Dear Voiland College community,
Happy New Year, and welcome back! I hope you had a restful and enjoyable winter break and are returning refreshed for the year ahead.
As we begin 2026, I am especially looking forward to an exciting milestone for Voiland College. Construction of Schweitzer Engineering Hall is nearing completion, with the project on track to finish later this spring. We will begin moving into the building this summer, followed by its official opening in the fall.
Schweitzer Engineering Hall represents a major investment in our academic mission and our students, and it will enhance how we teach, engage with industry, and partner with our community for decades to come. Our new flagship student success building will provide modern, flexible teaching and research spaces designed to support interdisciplinary collaboration and hands-on learning. The building will feature active-learning classrooms, state-of-the-art laboratories, student collaboration areas, and shared spaces that bring students, faculty, and staff together in new ways. It will also serve as a welcoming front door to recruit bright young minds who are interested in attending Washington State University.
I also want to share news of another important investment in our students’ learning. On Thursday, Jan. 22 at 2:30 p.m., we will celebrate the opening of the newly renovated Prime Electric and MacDonald-Miller Classroom in Construction Management in Carpenter Hall, Room 212. This industry-supported space will serve as a dedicated hub for hands-on, project-based learning and will feature advanced technology for virtual design and construction and team-based project planning. The classroom reflects the strong partnership between our construction management program and industry and supports a program known for exceptional student outcomes and job placement.
Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners are all invited to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony and check out the new facility.
The months ahead will be busy as we prepare for the transition, but they will also be deeply rewarding. I look forward to what we will accomplish together in the year ahead!
Go Cougs!
Partha Pratim Pande, FIEEE
Dean and Professor
Boeing Centennial Chair in Computer Engineering
Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture
Washington State University
Office: 509-335-5593
Email: pande@wsu.edu