Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to the 2019-2020 school year!
As I walked the hallways of Voiland College this week, I saw fresh faces, heard the buzz of excitement, and felt the energy that a new semester brings to everyone.
It is not uncommon during this time of year for students, staff, and faculty to experience higher levels of anxiety or depression, or feel unsure of where to access support for their safety and wellbeing. I want to ensure that everyone at Voiland College is aware of the valuable information and resources that are available to us here at Washington State University to support health and safety.
WSU’s Office of the Dean of Students provides assistance and referrals for any student concern or crisis. If you are unsure what services or support students may need, this office can help point you in the right direction.
The Access Center provides accommodations and services to incoming and current WSU students with disabilities, psychological or medical conditions, or temporary injuries that limit their access to the WSU campus.
The Office of Access & Opportunity provides outreach and comprehensive support services programs to assist first-generation, low-income, or otherwise underrepresented students in higher education, including students with disabilities and undocumented students.
The AWARE Network allows you to share concerns about a student’s emotional or psychological well-being, physical health, or academic performance.
Cougar Health Services provides services and programs to support students, including comprehensive resource guides to help students in distress on the Everett, Pullman,Spokane, Tri-Cities, Olympic College, and Vancouver campuses. Their Counseling and Psychological Services unit provides confidential counseling and testing services for students and a 24-hour crisis hotline.
The Center for Community Standards is available to help everyone understand our community standards and the process for when those standards are violated. The community standards process is outlined at handbook.wsu.edu.
Other student support services include the Office of Multicultural Student Services, Gender Identity/Expression and Sexual Orientation Resource Center (GIESORC), andWomen’s Center.
The Office of Civil Rights Compliance and Investigation provides information and resources regarding discrimination and protected speech, and the Office of the Ombudsman provides a neutral channel for students, faculty, and staff to voice university-related concerns.
Employee wellbeing is critically important here at WSU. WellCoug is a comprehensive program that offers WSU employees and their families a wide range of resources to support their overall health and wellbeing. In addition, the Washington State Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling and referral services to WSU faculty, administrative professional, and classified staff.
There’s a saying here at WSU that rings especially true to me: “Cougs Help Cougs.” Always remember that you are not alone. Please reach out for support when you or others need it. Please share this information widely with your students and colleagues.
I want to take a moment to say thank you to those who have completed Voiland College’s mandatory online safety training. These courses are critically important for making our labs and classrooms safe and for building a strong safety culture throughout our campus. All Voiland College employees, including time slip workers, should complete these trainings by September 13. Learn about the required courses and how to access them.
If you have any questions, or need to raise a concern about safety, do not hesitate to contact your unit’s safety representative or get in touch with one of WSU’s safety resources.
Thank you for your efforts to ensure the safety and wellbeing of everyone here at the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture.
Go Cougs!
Mary Rezac (preferred pronouns: she/her/hers)
Dean, Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99163
mary.rezac@wsu.edu
509-335-5593