Washington State University
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- For the state of Washington, please see Washington.
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| Motto | World Class. Face to Face |
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| Established | March 28, 1890 |
| Type | Public |
| Endowment | $354,879,863 USD [1] |
| President | V. Lane Rawlins |
| Staff | 1,304 |
| Undergraduates | 19,896 |
| Postgraduates | 3,225 |
| Location | Pullman, Washington, USA |
| Campus | Rural |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Website | http://www.wsu.edu |
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Washington State University (WSU) is a major public research university in Pullman, Washington. The state's land-grant university, WSU has a mission of teaching, research and public service, and offers more than 250 fields of study. It is one of 96 public and private universities in America with "very high research activity," as determined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. It is ranked among the top third of national public universities and is a "more selective university" for admissions according to US News.
The flagship campus in Pullman is located on the eastern border of the state in the Palouse region. There are regional campuses in Vancouver (WSU Vancouver), Spokane (WSU Spokane), and the Tri-Cities (WSU Tri-Cities). The student population is 23,000 statewide.
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[edit] History
Founded in Pullman on March 28, 1890 and opened on January 13, 1892 as the state's land-grant college, the school changed names from the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science to the State College of Washington in 1905, and, subsequently, in 1959 to Washington State University. As a land-grant institution, the university has been entrusted by the state of Washington with 190,000 acres (769 km²) of land for agricultural and scientific research throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The first influential president was E.A. Bryan, appointed July 22, 1893. Previously the president of Vincennes University in Indiana, he had graduate degrees from Harvard and Columbia. Bryan ensured the institution offered a balance of the liberal arts and sciences with practical education in fields such as agriculture and engineering.
WSU's role as a statewide institution became clear in 1894 with the launch of its first Agricultural Experiment Station west of the Cascade Mountains near Puyallup. Extension offices and research centers have been established in all parts of the state. WSU's regional campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver were officially created by the Legislature in 1989.
[edit] Organization
[edit] Regents
Washington State University is chartered by the State of Washington. A Board of Regents governs the university and provides direction to the President. There are ten regents, each appointed by the state governor. One of the regents is a student who is nominated by the student body, appointed by the governor, and serves one year. Currently the regents are Kenneth Alhadeff, Ted Baseler, Elizabeth Cowles, Francois Forgette, Laura Jennings, Joe King, Kyle Smith (student), Chris Marr, Connie Niva, and V. Rafael Stone.
[edit] Administration
The President, currently V. Lane Rawlins, serves as the chief executive officer. In July 2006 he announced his retirement for June 2007. The Provost, currently Robert C. Bates, handles academics, research and faculty matters for WSU statewide. Bates also is Executive Vice President for the Pullman campus.
[edit] WSU Foundation
The WSU Foundation is an independent, private corporation with its own Board of Trustees and President that serves as a fundraising organization for the university. Currently the President is Len Jessup and the Board Co-Chairs are Mark and Pat Suwyn.
[edit] Alumni Association
The WSU Alumni Association is also an independent body with a Board of Directors and President. The directors are leaders of regional alumni groups called districts. The Association's mission is "Encouraging excellence to enhance the quality and global recognition of WSU, Supporting Scholarships to help students attain a WSU education, and Making Connections to connect back to WSU through services and programs for alumni and friends." The Association hosts numerous socials and networking events for alumni in addition to sponsoring many on-campus activities. WSU University Relations also provides support for the Association through the Office of Alumni Relations. The current Executive Director of Alumni Relations is Tim Pavish, and the Board President is Larry Arcia.
[edit] Academics
There are nine academic colleges on the Pullman campus:
- Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS)
- Business
- Education
- Engineering & Architecture
- Liberal Arts
- Nursing
- Pharmacy
- Sciences
- Veterinary Medicine
A number of professional schools exist within the colleges, including the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication, the School of Architecture, and the School of Economic Sciences. The largest and most geographically dispersed of the colleges is CAHNRS, with research stations across the state, and departments ranging from AgriBusiness to Landscape Architecture.
In addition, the highly selective Honors College provides an advanced undergraduate study program, and the Graduate School provides central administration for those pursuing master's and doctoral degrees.
[edit] Faculty
The Faculty Senate serves as the sounding board for the more than 2,200 faculty members. All major academic decisions must be approved by the Senate. The Senate is composed of representatives from each academic department.
Currently, there is a WSU presidential committee analyzing possibilities of creating new synergies through a re-alignment by moving departments and creating new schools.
Many WSU professors are nationally and internationally recognized for their research and scholarship. Seven are members of the National Academy of Sciences and/or National Academy of Engineering, among the highest honors for scientists and engineers.
[edit] Students
Two student body organizations represent the students: the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU) and the Graduate & Professional Students' Assoscation (GPSA). ASWSU's organizational framework is similar to that of most American governments complete with an appointed and confirmed judiciary, elected representatives (from districts) to a senate, and an annually elected president and vice-president team. The president also has a paid staff ranging in size from 6-12 members depending on the year. As of 2005, the ASWSU president had the distinction of being the highest paid student body president at a public university at $22,000 per year. GPSA is similarly structured. Because of the smaller population of graduate students, and their relatively greater occupation in academic pursuits, GPSA is less active and less influential.
Besides ASWSU, there are several other influential student organizations. The Residence Hall Association is a government body for students in the residence halls. Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and Greek Presidents' Council are governmental bodies for university-recognized Greek social houses. The Greek system has traditionally been the most powerful voting block in determining ASWSU elections. The Board of Directors of the Students' Book Corporation oversees the non-profit campus bookstore with over $17 million in annual revenue. The Students' Book Corporation donates all profits back to WSU students. The Compton Union Board oversees the management of the student union building and its services. The University Recreation Board oversees the management of university recreation. The ASWSU Student Entertainment Board brings in high-profile speakers and musicians to campus. The Student Alumni Connection hosts several major campus events. The Student Services & Activities Fees Committee disperses over $6 million annually from a student-imposed fee to student events and programs.
Recently, the student body has completed several major projects on campus. In addition to passing a $15 transportation fee to support Pullman Transit, the student body also voted to remodel the Compton Union Building. The building closed in May of 2006 and is scheduled to reopen in August, 2008. In March of 2006, the student body voted to renovate Martin Stadium, adding a $25 per semester increase to student fees.
[edit] ASWSU Committees
The ASWSU Committees are the lifeblood of The Association. They are groups or programs that are open to all students. Their main purpose is to create educational, entertaining and cultural programming for the students and community in Pullman. The following is the list of ASWSU Committees:
Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition (APASC)
Black Student Union (BSU)
Election Board
Environmental Task Force (ETF)
Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender & Allies (GLBTA)
Homecoming Committee
Housing Commission
International Students' Council (ISC) (WSU wiki definition)
Ku Ah Mah
KZUU Radio
Middle Eastern Students Association (MESA)
Movimiento Estudianti Chicano de Aztian (MEChA)
Student Entertainment Board (SEB)
Student Legal Services (SLS)
Veteran’s Affairs
Washington Student Lobby (WSL)
[edit] Other
WSU Extension has offices in each of Washington's 39 counties, providing training and assistance in agricultural practices, natural resource management, human and life skills, diversity understanding and outreach, the state 4-H program, and many other program areas. WSU Extension faculty and staff have also provided assistance for programs in under-developed and developing countries. Many faculty members have appointments to do research, teach, and provide extension services.
WSU Libraries coordinates the administration of seven major libraries on WSU's Pullman campus (the Architecture, Brain Education, Fischer Agricultural Sciences, Health Sciences, Holland/Terrell, Manuscripts Archives & Special Collections, and Owen Science & Engineering libraries), five minor libraries on the Pullman campus (the GLBA, Heritage House, Human Relations & Diversity, Music, and Women's Resource Center libraries), and five libraries off the Pullman campus (the Betty M. Anderson, WSU Energy Program, WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, WSU Vancouver libraries). WSU Libraries also participates in a consortium with 33 other regional libraries in an inter-library loan system.
The WSU Museum of Art has several permanent collections including the Holland Collection, Orton Collection, Goya and Daumier Collections, Chaplin Woodcuts, Consortium Collections, Meyer Shapiro Print Collection, and Elwood Collection. Other permanent collections contain works by Northwest artists D. Griffin, Mark Tobey, Kenneth Callahan, Margaret Tomkins and former faculty members from WSU and the University of Washington. Several other collections and museums also exist on the Pullman campus and include the Connor Museum of Natural History, Culver Collection (petrified pre-historic animals), Jacklin Collection of Silicified Wood & Minerals, McCaw Fluorescent Mineral Display, and Museum of Anthropology.
[edit] Campus
The Pullman campus of Washington State University is 620 acres (2.5 km²) and is located seven miles from the Washington-Idaho border and Moscow, ID in the Palouse region. The Palouse is defined by its unique rolling hills that were created by wind-blown soil, which supports one of the world's most productive agriculture regions. The main crops are wheat, peas, barley, and lentils. Evenings are often highlighted by a spectacular blue-pink sunset, which the first Board of Regents decided to use as the college's colors (later changed to the current crimson and gray colors). Perched atop College Hill (one of the four main hills in Pullman), the campus overlooks downtown Pullman. WSU alumni are known for having "Cougar Calves," well-toned legs gained from years of walking the hills of Pullman.
[edit] Buildings
Most campus buildings are red brick and can be characterized as utilitarian, a fitting style for the land-grant university work ethic and standards of fiduciary prudence. The most dramatic campus building is the recently named Terrell Library with its curving sweep of windows and a cone-shaped skylight above its atrium. It opened in 1994. Another dramatic structure is the Samuel H. Smith Center for Undergraduate Education, opened in 2002 and named for WSU's president from 1985-2000.
The heart of campus is the Glenn Terrell Friendship Mall, referred to as The Mall by students. This walkway was named after Glenn Terrell, who was WSU's president from 1967 to 1985. President Terrell's secretary was known to set meetings 10 minutes behind schedule to make up for the time he would spend talking to students along the way. The library, student union, and a number of classroom buildings surround the Mall.
The football stadium, Martin Stadium, also figures prominently on campus. The stadium, the smallest in the Pac-10, is situated in the core of the campus with the south grandstands built into the Hill (the Information Technology building is part of the south grandstands), and Terrell Library and the Plant BioSciences buildings overlooking the west and east ends, respectively. Even though it is the smallest in the Pac-10, it offers the most seating to students in the
Pac-10. After the conclusion of the 2006 football season, Martin Stadium will undergo a massive renovation to expand the seating capacity and offer greater amenities for players and spectators, as well as improvements to the general facilities such as bathrooms and concession stands.
Other exceptions to the utilitarian architectural style are Thompson Hall, Bryan Hall, and Stevens Hall, the oldest buildings on campus. Thompson Hall was the original administration building, and is now the home of the foreign language department. Bryan Hall is the landmark building on campus with the tall four-sided tower enclosing a carrillon and displaying a clock that lights up neon-red in the evening. Stevens Hall is an all-women's dormitory pitched with many gables. Stevens Hall and Thompson Hall are on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also notable are the Lewis Alumni Centre and the Webster Physical Science Building. Lewis is an old beef cattle barn renovated in 1989 to be the most luxurious building on campus, with hand-made rugs, palm trees, Italian marble, and beautiful artwork. Rooms in Lewis include the Board of Regents' Boardroom, Lighty Library, the Athletics Hall of Fame, the Alumni Presidents' Room, and the Great Hall for large social events. Webster is the tallest building on campus with twelve above-ground floors of offices and an expansive view of the region from the roof. In fact, if Pullman's elevation and Webster's height are combined, Webster is the highest point of learning in all of Washington.
[edit] Residential campus
WSU is a residential campus. Many freshmen live in residence halls, while some live in fraternity and sorority houses or in off-campus housing. After their first year, many students move to apartments, several owned by WSU. Most apartments are less than a half-mile from campus. Apartment renters have the benefit of the free Pullman Transit system, noted for moving more people per mile of transit than any other bus system in the U.S.; parking spaces on campus are limited.
[edit] Residence halls
Most of the residence halls are co-ed, with the notable exception being most of the Hill halls. All of the residence halls, except for McEachern, are part of the RHA (Residence Hall Association). Each hall has its own government which organizes events, manages its budget, and acts as a forum for student involvement. These halls range in size from the very small Stevens Hall (approximetely 70 residents), to the massive Rogers Hall (approximetely 700 residents). The highlight of the year for the residence halls is often Homecoming Week when the residence halls, off-campus students, and Greeks compete in various events. Events such as the famous chariot race determine the winner of Homecoming Week. In the past decade, the winner of Homecoming Week has most often been a residence hall team.
[edit] College Hill and Greek Row
About 15 percent of students are in the Greek system, so Greek Row figures prominently on the campus. Greek row is situated on College Hill just downhill from Bryan Hall and The Hill Halls (the historic single-gender dormitories), and among the homes of faculty, Greek live-outs, and apartment buildings. Greek Row and College Hill is a diverse community of students, faculty members, and families (including the President's House). A used bookstore, hair salon, and various bars and restaurants line Colorado Street, the main street on College Hill.
[edit] Recreation and the outdoors
Recreation and the outdoors are a large part of campus life. The 160,000 square-foot Student Recreation Center (SRC) was the largest student recreation center in the United States when it opened in 2001. The SRC contains a one-eighth mile elevated indoor track, four basketball courts, two volleyball courts, roller hockey rink, four racquetball courts, swimming pool, 50-person jacuzzi, free weights, weight machines, cardio equipment, exercise intruction rooms, massage therapist, outdoor sand volleyball courts, and a low to high ropes course. The campus also has several other basketball courts, dance rooms, a climbing wall, and the Outdoor Recreation Center where students can check out equipment or register for various events and trips. A seven mile paved trail links Pullman with Moscow, ID and a bike trail wraps around the entirety of the Pullman campus (about eight miles long). The intramural program is one of the largest in the country; the intramural champion shirt is the most prized shirt on campus. Club sports are also very popular on campus. The campus also boasts a 9-hole golf course, which was closed in 2006 in order to modify it as an NCAA-certified, 18-hole course.
Within fifteen miles, many students hike or bike Kamiak Butte, Steptoe Butte, and Moscow Mountain on the weekends, or cliff jump and boat on the Snake River. Others go a little further to white-river raft, downhill ski, and hike in the nearby foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
[edit] Weather
Summers are warm and sunny, with temperatures in the 80s F. It is often windy and rainy in the fall; sometimes cold and snowy in the winter (with temperatures around freezing or below); and alternately rainy and sunny during the spring.
[edit] Athletics
Washington State University is a member of the Pac-10 athletic conference. The school's mascot is "Butch T. Cougar" and the school's colors are crimson and gray. Varsity athletics include men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and track and field, as well as women's basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, soccer, swimming, softball, volleyball, tennis, and track and field. In the past WSU had varsity programs of boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics. In 1937, Roy Petragallo and Ed McKinnon won the NCAA boxing championship, WSU's first national championship.
University Recreation also supports 26 club sports, including bowling, men's crew, cricket, cycling, equestrian show team, men's and women's flag football, fencing, polo, men's and women's ice hockey, judo, men's lacrosse, logger sports, rodeo, men's rugby, sailing, ski team, men's soccer, women's fast-pitch softball, tae kwon do, triathlon, Ultimate, men's and women's volleyball, water polo and wrestling.
Washington State's biggest rival is the University of Washington Huskies. Arguably, the most important athletic contest for both schools is the Apple Cup: the annual game that pits the Cougars and Huskies against each other. The University of Washington leads the series 63-29-6. Strong rivalries also exist between WSU and the other Pac-10 teams of the Pacific Northwest: the University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State University Beavers. WSU's closest geographic rival is the University of Idaho, a land-grant school only eight miles away in Moscow, Idaho. The "Battle of the Palouse," which is the annual football game between the two universities held at Martin Stadium in Pullman.
[edit] Traditions and lore
[edit] Victory Bell
In the late 1800's the bell was mounted on the ground in the center of campus to start and dismiss class. Later, it was placed on top of Old College Hall when automatic bells were used, and then on Bryan Hall. The bell was first rung in victory after WSC beat the Washington Huskies by the women's basketball team in 1902. Later, the members of the Intercollegiate Knights rang the bell following a football win. It was subsequently moved to the present College Hall, and now rests on the west side of the Alumni Centre where it is rung by the Student Alumni Connection after each football win.
[edit] Wazzu
Wazzu is a nickname for Washington State University. The term is an attempt to pronounce the University's acronym, WSU, as a single word. In 2002, then new University President V. Lane Rawlins sought to reduce use of "Wazzu," a move which carried some weight as the University owns the trademark. Following a firestorm of protest from students and alumni, the effort faded, though as of 2004 the word "Wazzu" is noticeably absent from Cougar uniforms and printed WSU publications. The term was thought to have strong connotations with WSU's reputation as a "party school", a reputation that Dr. Rawlins has been working to change during his term as University President.
[edit] Palouse Walk
The Palouse Walk tradition started when the sports editor of the Argonaut, the U of I student newspaper, challenged the Evergreen's editor Lloyd Salt. The challenge was that the person would have to walk the eight miles to the winner's campus if their team lost. The Cougars won and McGowan walked the eight miles to WSU. The Idaho Walk lasted through until the 1974 football season. The Cougars only walked three times in that 36-year span.
[edit] Intercollegiate Knights
Intercollegiate Knights was a selective organization of men in the junior class that existed from the early 1920s to the 1960s. Two stuffed cougars served as mascots between 1919 and 1927. They were the target of several attempted cat-nappings so the "Cougar Guard" was formed to protect them. The group eventually became the Cougar Guard Chapter of Intercollegiate Knights.
[edit] Senior Bench
A gift from the Class of 1910, the Senior Bench is adjacent to yet another WSU tradition, "Hello Walk." Only WSU seniors were allowed to sit on the bench. Any other students observed occupying it were subject to discipline by the Student Vigilante Committee.
[edit] Green beanies
In 1922, freshman had to go through a rite of passage to be accepted by the rest of the campus. According to the May 20, 1922 Daily Evergreen, freshmen had to accomplish three tasks to "bask favorably in the public eye." They had to paint their class numerals on a 100-foot tall chimney known as the "totem pole," though the Sophomore Class would try to thwart their efforts. The second trial involved meeting the Sophomore Class for midnight combat. The losers were thrown into Silver Lake, a man-made lake located where the Field house stands today. And finally, an official, "lawfully regulated" contest of some sort between the same two classes was held. The freshmen were then obliged to wear their green caps the Monday following registration, rain or shine. On Campus Day, held in May, the freshmen rid themselves of the hats by way of incinerating them in "frosh-fire."
[edit] Cougar Gold
The WSU Creamery has also garnered a reputation for fine dairy products, most notably the Cougar Gold cheese sold at the creamery store, Ferdinand's, as well as online and at some local Pullman stores. The cheese is regionally famous and fetches the price of $18 for a 30 oz can. Marketed as "a white, sharp cheddar with a taste that resembles Swiss or Gouda" and "aged for at least one year," the Cougar Gold also comes in various flavors, including, American, Smokey Cheddar, Viking, Dill Garlic, Sweet Basil, Hot Pepper and Crimson Fire. [2]
[edit] Notable WSU people
See List of Washington State University people.
[edit] External links
Official WSU sites
- WSU Homepage
- WSU Board of Regents
- WSU Alumni Association
- WSU Foundation
- WSU Athletics
- WSU Presidential Search 2006-2007
Regional campuses
About WSU
- History of WSU
- WSU Heritage page, hosted by WSU Student Alumni Connection
- WSU Virtual Tour
- WSU Office of Institutional Research
- WSU information & statistics page
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