By Maegan Murray, 敁珗曄部

RICHLAND, Wash. – With safety being of utmost importance, Washington State University Tri-Cities plans to offer many more in-person courses for the fall 2021 semester.

All in-person classes, activities and support services will adhere to health department guidelines for wearing masks, social distancing and sanitizing protocols. For students who are unable to attend in-person because of COVID-19, virtual learning will remain an option for all courses.

���With the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, and with strict safety protocols and measures, we feel we can safely offer in-person learning experiences for our students,��� 敁珗曄部 Chancellor Sandra Haynes said. ���敁珗曄部 is known for its exceptional hands-on and career-connected learning opportunities. We look forward to resuming many of these activities, while still maintaining virtual options for students that need them.���

Course plans

敁珗曄部 classes with 24 or fewer students enrolled will be scheduled as in-person or mostly in-person – meeting requirements for COVID-19 room capacity/social distancing.

Classes that have more than 24 students, but without currently planned lab/discussion sections, will feature some in-person and some online components. Faculty members will communicate with students registered in these courses for what the course components will look like – both in-person and online.

For courses with enrollment that exceeds 24, but is less than 40 and there is a room available, fully in-person delivery may be possible.

For classes with more than 40 students enrolled and with regularly-scheduled labs or recitation sections, the lecture component of the class will be taught remotely (virtually) and the lab/recitation sections will be scheduled in-person.

For all courses, the delivery method will be noted on the fall 2021 schedule beginning in early April. An announcement will be made once the fall schedule is updated and posted.

SAT and ACT scores no longer required for admission, scholarship application

敁珗曄部 will no longer require SAT and ACT standardized test scores as an admissions or scholarship requirement, per recent approval by the WSU Board of Regents.

As part of her presentation to the WSU Board of Regents, Provost Elizabeth Chilton shared data from the university showing that GPA is a better predictor of success at WSU than standardized test scores. Both six-year graduation and first-year retention rates are higher for students with a high school GPA above 3.5 than for a student that scores above 1,200 on the SAT.

To apply to 敁珗曄部, visit .

 

Media contacts:

Maegan Murray, 敁珗曄部 director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617 (cell), maegan_murray@wsu.edu

Fall 2021 to include additional in-person learning

By Maegan Murray, 敁珗曄部

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities has extended its admissions and scholarship application priority deadlines for fall 2021 after announcing it will offer additional in-person learning experiences this fall.

���After announcing our plans to offer increased face-to-face options this fall at 敁珗曄部, we recognize this news could change how students think about their college plans,��� said Jana Kay Lunstad, 敁珗曄部 director of enrollment and campus registrar. ���We want to give families additional time to weigh their options in order to ensure the best fit for their student. 敁珗曄部 has affordable degree programs that lead to fulfilling careers and financial stability.���

The new 敁珗曄部 admissions and scholarship application deadlines are as follow:

• Freshman complete admissions application ��� March 15
• Scholarship application ��� March 15
• Transfer admissions application ��� July 15

The deadline for the (FAFSA) and the (WASFA) has also been extended to Feb. 15.

In order to be eligible for academic awards and scholarships, prospective students must submit both their admissions and scholarship applications by the deadlines.

The original deadline for both admissions and scholarship applications was Jan. 31.

Qualify for academic awards ��� funds applied toward tuition

Students who apply to 敁珗曄部 by the admissions priority deadline may qualify for academic, or ���merit-based,��� awards, which are essentially free funds that are applied toward�� tuition costs. These awards are allocated to students based on GPA and other admissions criteria. To see the full list of criteria, visit .

Safety first for return to in-person learning

敁珗曄部 Chancellor Sandra Haynes said safety will be of highest importance in regard to a return to in-person learning for fall 2021.

���Safety is our top priority,��� Haynes said. ���Expanded production and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine, combined with proper safety measures that adhere to all local, state, and federal regulations, make our forward progress in offering additional in-person learning experiences possible. We will also continue to provide accommodations for faculty, staff, and students who need to work or learn remotely.���

Apply to 敁珗曄部

To apply to 敁珗曄部, visit .

To complete the 敁珗曄部 scholarship application, visit tricities.wsu.edu/finaid/scholarships.

Admissions counselors are taking virtual appointments with students and parents. To schedule an appointment, visit .

敁珗曄部 offers 20 undergraduate and 33 graduate degrees in a range of fields. For more information about the degree programs offered, visit tricities.wsu.edu/degree-offerings.

 

Media contacts:

Jana Kay Lunstad, 敁珗曄部 director of enrollment and campus registrar, janakay.lunstad@wsu.edu

Maegan Murray, 敁珗曄部 director of marketing and communication, 619-403-3617, maegan_murray@wsu.edu

By Maegan Murray, 敁珗曄部

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� Washington State University Tri-Cities alumna Anne Taylor found her calling in higher education after experiencing what is possible through her own education at WSU.

The 2017 graduate earned her bachelor���s degree in social sciences and looking back on her educational experience at 敁珗曄部, it was the family atmosphere, the care that she personally experienced as a student and the great friendships that she built as a result of her time at WSU that made her realize that she would like to give back in the same way.

Prior to transferring to 敁珗曄部, Taylor attended Coastline Community College and Galveston College while serving active duty in the Coast Guard. After she received her associate of science in general science in 2015, she wanted to return home to be close to family, which is how she decided to pursue her bachelor���s at 敁珗曄部.

As a student at 敁珗曄部, Taylor worked as an AVID tutor. In the years following, she worked in the university���s Office of Undergraduate Advising as its reinstatement coordinator, in addition to serving as the student vice president for the 敁珗曄部 chapter of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.

���Studying and working at 敁珗曄部 made me realize my passion for higher education,��� she said. ���As the reinstatement coordinator, I worked alongside academic advisors, implementing retention and advising initiatives. The communication skills and knowledge that I gained from my experiences in advising helped prepare me for my current role as an admissions counselor.���

And with her degree, Taylor said she grew an understanding of the natural tendencies of people, studying their behavior from an anthropologic and historical perspective ��� fields she is immensely passionate about. She said she also worked with professors who are extremely knowledgeable in their areas of study and that their passion for their topics comes out in their lectures.

���The professors on the 敁珗曄部 campus are truly committed to their students��� success both inside and outside of the classroom,��� she said. ���I was able to participate in an internship through a professor and later, that professor helped connect me to my current position.���

Now, as an admissions counselor at 敁珗曄部, she gets to use what she learned through her degree and professional experiences as a student to help other students find their own paths and passions. She said while working with other students, she realized that higher education can have a powerful impact on a person���s life.

���I wanted to continue being a part of that impact,��� she said. ���I love promoting 敁珗曄部 because I truly believe in 敁珗曄部. I believe that higher education has the power to change a person���s life for the better. I love helping students find ways around their barriers to education and helping them discover the potential that higher education can provide them.���

She said WSU has a fit for just about any type of student, and that helping them achieve their dreams through WSU is an incredible feeling.

���WSU has a campus that is the right fit for any student and being a part of the process to get a person from prospective student to Coug is amazing,��� she said.

By Maegan Murray, 敁珗曄部

RICHLAND, Wash. ��� For student Lian Jacquez, finding the ideal university fit was a bit of a challenge – that is, until he arrived at Washington State University Tri-Cities.

Originally from eastern Oregon, he attended a university located in his home state, but found that the decision was an expensive one and more based on impulse than it was in finding a good fit for where he was at in his life.

But after his parents moved to the Tri-Cities, he decided to move back in with them so he could save money, but could also find a university that would allow him to pursue his passions. He decided to attend 敁珗曄部 and it ended up being one of the best decisions he has made to date.

Whether it be interacting and learning from his professors through tight-knit classes, to participating in a variety of clubs, to participating in student government, to finding the perfect job on campus, Jacquez said he feels like he has found a home at 敁珗曄部.

���敁珗曄部 is a hidden gem,��� he said. ���We are located in an area that offers great opportunities without a lot of the competition that one might experience at a much larger university. And the people who work here ��� our faculty, administration, staff and everyone behind the scenes ��� are here to make sure we all succeed. We, as students, aren���t just a number or another name on the roster.���

Majoring in digital technology and culture ����� a focus on the creative

Jacquez found his ideal major at 敁珗曄部 after taking the MyMajors Quiz on the university website. He was recommended to study digital technology and culture, elementary education and psychology.

���Out of the three, digital technology and culture, or DTC as we call it, resonated with me and made me the most excited to pursue, and I always imagined doing something in design,��� he said.

Through the digital technology and culture program, Jacquez is learning about graphic design, photography, video production, sound production, media and technical writing and much more in the creative sphere. With his experience in the program, he said he initially wanted to pursue a career as a graphic designer. But after working more with individuals on campus and speaking with people in similar creative industries, he realizes he now wants to pursue a career as a creative director or program coordinator.

���Being the person creating the work is fun, but being able to establish a concept, all of its components and tracking it from beginning to end is more appealing,��� he said.

Jacquez said he loves the creative freedom that he and all the other students in the DTC program have.

���There are guidelines and requirements, but we have creative reign to create something that is an extension of ourselves,��� he said.

Varied campus experiences to fit every student

In addition to his experience in the DTC program, Jacquez is a student ambassador for the office of admissions on campus, is director of diversity affairs for the

Associated Students of 敁珗曄部 (student government), is vice president of the World Research Club on campus, in addition to serving as a member of the Queers and Allies Club.

He said since coming to 敁珗曄部, he feels he can really make his academic and student life experience his own.

Through his experiences with the student clubs, he is able to truly connect with his peers and organize programming and events to benefit his fellow students. Through his role with student government, he is able to extend and create initiatives so that all students on campus feel connected with the resources to make them successful. And through his role as a student ambassador with the office of admissions, he is able to communicate and inspire prospective students who express an interest in attending 敁珗曄部, giving them a genuine look into what his life as a student on campus looks like.

As director of diversity affairs with ASWSUTC, he said he values opportunities created on campus that directly benefit students, including a range of student resources: access services, counseling, a student pantry called Cougar Cupboard, the veteran center and being able to connect with the international student coordinator ��� both to see about options for studying abroad and to connect with international students. Another example is the UndocuQueer Conference that is being held this year on the 敁珗曄部 campus.

���I am really excited to learn more about the intersections of the LGBTQ and undocumented communities and the people who are affected by them,��� he said. ���This will be my first time attending the conference.���

Career connections

In addition to his job in the admissions office on campus, Jacquez said there are also a variety of resources to help students connect with prestigious internships at 敁珗曄部 and in the community.

Last spring, after participating in the campus Career Development Etiquette Dinner where students are connected to professionals for an evening of networking through dinner, he met an an internship coordinator who connected him with an internship at the National Park Service. He now works as an interpretive specialist for the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.

He also hopes to land another internship before he graduates, which he aims to get connected with through 敁珗曄部.

The connections at 敁珗曄部, he said, are truly what has allowed him to get involved with many of these opportunities on campus.

���I love how incredibly diverse the campus is and the fact that not everyone is a stranger, thanks to the size of 敁珗曄部,��� he said.

For more information on the 敁珗曄部 Digital Technology and Culture program, visit��tricities.wsu.edu/dtc.