Washington State University
- "Wasington State" redirects here. For the state, see Washington.
| File:Wsulogo.gif | |
| Motto | World Class. Face to Face. |
|---|---|
| Type | Public |
| Established | March 28, 1890 |
| Endowment | $354 million |
| President | Elson S. Floyd |
| Undergraduates | 20,000 |
| Postgraduates | 3,225 |
| Location | , , |
| Campus | Rural 620 acres (2.5 km²) |
| Colors | Crimson and Gray |
| Nickname | Cougars |
| Website | http://www.wsu.edu |
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 200 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[citation needed]. It is ranked among the top half of national universities according to U.S. 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). Students may also pursue online degrees and certificates from WSU's Center for Distance and Professional Education. The student population is 23,500 statewide.
History
The school was founded in Pullman on December 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 Federal Government and 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.
Organization
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, Theodor "Ted" Baseler, Harold Cochran, Elizabeth Cowles, Francois Forgette, Laura Jennings, Connie Niva, Kyle Smith (student), V. Rafael Stone and Michael Worthy.
Administration
The President, currently Elson S. Floyd, serves as the chief executive officer. 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. Floyd, former president of University of Missouri System, succeeded V. Lane Rawlins on May 21, 2007.
WSU Foundation
The WSU Foundation is an independent, private corporation with its own Board of Governors and President that serves as a fundraising organization for the university. Currently the President is Len Jessup and the Board Co-Chairs are Larry A. Culver and Scott E. Carson.
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 Doug Tracey.
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.
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.
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)
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 the six major libraries on WSU's Pullman campus (the Architecture, Brain Education, Fischer Agricultural Sciences, Health Sciences, Holland/Terrell, and Owen Science & Engineering libraries), additionally there are 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.
Campus
The Pullman campus of Washington State University is 620 acres (2.5 km²) and is located in the Palouse region, seven miles from the Washington-Idaho border and Moscow, Idaho, home of the University of Idaho.
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.
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 went under a massive renovation to expand the seating capacity and offer greater amenities for players and spectators, as well as made 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 carillon 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.
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.
Residence halls
A number of the residence halls are co-ed, but there are single-gender living environments as well as a variety of other living options that include age-restricted housing, a mix of domestic and international students, and a global learning community. 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 exclusive Stevens Hall (approximately 70 residents), to the massive Stephenson Complex (approximately 900 residents total). 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 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.
College Hill and Greek Row
About 15 percent of students are in the Greek community, 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.
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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 instruction rooms, massage therapists, personal trainers, outdoor sand volleyball courts, and a low to high ropes course. For more information about University Recreation visit the website: [1] 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 one of the most prized shirts 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 farther to white-river raft, downhill ski, and hike in the nearby foothills of the Cascade Mountains.
Weather
Summers are warm and sunny, with temperatures in the 80s F, sometimes reaching above 100 F with a relatively dry humidity. It is often windy and rainy in the fall and spring.
During December and January, highs hover around the freezing mark, with lows usually somewhere around the mid 20s F. Snowfall varies from year to year, however, during a normal winter it will snow about 38.6 inches.
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, volleyball, tennis, and track and field. In the past WSU had varsity programs of boxing, wrestling, gymnastics, and men's swimming. In 1917, WSU won its first National Championship in Men's Basketball. In 1937, Roy Petragallo and Ed McKinnon won the NCAA boxing championship, another national championship. The Cougars third and most recent National Championship was earned in 1977 Indoor Track and Field.
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 union, sailing, ski team, men's soccer, women's fast-pitch softball, taekwondo, triathlon, Ultimate, men's and women's volleyball, water polo and wrestling.
Washington State's biggest rival is the University of Washington Huskies. The Cougars have won 5 straight men's basketball contests over UW, including sweeping the huskies in 3 contests last during the 2006-07 season. Strong (if less fierce) 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 fellow land-grant school only eight miles east of Pullman across the state line in Moscow, Idaho. Their annual game played in Pullman's Martin Stadium is nicknamed the "Battle of the Palouse".
Cougar Athletes have undeserved support from the athletic administration. The Cougars have a state of the art computer lab facility, as well as various study session rooms to utilize in maintaining high marks in their studies.
Acting as a liaison between the athletes and the athletic administration, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee is an active part of Cougar athletics. The Committee, composed of two athletes from every sports team and a few athletic administrators, discusses issues relevant to WSU athletes and legislative changes in the NCAA.
During the 2006-2007 season, the once-moribund Cougar men's basketball team has achieved unprecedented success, including its first Top 10 ranking under first-year head coach Tony Bennett, reaching as high as #9 in the AP poll 2-19-07.
On March 1st, 2007, Washington State was awarded a banner for its 1917 NCAA National Basketball Championship prior to its home game against UCLA. The championship was recently approved by the NCAA. The Cougars are also fighting for the 1915 National Football Championship. In 1941, Coach Jack Friel led the Cougars to the championship game, losing to Wisconsin 39-34. This is the last time the Cougars have advanced to the championship game.
On March 30th, after leading his team to a 26-8 record, 2nd place in the Pac-10 and to their first tournament appearance in over a decade, Head Coach Tony Bennett was awarded the prestigious AP Coach of the Year award, receiving 40 of a possible 72 votes. Bennett also was awarded the Naismith Award by the Atlanta Tip of Club. This was Bennett's sixth major coach of the year award for the 2006-2007 season (the Associated Press, The Sporting News, United States Basketball Writers Association, Basketball Times, and CBS/Chevrolet, and the Naismith Award). This is the most major awards won by a Pacific-10 Conference coach in a single season, surpassing UCLA legend John Wooden's five in 1972. Bennett has agreed to renew his contract with WSU for an additional seven years (extending his contract until 2014). The new contract will include a significant pay raise, buyout and highly incentive-laden contract. The specific details of the contract are still being worked out.
On April 20th, 2007, Washington State hired the recently fired University of Washington women's basketball coach June Daugherty as the new head coach of the women's basketball team. This is just the second time a head coach has switched schools in the history of their rivalry. Daugherty was fired by the University of Washington less than a month earlier despite leading the Huskies to six NCAA Women's Tournaments, including her last season at the school.
Traditions and lore
Victory Bell
In the late 1800s 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 WSU 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. The bell only rings in the keys 'G' and 'C', unofficially for "Go Cougs!"
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 (though in order to keep it trademarked, "Wazzu" is sporadically used on miscellaneous items). Since that time, "Wazzu" is noticeably absent from Cougar uniforms and printed WSU publications. The term was thought to have strong connotations with WSU's accepted reputation as a "party school", a reputation that Dr. Rawlins worked to eliminate during his tenure as University President.
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 the 1974 football season. The Cougars only walked three times in that 36-year span.
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.
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.
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 The 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."
Cougar Gold
The WSU Creamery has also garnered a reputation for fine dairy products, most notably the Cougar Gold 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. Cougar Gold is Marketed as "a white, sharp cheddar with a taste that resembles Swiss or Gouda" and is "aged for at least one year." Cougar Cheese also comes in various flavors, including, American Cheddar, Smoky Cheddar, Viking, Dill Garlic, Sweet Basil, Hot Pepper and Crimson Fire. Washington State University Creamery
Bryan Clock Tower
Bryan Clock Tower, named after Enoch A. Bryan, president of WSU from 1893-1915, is a beloved landmark on the WSU campus. During the day the face of the clock is white, while at night three of the fours faces are illuminated crimson. Also, since it can be seen almost anywhere in town at night, Bryan's Clock Tower is sometimes called "The North Star" since newer students can steer themselves to their dorms by following it to a familiar part of campus.
Cougar Calves
Because of the rolling hills that surround Pullman and the Washington State University campus, it is said that students develop "Cougar Calves" from the large amount of walking up and down the hills. It is said that one can tell the year of the student by the size of their calves.
Busch Beer, more spacifically Busch Light (30 packs typically run around $12), is known to WSU students as Coug Water or Coug Juice.
Pullman Water
It is a joke around campus that Busch beer is the "Pullman Water" because students live off of Busch beer throughout the school year, replacing water on campus.
Notable WSU people
See List of Washington State University people.
External links
Official WSU sites
- WSU Homepage
- WSU Board of Regents
- WSU Alumni Association
- WSU Foundation
- WSU Athletics
- WSU Presidential Search 2006-2007
- Student Athlete Advisory Committee
- Academic Resource Center
Regional campuses
About WSU
- History of WSU
- WSU Heritage page, hosted by WSU Student Alumni Connection
- WSU Virtual Tour
- WSU Office of Institutional Research
Other WSU sites