Feb. 13, 2024 Voiland College This Week

Go Cougs!

Noel Schulz has been appointed to the Bob Ferguson Endowed Professorship at Washington State University Tri-Cities.

Dominic Scalise has received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award for his work in developing DNA-powered computing.

Ming Luo will work with Native Hawaiian communities to design robots for restoration and preservation needs of Native Hawaiian land, thanks to funding he received from the 2024 Inspire! Community-Engaged Research Seed Grant program.

Voiland College’s online graduate engineering programs ranked 36th in the Best Online Engineering Programs category by U.S. News & World Report.

The Daily Evergreen reported on the upcoming closure of the Green 3 Parking Lot on the WSU Pullman campus due to construction of Schweitzer Engineering Hall.

The latest issue of Washington State Magazine features several stories on Voiland College research:

• A solution becomes clear: Ancient glass could help with the problems of nuclear waste.
• The future is all a buzz: WSU lab is a hive of insect-sized robots.
• Videos of the robobugs in action

---

Events

Tuesday, February 13 @ 2:00 PM

ESIC SP24 Power Seminar Series: Building Integrated Energy Systems with Optimization and Machine Learning

Saturday, February 17 @ 9:00 AM

CrimsonCode Hackathon

Monday, February 19 @ 3:10 PM

CySER Virtual Seminar – Why Bits Take Bytes Out of Your Mission

Tuesday, February 20 @ 12 PM

TMP Seminar Series – ‘Nanotechnology-Enhanced Biosensors for Biomedical and Healthcare Applications’ w/Annie Du

Wednesday, February 21 @4:30 PM Carpenter Hall Atrium

Farewell Gathering for Mary Rezac

---

Opportunities

Proposal Development Workshops

The Center for Environmental Research, Education, and Outreach (CEREO) is hosting an in-person and virtual discussion series aimed at improving your odds of securing externally-funded grants.

• Feb. 15: NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)
• Feb. 21 NSF National Research Traineeships (NRT)
• Feb. 27: NSF Dynamics of Integrated Socio-Environmental Systems (DISES)
• March 6: USDA Sustainable Agricultural Systems (SAS)

Online Professional and Corporate Education Program – Register by Feb. 16

Looking to get ahead? Register for WSU Vancouver’s online Professional and Corporate Education program. PACE offers nondegree certificates to help working professionals upgrade their skills.

Spring 2024 PACE courses:

• Applied Machine Learning: Use machine learning techniques to gain insights into your data.
• Leading with Finance: Improve your leadership skills by learning the language of business.
• QuickBooks: Learn to set up your company’s books for accounting.
• Business Analytics with Power BI: Analyze big data for business insights.
• Change Management: Lead and manage change initiatives with confidence.
• Communication Skills for Business: Learn mastery of tools for impactful communications.
• Conflict Resolution: Gain tools to lead out of conflict into constructive conversation.
• Leadership Essentials: Develop skills of new and emerging leaders to lead teams.
• Python for Beginners: Learn to use the most popular programming language.
• Social Media Marketing: Develop social media campaigns across many platforms.
• Intro to SQL: Build and use databases in your business.
• Interfacing with SQL: Manipulate data with Python and create front-end for databases.

Just for you:

• 75% discount to WSU employees systemwide (pay about $200 per course)
• 3–4 weeks
• Noncredit
• Live, online, instructor-led
• Evening courses ideal for working professionals

Some departments pay for professional development. Check with your supervisor. Discounted seats are limited. Don’t delay. Register today!

APAC Contribution Awards – Nominations Due Feb. 23

The APAC Contribution Awards recognize administrative professionals who have made exceptional contributions to Washington State University and their respective areas or units.

Graduate Student and AFW awards – Nominations Due Feb. 26

Nominations for the Graduate School’s Karen P. DePauw Leadership Award and the Association for Faculty Women’s Outstanding Master’s and Doctoral Student Awards are due Monday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m.

These awards recognize the academic achievements and professional potential of WSU’s graduate students across all WSU campuses. Part-time and full-time students are eligible. Information on the nomination process can be found on the Nominations page, with more information about the history of each award on the Overview page.

Top 10 Senior Nominations Due Feb. 29

The Alumni Association is pleased to announce that nominations for Top 10 Senior Awards are now open and will remain open until Feb. 29. Nominators can create an account and nominate a deserving student in just a few minutes. If you know a deserving student in any of these categories, nominate them! Winners will be invited to an all-campus ceremony in April to recognize their achievements.

March 1 Call for Submissions: WSU authors who have published a book in 2023

WSU Libraries’ Crimson Reads planning committee is asking for WSU authors of 2023 books to send publication information to the committee via an online form. Deadline for submissions is March 1.

The Crimson Reads website will highlight the books published in 2023 by WSU-affiliated authors. In addition, an in-person exhibit in the Holland and Terrell Libraries (located on the Pullman campus) will spotlight some of these publications and run from March 18–April 1. The exhibit is also viewable online on the Crimson Reads website.

GIESO Faculty, Staff Awards – Nominations Due March 3

Do you know a WSU faculty, staff, or administrator who has provided exemplary contributions to the LGBTQIA2S+ community? GIESO is accepting nominations for exceptional faculty, staff, or administrators who demonstrate the institution’s commitment to fostering a more welcoming campus culture and climate and shows LGBTQIA2S+ employees that they are seen, valued, and a vibrant part of the WSU community. Any member of the WSU community can submit nominations. If you know someone or feel you fit the description above, we invite you to submit a nomination by March 3.

$5,000 Smith Teaching and Learning Grants – Apply by March 13

Washington State University Smith Teaching and Learning Grant applications detailing innovative plans to enhance teaching and learning can be submitted through March 13.

IDEA Grants for Inclusive Teaching – Apply by March 15

Washington State University faculty, staff, post-doctoral fellows, and graduate students system-wide with proposals to advance teaching and learning can apply online through March 15 for $500-$5,000 grants to fund short-term projects.

Oaks Academic Technology Award – Nominations Due March 20

Nominations are now being accepted for the eighth annual Oaks Academic Technology Award, which recognizes an instructor’s innovative application of technology to transform teaching and learning in their classroom.

McNair Scholars Program – Apply by March 22

The McNair Scholars Program is pleased to announce the recruitment of 2024–25 cohort. The program prepares first-generation/low-income undergraduate students and students from under-represented background for graduate school. The program will provide participants with graduate education preparation activities to include faculty-mentored research experiences and course work craft of research and culture of graduate education.

Teaching Academy Awards – Apply by March 22

The WSU Teaching Academy has opened online applications for three annual awards in support of great teaching and learning system-wide.

Outstanding Publication in the Scholarship of Teaching in Higher Education: It is presented to a WSU faculty member or members to recognize an outstanding publication in the scholarship of teaching in higher education.

Teaching Conference Registration Award: It covers the cost of registration fees to attend a conference, meeting, or workshop that will directly enhance the applicant’s classroom teaching and/or scholarship of teaching.

Award for Excellence in Teaching a Large Class: It recognizes achievement in teaching in one of the most difficult contexts—class sections of more than 50 students.

INSPIRE! Community Engaged Research Seed Grant Program

INSPIRE! Community Engaged Research Seed Grants are offered as part of the INSPIRE! Community Engaged Research Program administered by the Office of Research with support from the WSU Pullman Chancellor’s Office.

The 12-month Community Engaged Research Tier Three Seed Grants of up to $20,000 are intended to support WSU Pullman faculty who are currently established in community engaged research and/or creative activity.

New WSU Digital Accessibility Website

All WSU employees who create and publish digital content (such as email, documents, multimedia, and websites) are responsible for making sure their digital content is accessible and provides an inclusive experience. A new digital accessibility website aims to educate the Washington State University community on how to make everything from emails to PowerPoint presentations approachable for all.

Green 3 Parking Lot Closure, Spring 2024

The Green 3 section of the parking lot located along NE College Avenue and south of Daggy Hall on the Pullman campus is scheduled to be closed permanently, beginning in early May 2024. The hourly parking (labeled as “Columbia Street Lot Top Bays” in the AMP Park app and at aimsmobilepay.com) section of this lot will remain open during construction. Additionally, SE Columbia Street from Idaho Street to Spokane Street, and a section of the Green 3 parking lot west of the Commons building will be temporarily closed for the duration of this project. Patrons may utilize the nearby Green 3 parking lots. View the map for exact locations.

The closure is in conjunction with the construction of the new Schweitzer Engineering Hall. Please watch for further communication as additional details are released pertaining to construction impacts and important dates.

If you have any questions regarding the parking impacts, please contact WSU Transportation Services at transportation@wsu.edu or 509-335-PARK (7275).

Community Standards Hearing Board Members Needed

The Dean of Students is seeking faculty, staff, and student representatives for WSU’s Academic Integrity Hearing Board, University Appeals Board, and University Conduct Board. All campuses are represented, with meetings via zoom. Apply today!

Regents’ Distinguished Alumnus Award – Call for Nominations

The Regents’ Distinguished Alumnus Award, first presented in 1962, is the highest honor bestowed upon a Washington State University alumnus. The Regents’ Distinguished Alumnus Award honors alumni who have made a truly distinguished contribution to society or who, through personal achievement, have brought distinction to Washington State University.

Nominate a Colleague for the Crimson Spirit Award

Do you know a WSU employee who is exceptionally creative in problem-solving or who consistently goes above and beyond? Nominate that WSU employee for the Crimson Spirit Award today!

---

We’re Hiring!

Voiland College is hiring for several staff and faculty positions.

---

Be Safe Cougs

Learn to Support Cougs in Crisis

We can all help support mental health in our campus community. Learn how to identify Cougs in crisis and connect them with support by signing up for a training with WSU Health Promotion. Sessions are available for all WSU locations.

Campus Connect is a 2-hour suicide prevention training program is offered free of charge for all WSU staff and students. Participants learn: Statistics and facts about college student suicide; How to ask if someone is feeling suicidal; Appropriate referrals; Active listening, communication, and relationship building skills.

Mental Health First Aid: Participants in this training learn about symptoms, crisis response, and active listening skills to support someone who is experiencing a mental health disorder such as: Depression and anxiety; Trauma; Psychosis; Eating disorders; Substance abuse. Mental Health First Aid is free for WSU Pullman, Global, and Vancouver campus students.