the Ground”), the new film features appearances and narration by notable Hollywood talent including Laura Dern, Jason Momoa, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson, Ian Somerhalder, and Donald Glover.

The post-screening panel includes:

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314707

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314709

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314710

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314711

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314714

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314716

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314717

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314723

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314728

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314730

• Moderator Dani Gelardi, senior soil scientist and climate coordinator with the Washington State Department of Agriculture
• Jonathan Cox, CEO of the Soil Center and vice president of science and technology at Double Diamond Fruit
• Douglas Poole, co-owner and operator of Double P Ranch
• Jonalee Squeochs, interim general manager of Yakama Nation Farms

The poster session features research projects from WSU faculty, students, and staff, many of whom will be present to answer questions about their work.

More information about the events is available on the CAHNRS website.

Media Contacts

• Brandon Schrand, WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, b.schrand@wsu.edu

An inaugural symposium between Washington State University and Seattle Children’s Research Institute brought together two of the state’s leading health research institutions, sparking new opportunities to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges facing children and families.

The event, designed to foster engagement and catalyze new research partnerships between WSU and Seattle Children’s Research Institute, brought over 120 attendees to WSU Spokane, with 55 investigators sharing their findings through posters and podium talks during a one-day event last week.

In his remarks during the symposium, WSU Regent and former president of the Seattle Children’s Foundation Doug Picha shared the history of WSU and Seattle Children’s Research Institute’s relationship and underscored future opportunities to expand the impact of both organizations.

“This symposium is a pivotal step in a partnership that I believe is a catalyst for groundbreaking collaborative research; research that will change the lives of countless children and families,” Picha said.

Presentation topics highlighted the breadth of research occurring at both institutions and ranged from approaches to caring for infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome to protecting children with asthma from the dangers of wildfire smoke and breaking down language barriers in healthcare communications.

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314695

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314696

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314697

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314698

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314700

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314702

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314703

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314704

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314705

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314706

“This collaborative undertaking between Seattle Children’s and WSU has the potential to make a significant impact on pediatric health,” said Vittorio Gallo, senior vice president and chief scientific officer for Seattle Children’s. “This partnership aims to facilitate the sharing of expertise, resources, and cutting-edge technology, which will enable us to tackle complex pediatric issues with a united front.”

At the heart of this collaboration lies a shared commitment to health equity. The initiative is dedicated to ensuring that research directly benefits all children and families, with a focus on those underserved or disproportionately affected by health disparities.

In addition to sharing research, attendees explored cutting-edge resources and laboratories available at WSU and Seattle Children’s Research Institute to support ongoing and future projects. Attendees were also able to tour WSU’s Autism and Neurodevelopmental Clinic and Native American Health Sciences Center, showcasing some spaces where groundbreaking research and outreach are conducted.

“Our partnership with SCRI not only highlights the power of academic collaboration but also underscores the critical role of research in driving meaningful change for the next generation,” said Daryll DeWald, executive vice president for WSU Health Sciences and chancellor of WSU Spokane. “By innovating together, we enhance our ability to collectively tackle bigger questions and develop better solutions that save lives.”

Looking ahead, symposium participants can apply for $300,000 in collaborative seed grants to further joint projects between the two institutions. Proposals will be peer-reviewed by a panel representing both WSU and Seattle Children’s, with the deadline for submissions set for Nov. 15. Winners will be announced in mid-December.

For more information, contact Lois James, assistant dean for research in the WSU College of Nursing, at lois_james@wsu.edu.

In order to better help instructors appropriately use artificial intelligence (AI) in their teaching, the WSU College of Education’s XR Development Lab is hosting eight different workshops this month that are open to everyone on the Pullman campus and via Zoom.

Called “Teaching the teachers: AI use for equitable instruction and student success,” the workshops started Sept. 5 and will continue until Sept. 27 on Thursdays and Friday. The workshops will cover a different topic each week, ranging from using AI in presentations to creating AI-resistant tasks in the classroom.

Information on the workshops can be found on the College of Education website under the “Upcoming Events” header.

Mazen Alyobi, a College of Education doctoral student in the Language, Literacy, and Technology program, is one of the team members who organized the XR workshops along with Regents Professor Joy Egbert and staff member Ali Asiri.

“We initiated these workshops to disseminate knowledge about emerging technologies in education,” Mazen said. “We aim to empower educators, students, parents, and the broader community to stay at the forefront of these advancements.”

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314681

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314682

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314683

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314684

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314685

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314686

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314687

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314688

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314690

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314691

The XR Development Lab team’s goal is to educate and involve all instructors in this growing technology to make sure everyone has the same opportunities to utilize AI in their teachings.

Mazen said he believes the workshops provide a valuable platform for participants to connect, engage, and learn in a hands-on environment. Additionally, he said the XR Development Lab team’s goal is to educate and involve all instructors in this growing technology to make sure everyone has the same opportunities to utilize AI in their teachings.

“We want to ensure that no professor is left behind in this new technological revolution,” Mazen said. “Just as the ‘No Child Left Behind’ movement emphasized inclusivity in education, our goal is to ensure that faculty members are well-equipped to understand and leverage new technological tools. Instead of resisting technological changes, it is essential to harness them for the benefit of education.”

Mazen said educational institutions across the country were initially hesitant about the use of AI-technologies, but recently there has been a growing number of schools researching how to best use AI tools to benefit students and professors.

The XR lab workshops will be held in the Education Addition building in room 212 and the workshops have a Zoom option as well.

Washington State University and University of Washington are harnessing the competitive spirit of the Boeing Apple Cup rivalry to bolster support for their food pantries.

WSU and UW teamed up to create the Apple Cup Food Pantry Challenge where fans of both teams are encouraged to donate to their school’s food pantry. The university that receives the largest number of gifts will be crowned the winner. Only monetary donations are being accepted, and can be made online now through game day, Saturday, Sept. 14.

“People love competitions, and this is something I’ve wanted try since I joined the team in the Center for Civic Engagement,” said Merri Lecoq, who manages the Cougar Food Pantry on the Pullman campus. “While the football game will end with one university winning, in this Food Pantry Challenge, it is the students at both universities that will be the real winners.”

This is the first time WSU and UW have collaborated to help fight food insecurity among students, and it has been in the works for months, according to Androu Luzader, a senior majoring in biological and social sciences at WSU. Luzader met Lecoq while working on an independent research project focused on food insecurity, and she invited him to serve on the Cougar Food Pantry Advisory Board. Together, they have been drumming up ways to give the Cougar Food Pantry more visibility and support, believing that the Boeing Apple Cup provides a perfect opportunity.

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314666

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314667

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314668

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314669

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314670

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314671

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314673

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314678

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314679

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314680

Food-insecure students are 30% less likely to complete their degree and two times more likely to fall into the lowest 10% of GPAs.

“First, the Apple Cup’s name features a food item which provided good incentive,” Luzader said. “More importantly, in spite of the longtime rivalry between the two schools, the game provides one of the few times each year that fans from both schools come together as representatives of one state.”

Food insecurity, Luzader pointed out, is a state-wide issue, and impacts one in three college students nationally. It can negatively impact academic performance and overall well-being. Food-insecure students are 30% less likely to complete their degree and two times more likely to fall into the lowest 10% of GPAs.

Food pantries, like the Cougar Food Pantry located on the ground floor of the Compton Union Building (CUB), play a critical role in helping students stay focused on their studies. During the summer and fall of 2023, the Cougar Food Pantry served 1,600 unique students, provided 95,000 pounds of food, and received close to 10,000 visits.

Keeping up with the demand has not been easy, Lecoq said. While WSU students provide key support for the Cougar Food Pantry through student fees, Lecoq said there is always a need for more resources.

“Donations made during this challenge will make a tremendous impact on our ability to keep our shelves stocked with nutritious food,” Lecoq said. “Just as importantly, I hope this competition helps spread awareness that food insecurity exists on our campuses and our pantries are here to help.”  

The Washington State University School of Music will host the first multinational Brazilian Jazz Festival on the Palouse Sept. 28 – Oct. 2 in Pullman. Led by Professor César Haas, the festival will feature internationally acclaimed Brazilian and American jazz artists, Três Mais and Nelson Faria.

The week-long festival includes performances, clinics, rehearsals, and talks that promote dissemination, teaching, and learning of Brazilian music at WSU and local schools. The internationally acclaimed guest artists will be working closely with WSU students and faculty on performances and clinics that involve several areas and ensembles from the School of Music, including the WSU Jazz Big Band and the WSU Symphony Orchestra.

Check out the festival schedule for more information. All events are free of charge and open to the community.

 “The festival will promote a richer understanding of Brazilian music and provide culturally informed study and interpretation of the music to help students develop musical skills and concepts they would not necessarily develop studying straight-ahead jazz,” Haas said. “It will also enrich their cultural awareness and knowledge of a musical culture that is integral to the jazz idiom.”

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314655

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314656

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314657

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314658

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314659

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314660

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314661

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314662

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314663

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314664

Três Mais, a new collaboration between American and Brazilian rhythm section musicians and educators, marries Brazilian music styles with American Jazz. The core rhythm section of Três Mais consists of three musicians and educators: WSU Professor and Brazilian guitarist César Haas, Brazilian drummer Graciliano Zambonim, and American jazz bassist Wayne Moose. While the trio is the heart of the group, for each performanceTrês Maisinvites featured artists that share the same passion for diversity and collaboration. 

For the inaugural year of the festival, the featured artist will be Brazilian guitarist, arranger, and educator Nelson Faria. One of the most important musicians in Brazil, he has released 12 solo CDs, six books (two in the U.S., Japan, Brazil, and Italy), and he has also recorded as guitar player and/or arranger or producer over 200 CDs by Brazilian and international artists. Faria and other guest artists will perform concerts at WSU, teach clinics, and record a live video performance at WSU Recording Studios to be released on YouTube and other streaming platforms.

Aside from the concerts, clinics, and open rehearsals, Haas will be featured on Faria’s podcast on YouTube Um Café Lá em Casa (Coffee at my Place), where guests talk about their musical careers in an informal setting and jam with the host. The show is popular both in Brazil and internationally and has videos with more than 700 thousand views, featuring artists of high caliber such as Mike Stern, João Bosco, and Yamandú Costa.

The WSU College of Education’s annual Research Conversation series returns for the fall semester, beginning Sept. 19 at 12:10 p.m. via Zoom.

The series features research presentations from college faculty. These presentations give faculty the opportunity to engage their peers, and students through discussion on their research endeavors.

The series’ first guest, Robert Catena, an associate professor of kinesiology, will discuss his recent path to receiving National Science Foundation (NSF) funding. The process is complex, and Catena will address challenges and tips for the submission and resubmission process.

Attendees are invited to join the conversation and share their own experiences with NSF, both successful and not-yet-successful. Catena will also touch on differences between the NSF and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for proposal planning.

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314643

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314644

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314646

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314647

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314648

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314649

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314650

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314652

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314653

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314654

Other scheduled presentations include:

• Oct. 17 — Ting Li, science education assistant professor
• Nov. 14 — Peng He, science education scholarly assistant professor

All are invited to attend the conversations through Zoom. More information on the series, including Zoom links, can be found on the College of Education website.

The Washington State University Eggert Family Organic Farm is hosting their annual u-pick pumpkin sales from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5. The Sept. 28 sale also features a one-day Harvest Festival.

The festival is free and includes games, face-painting, and other activities. Pumpkin pies, donuts, and cider will be available for purchase, with proceeds for those items benefiting WSU’s Organic Agriculture Club. The pumpkins for the pies and donuts are donated by the farm and baking is donated through a partnership with WSU Residential Dining.

The farm is located on Animal Science Rd., behind the WSU Bear Research, Education, and Conservation Center.

More details are available on the farm’s website or on Facebook or Instagram. Pumpkins are all pre-priced and can be purchased after picking on site.

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314627

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314630

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314631

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314632

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314633

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314635

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314637

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314638

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314640

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314642

The Farm stand will also be open during the u-pick with a wide selection of fall crops including: potatoes, shallots, carrots, winter squash, beets, ornamental corn, and greens.

For food safety, no pets allowed.

Cards are preferred for purchase of produce. Cider, donuts, and pumpkin pie purchases can be made using cash, check, or Venmo.

“This is our favorite way of hosting the community to take in our beautiful farm, celebrate the harvest season, and enjoy pies and donuts made from our farm grown pumpkins,” said Meredith Raymond, an officer in the WSU Organic Ag Club.

Media Contacts

• Scott Weybright, WSU College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences communications, 509-335-2967, scott.weybright@wsu.edu

Washington State University faculty, staff, and graduate students system-wide can register now for the Oct. 25 TEACHxWSU 2024 event that is focused on becoming leaders and champions for a student-ready college. Programming runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Following a welcome address at 9 a.m., a keynote address and workshop will start at 9:30 a.m., delivered virtually by Tia Brown McNair, lead author of Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success. Guests are invited to join keynote watch parties at WSU Pullman, Vancouver, Tri-Cities, Everett, and Spokane to view the virtual presentation together.

“We’re excited for Dr. McNair to share her knowledge on this invigorating and timely topic, and we look forward to productive discussions throughout the day among members of our university community of educators,” said Ashley Boyd, chair of the hosting WSU Teaching Academy. The academy is using the book for its One-Read Book Club. The book provides a roadmap for achieving higher levels of student engagement, retention, and completion by centering on community, belonging, and inclusion.

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314609

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314610

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314617

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314618

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314619

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314621

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314622

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314623

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314625

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314626

McNair’s TEACHxWSU keynote topic is, “Are you a student-ready leader? Our shared responsibility for advancing student success and belonging.” She will explore strategies for building and sustaining a student-ready learning environment that seeks to educate the whole student and embraces student diversity. Another subject will be strengthening individual and institutional capacity to become more student-ready leaders to achieve strategic goals that align with institutional values. And, she will discuss how to enhance collaborations across divisions to fully prepare all students for work, life, and productive citizenship.

McNair is a partner at Sova, an enterprise that facilitates transformative change through actionable strategies and practical implementation support. She also serves as a senior consultant for the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) where she was vice president in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and executive director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Campus Centers.

Following the keynote and workshop, lunch will be served from 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. at in-person locations for those who sign up by Oct. 22 using the online registration form.

From 12:30–1:45 p.m., afternoon workshops will be led by local experts at Pullman, Vancouver, and Tri-Cities. Participants system-wide may attend with others at their campus, or join any session virtually. The three choose-your-own-adventure sessions include:

• “Pedagogy That Encourages Students to Bring Their Whole Selves,” led by Anna Plemons and Elly Sweet, hosted at WSU Tri-Cities. Plemmons is associate vice chancellor for academic and student affairs and associate professor of digitaL technology and culture. Sweet is academic director for the College of Arts and Sciences, and associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences.
• “Critical Pedagogy and Student-Centered Approaches to Education,” led by Lisa Guerrero, vice chancellor of equity and inclusive excellence and professor of comparative ethnic studies, hosted at WSU Pullman.
• “Building Belonging,” an interactive session led by Elisha Hardekopf and Sheila Gray and hosted at WSU Vancouver. Hardekopf is director and facilitator of the Building a Community of Equity (BaCE) Program. Gray is campus director of student involvement and BaCE Program core team member.

From 2–3 p.m., in-person, campus-specific discussions at WSU Everett, Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Spokane campuses will focus on the question, “How do we become student ready at our campus?”

From 3–3:30 p.m., all participants are invited to join a virtual share-out on the day’s information and discussions.

The registration form and updated information on the agenda, guest speaker, and workshops is on the TEACHxWSU 2024 web page on the WSU Teaching Academy website.

Questions about the day and events can be sent to Boyd.

The most recent episode of the Ask Dr. Universe podcast looks toward the stars, featuring Washington State University astronomer Michael Allen. Listeners will learn what astronomy is, how amateur astronomers contribute to the field, and what life outside Earth might be like. Allen deftly unravels the story of a single gold atom — AKA Glynda the gold atom — as she travels through the universe and reveals what that means for all the atoms that make up everyone on Earth.

“If you perform a little bit of a calculation, you can discover that pretty much any atom — like any little piece of you — has probably been through at least one star in its total history,” Allen said.

The episode is the 13^th installment of the “How Do You Science” series, which aspires to answer a young reader’s question about what scientists do in real life. Previous episodes explore what it means to be a neuroscientist, an undergraduate student researcher, a developmental psychologist, a fish veterinarian, a postdoctoral researcher, a science writer, an entomologist and an educational psychologist.

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314598

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314599

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314600

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314601

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314602

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314603

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314604

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314605

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314606

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314607

The Ask Dr. Universe program is a service of WSU with the goal of connecting upper elementary and middle school-aged kids with science and the university. In addition to the podcast, Dr. Universe works with WSU faculty and expert alumni to answer science questions sent in by curious readers in a weekly column.

Is there extraterrestrial life somewhere out there in the vast universe? Cougs and their kittens can explore that mystery by listening to the “Meet an Astronomer” episode.

Members of the Washington State University Board of Regents approved President Kirk Schulz’s system objectives for the 2024–25 academic year among other actions during its Friday meeting.

The goals are broken down into president and system objectives:

Presidential objectives

• Stabilize total undergraduate student enrollment and grow new student enrollment
• Expand outreach and engagement efforts, broaden WSU’s donor base, and maximize private philanthropic support
• Continue efforts to secure a strong conference affiliation for Cougar Athletics that charts a clear and promising path forward

System objectives

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314585

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314586

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314587

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314588

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314589

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314590

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314591

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314593

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314595

http://idb.uwu.ac.lk/discussion/detail/314597

• Advance the OneWSU System approach through a series of strategies that will leverage the strength of the system
• Improve the recognition of WSU’s brand and enhance its reputation on a national level by continuing to implement a sustainable marketing program
• Decrease undergraduate retention gap between the overall university student population and first-generation, low-income, and people of color
• Increase research competitiveness and national standing
• Build and strengthen WSU’s systems and processes to support WSU’s application and recognition as a Carnegie Classified Community-Engaged Institution for the 2026 Cycle
• Institutionalize equity-minded recruitment and retention processes to improve diversity among WSU’s faculty
• Support the advancement of a stable fiscal future by continuing to develop system-wide budget planning processes and improved fiscal transparency across the WSU system
• Develop a long-term strategy for maintaining a balanced budget for Intercollegiate Athletics
• Increase access to actionable data that empowers WSU staff to gain valuable insights and make informed and timely decision-making.

Following discussions on the ongoing search for Schulz’s successor, regents also voted to approve a Presidential Leadership Profile, which outlines the traits and experience WSU is looking for in its next president as well as the board’s expectations of that forthcoming leader. More information about the ongoing search, including a list of presidential search committee members, is available online.

A $150,000 increase in the project budget for ongoing improvements to the Knott Dairy Center — a $10 million project funded in the state of Washington’s 2023–25 Capital Budget — was also approved by regents.

Approving changes to the university’s voluntary investment program, authorizing the WSU Police Department to participate in the Federal Surplus Property Program, and amending the allocation of the WSU Pullman Undergraduate Technology Fee rounded out the list of approved action items.

Committee meetings

Regents heard several presentations during a series of committee meetings Thursday afternoon.

A presentation on fall enrollment given by Provost Chris Riley-Tillman and Vice Provost of Enrollment Management Saichi Oba featured several highlights, including a second consecutive year in growth in first-year student enrollment and an increase in new transfer students for the first time since 2019.

Among its incoming first-year class this fall, WSU saw increases in the proportion of students of color, students from Washington, and students from low income households compared to last fall.

Oba also highlighted the success of early enrollment events that took place in the lead up to the Apple Cup. From 80 Instant Decision Days, WSU admitted more than 1,500 students, which puts the university 70% ahead of where it was at this time last fall.

Regents also heard presentations concerning the launch of the university’s latest brand marketing campaign, the fiscal year 2025 budget, and the challenges of keeping the university safe from cybersecurity attacks. Regents also discussed tuition rates for the 2025–26 academic year, though no action was taken.

Regents participated in two days of meetings inside the Compton Union Building on the WSU Pullman campus. These meetings were live-streamed and are available to watch in-full online.

The board is next scheduled to meet in Seattle Nov. 14–15. More information is available on the WSU Board of Regents website.