The Western Oregon University (WOU) Board of Trustees Executive, Governance and Trusteeship Committee (EGTC) on Thursday met to consider language for a new presidential search policy. As part of the discussion, the group affirmed its intention, pending full board approval, to search for an interim president to replace retiring President Rex Fuller. The committee [more…]
The WOU Community Health + Polk County COVID-19 Project members were busy in December. They participated in several outreach activities to promote COVID-19 prevention and health and wellbeing for families in Polk County. They supported COVID-19 testing events at the Polk County Fair Grounds and packed 800 family COVID-19 thrive kits that were delivered [more…]
Welcome to new Wolves joining us for fall term, and congratulations to all the Wolves entering your last term before graduating. Join us in celebrating the first day of winter term by sharing one of our “1st day of school” signs. We have a variety of printable signs for selfies or square social media graphics [more…]
Are you looking for a way to add a bit more WOU spirit to your social media and texting? We have a brand new set of Wolfie emoji for you! You can download the emoji as images or GIFs to add to your texts and more. They’re also available for use on Instagram stories. Just [more…]
Story by Blake Timm, Great Northwest Athletic Conference MONMOUTH, Ore. – On that morning in early June, Curtis Anderson couldn’t contain his emotions. Anderson called his mother and just started yelling. Normally an even-tempered person, the emotions that morning were raw and racing. Like water through a breached dam, he couldn’t hold back. “I was so angry [more…]
Here is a round-up of some of the questions and answers from our November 19 live Q&A. We hold the weekly live Q&A every Thursday from 10-11 a.m. on WOU’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. Will WOU be offering COVID tests for students going home for break? For students who live on campus, Housing is [more…]
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved the adjusted fiscal year 2021 budget, which required an update based on actual enrollment numbers for fall 2020. The previous FY21 budget, initially adopted at the board’s June meeting, had been based on a projected enrollment decrease of 2.5%. However, because of the COVID-19 [more…]
Originally posted on WOUwolves.com. The Great Northwest Athletic Conference announced Friday that it plans to move forward with modified conference-only men’s and women’s basketball schedules beginning in January. Four teams – Alaska Fairbanks, Northwest Nazarene, Saint Martin’s and Seattle Pacific – have indicated that they will participate in the 2021 season. Six institutions have decided [more…]
As a child of Afghanistan immigrants and the only Deaf person in her family, Durkhanai Haque knew she wanted to work with diverse Deaf or hard of hearing international communities. It was her father’s work as a respected radiologist in their small Georgia town, and the community’s acceptance of him, that inspired her to seek [more…]
Western Oregon University’s (WOU) Research and Resource Center with Deaf* communities (RRCD) has received a $1 million grant from the federal Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA). This grant supports WOU’s Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (RMHC) program, which trains people to facilitate employment, independent living, community integration and more for individuals who are Deaf or have [more…]
Applying to Western Oregon University is now easier than ever with new admissions policy changes. There is no application fee for freshman and transfer students until Sept. 1, 2021. Also, high school seniors and transfer students can self-report their cumulative grade point average when completing their admissions application. “Western Oregon University recognizes that students [more…]
Western Oregon University (WOU) has announced several admissions policy changes, effective immediately. There is no application fee for freshman and transfer students until Sept. 1, 2021. Also, high school seniors and transfer students can self-report their cumulative grade point average when completing their admissions application. “Western Oregon University recognizes that students are facing challenges [more…]
The Criminal Justices Sciences Division is sponsoring Juvenile Justice Week, beginning October 19, with three events happening online. Lived Experiences in the Juvenile Justice System panel discussion Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020 from 6-8pm Register to reserve your space. The panelists: Catherine Jones is an advocate with the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. She [more…]
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees welcomes new members Susan Castillo, Leah Mitchell, Dr. David Foster (faculty) and Danielle Campbell (student), as well as a second term for Malissa Larson (staff). “The board is excited to work with our new members and looks forward to having their voices join our important conversations as [more…]
With advising for winter term beginning and looking at the community health statistics related to COVID-19, WOU will continue with mostly remote and online course delivery for winter term. This decision comes after multiple conversations at the WOU Reopening Taskforce and utilizing a dashboard of epidemiological trends that we have been tracking since summer. We [more…]
Western Oregon University (WOU) has announced that winter term classes at both the Monmouth campus and WOU:Salem will continue as mostly online, in an effort to “Embrace the Now.” As with fall term, only a small number of arts and science lab-based courses will be offered in person, while following social distancing protocols. “As [more…]
Western Oregon University (WOU) President Rex Fuller has announced his retirement, effective at the end of his current four-year contract on Sept. 30, 2021. A national search will be conducted for WOU’s next president, and details about that process will be announced once they are finalized. “It has been an honor and a privilege [more…]
This is a summary of our Oct. 1, 2020 live Q&A session. We host these live Q&A’s for current students, incoming students and family members on WOU’s Instagram and Facebook accounts every Thursday at 10 a.m. The next session is Thursday, Oct. 8. How soon will a decision be made on winter term being online? Will it affect [more…]
Join us in celebrating the first day of fall term by sharing one of our “1st day of school” signs. We have a variety of printable signs for selfies or square social media graphics for you to share. Whether it’s your last first day, first day of your sophomore/junior/senior/grad year, or first day at WOU [more…]
This is a summary of our Sept. 10, 2020 live Q&A session. We host these live Q&A’s for current students, incoming students and family members on WOU’s Instagram and Facebook accounts every other Thursday at 10 a.m. The next session is Thursday, Sept. 24. When will tuition and fees be in Wolfweb? The tuition and fee [more…]
Hello, My name is N.J. Johnson, and I have been working as your student body president since I was inaugurated in June. I wanted to reach out in case you were still on the fence about registering for classes in fall 2020. Last spring, our entire campus had to unexpectedly shift the way we do [more…]
This is a summary of our Aug. 27, 2020 live Q&A session and the Sept. 1 town hall. We host these live Q&A’s for current students, incoming students and family members on WOU’s Instagram and Facebook accounts every other Thursday at 10 a.m. The next session is Thursday, Sept. 10. What facilities and student services will [more…]
Western Oregon University President Rex Fuller announced today that in an effort to “Embrace the Now” about 95% of fall courses will be delivered online at both the Monmouth campus and WOU:Salem. Previously, the university had planned a mix of in-person, hybrid and online offerings. “We’ve seen in the news that universities that have opened [more…]
Dear Wolves, Throughout our communications about what WOU will look like this fall, we’ve promised to update you with changes. After holding out hope that the status around COVID-19 would improve to a level that would allow us to safely hold many in-person courses, we’ve decided to “embrace the now,” and move forward according to [more…]
Please join us and #MaskUp to help keep our community safe during the pandemic. This public service announcement is courtesy of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees approved the university’s Fall 2020 Safe Operation and Instruction Plan, a requirement from the governor’s office as part of Executive Order 20-28. The approved plan will now be submitted to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission. The university’s strategy is built on the guidance the Oregon Health Authority provided [more…]
This is a summary of our July 30, 2020 live Q&A session. We host these live Q&A’s for current students, incoming students and family members on WOU’s Instagram and Facebook accounts every other Thursday at 10 a.m. The next session is Thursday, Aug. 13. Will there be classes this fall? Absolutely! Our class schedule shows the delivery method [more…]
Western Oregon University (WOU) is one of 10 institutions selected to participate in the American Council on Education’s (ACE) inaugural Learner Success Laboratory (LSL). LSL is part of a suite of Transformation Labs offered by ACE to guide colleges and universities through a structured strategic planning process to advance critical institutional priorities. Participants will work [more…]
The American Council on Education (ACE) has selected Western Oregon University as one of 10 higher education institutions to participate in the inaugural Learner Success Laboratory (LSL), which is a program that will support WOU in its strategic planning. LSL is part of a suite of Transformation Labs offered by ACE to guide colleges and [more…]
This is a summary of our July 16, 2020 live Q&A session. We host these live Q&A’s for current students, incoming students and family members on WOU’s Instagram and Facebook accounts every other Thursday at 10 a.m. The next session is Thursday, July 30. When will the next announcement be regarding whether or not WOU is continuing [more…]
By the Polk County Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Western Oregon University’s women’s soccer team will import an assistant coach from the University of Oregon for the new season this fall. Maryn Beutler, most recently a University of Oregon graduate assistant coach, will join the Wolves. Head coach Kacey Bingham said she’s eager to have Beutler to [more…]
By Bren Swogger at Vortex Oregon native Hailey Verhaalen has seen a lot change in the past year. A singer-songwriter from Oregon City and graduate of Western Oregon University, Verhaalen made her way to Nashville in 2016 to pursue her dreams in country music. Since then, she’s spent the years avidly pursuing her passions, writing three songs [more…]
By the Keweenaw Report Isle Royale National Park has a new superintendent. This from a press release from Bert Frost, Regional Director of the National Park Service. Denice Swanke, will take over, effective August 16th. Frost said this about Swanke. “Her honesty and integrity will help continue and develop strong relationships that will position her [more…]
By MyCentralOregon.com The City of Bend has selected Portland Police Bureau Assistant Chief Michael Krantz as Bend’s next Police Chief. Krantz will serve the 115-year-old Bend Police Department in the position previously held by Chief Jim Porter, who retires today. He will begin his service in Bend on August 10, 2020. “Mike has a reputation for being [more…]
By Kristen Wohlers at the Molalla Pioneer Molalla resident and driver-education teacher Timothy Beckham was selected by his peers as a national winner of the Teacher of Excellence award. Beckham, vice president of the Oregon Driver Education Center and a driving instructor at Western Oregon University, is one of five driver-education teachers from throughout the [more…]
WOU has been hosting weekly live Q&A sessions for current and incoming students on our Instagram and Facebook accounts every Thursday at 10 a.m. since March. For summer, we’ve shifting to every other week and will be posting summaries of common questions during our off weeks. These questions are from the Q&A session on July 2, 2020. Are students [more…]
By the Newport News Times The creative work of Rick Bartow (1946-2016) — one of Oregon’s most well-known artists — is now included in the Oregon Coast Online Art Show, presented by the Oregon Coast Council for the Arts and the Newport Visual Arts Center. Bartow’s limited-edition lithograph, “Segyp, Kos Ket Saw Temp,” can be [more…]
WOU has been hosting weekly live Q&A sessions for current and incoming students on our Instagram and Facebook accounts every Thursday at 10 a.m. since March. For summer, we’re shifting to every other week and will be posting summaries of common questions during our off weeks. Will classes be online in fall? The majority [more…]
By Jennifer Biberston at the Polk County Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Derek Holdsworth looks at the postponement of the Olympic track and field trials as another chance to get better. Originally the trials, which Holdsworth hopes to qualify for in the 800-meters, were set for late June of this year, but have been delayed until June [more…]
By Pierre LaBossiere at the Peninsula Daily News PORTLAND, Ore. — Kade Mechals, who pitched for the Port Angeles Lefties in 2018, was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the fourth round of the Major League Baseball draft. Mechals, a McMinnville, Ore., high school graduate, has pitched for Skagit Valley College and Western Oregon University [more…]
By Marcus Greaves at KOIN PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Isaiah Edwards is a basketball player through and through and has every intangible you would want a player to have. He has handles, a smooth jump shot and a drive to get better. But he’s chosen not to play anymore and focus on a different and [more…]
A statement from WOU President Rex Fuller: Dear campus community, George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police was an abhorrent act of racism. I have been struggling, like many of you, with these senseless acts of violence against Black people in our country. George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many countless others [more…]
By Jennifer Biberston at the Polk County Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — To Josh McIntyre, baseball is an indicator of life. “Baseball, it’s not always a fair game,” he said. “You could have one plan in place going into the game, but you might have to adapt to what the other team is doing or how the [more…]
By the Idaho Business Review Sally Guyer, MSW, is the newest member of A New Beginning Adoption Agency’s team as clinical social work director. She has a master’s degree in social work from Portland State University and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Western Oregon University. Guyer has spent her professional life dedicated to helping [more…]
By Aaron Kunkler at the Issaquah Reporter Hunters in some areas of Washington state will be able to hunt more cougars after Washington Fish and Wildlife commissioners voted last month to increase limits in 19 areas. The new guidelines will allow more cougars to be hunted in several areas of the state. The goal of the changes was [more…]
With Polk County’s approval to begin phase one reopening on May 22, Western Oregon University (WOU) will not immediately see a change to day-to-day practices that are currently in place. Phase one does not allow in-person classes, the gathering of large groups, or the reopening of campus to the public. Students will continue remote learning [more…]
The American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities announced in early April that it was honoring the late College of Education Professor Hank Bersani in its National Historic Recognition Project 2000-2020. Bersani, a professor of special education who passed in 2012, was named a National Honoree in the project, which seeks to recognize the key [more…]
Western Oregon University Assistant Professor and Advisor Brooke Dolenc Nott’s compassionate and thoughtful approach to empower students has earned her international recognition. Nott is the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding New Advisor in the Faculty Advising category from the NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, an organization with more than 14,000 international members promoting and supporting [more…]
To close out National Poetry Month with a celebration, winners of the 4th annual Peter Sears Poetry Prize were announced today. Congratulations to the these student winners: First Prize: To Bear Arms by Cylinda Neidenbach Second Prize: a spell for revenge by Cheyan Swan Third Prize: Flower Crowns by Katherine Sutton The poems (included below) will be [more…]
By Anthony Rimel Kaitlin Lucas graduated from WOU’s Information Technology M.S.Ed. program in December 2019. And just a few months later she would be on the frontlines of one of the biggest moments in the history of educational technology: the unprecedented shift to online learning following the global outbreak of COVID-19. Lucas, who also earned a certificate [more…]
MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees approved a tuition increase of 4.55%, or $8 per credit, for Oregon resident undergraduate students in the 2020-21 academic year at its meeting Wednesday. The 10 WOU students, two administrators and two faculty members who make up the Tuition and Fee Advisory Committee (TFAC) recommended [more…]
With our tours temporarily suspended, we’ve filmed the daily tour (both in English and Spanish) so you can participate from the social distance of your home. We’d love to hear about your favorite part of campus and your favorite WOU fact – comment below or let us know on social media (we’re @WOUnews) on Instagram, [more…]
Dear campus community, After many conversations and deep reflection, we have decided to extend remote course delivery through the entire spring term to combat the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). We feel this is the best solution for our campus because it allows us to keep resources–including residence halls–available as well continue to provide opportunities for a high-quality [more…]
Dear campus community, In the past 24 hours, there has been a significant development that affects our planning. Late last night, Gov. Brown announced a statewide closure of Oregon K-12 schools from March 16 through March 31. This decision affects many students, faculty and staff who have children attending Oregon schools. We continue to take a [more…]
Dear campus community, As promised, I am writing with additional information about our response to COVID-19, particularly in light of Governor Brown’s executive directives released late last night and this morning. First, and most importantly, consistent with the Governor’s executive action informed by guidance from Oregon Health Authority experts, we are not closing campus at this time. You [more…]
You did it! You made history! As we close the book on Giving Day 2020, we are grateful for your incredible generosity. Together, more than $140,000 was raised March 3 to support the students and programs at WOU! Thank you for helping GROW WOU! We are eager to see what your kindness will do for [more…]
Dear campus community, I understand that many of you are feeling concerned about coronavirus (COVID-19) and the possible impact on our campus. A core group of emergency planners have been meeting on this issue since late January and continue to do so regularly, including a meeting with my cabinet and members of the Emergency Planning [more…]
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees discussed on Wednesday updates concerning a budget shortfall for the 2019-20 fiscal year and strategies for the 2020-21 university budget that address several universal higher education hurdles. President Rex Fuller reiterated his intention that the university remain affordable to Oregonians seeking a four-year degree. “WOU is not immune [more…]
Congratulations to WOU alum Gustavo Balderas ’90 was just named the 2020 National Superintendent of the Year! This significant recognition speaks to his dedication to Oregon’s youth. Balderas is the son of a migrant family from Mexico who settled in Oregon. Balderas works for the Eugene School District and he’s the second WOU alum to [more…]
Western Oregon University (WOU) has created a dedicated team to support Concordia students with WOU employees from areas including Graduate Programs, Admissions, Academic Advising, Financial Aid, Housing and more. WOU is striving to be the most affordable transfer opportunity for Concordia students and offers personalized support to help students find pathways to graduation. Any current [more…]
We’re thrilled to have collaborated with DPSST and Seek the World on this video highlighting how police are trained to communicate, interact, and partner with the deaf and hard of hearing communities. See any familiar faces? WOU ASL faculty and alumni! You can also view and share the video on our Facebook page!
Former Congress members Nick Lampson (Democrat; Texas 9th district) and Rod Chandler (Republican; Washington 45th district) will visit Western Oregon University (WOU) for a series of events Feb. 10-12 focused on sharing how the U.S. Congress functions, promoting bipartisanship and discussing the value of careers in public service. A Congress to Campus Public Forum will [more…]
Published by The Daily Record Master teacher Darryl Thomas will teach West African dance and drumming at Central Washington University during a two-day workshop on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, according to a news release. The free workshops will be held in Nicholson Pavilion Dance Studio 106 and are open to the public. According to [more…]
Published by Nick Krupke, Fox 12 GRESHAM, OR (KPTV) – He is a true living legend in the Oregon coaching circle and a pillar in the Gresham community at Barlow High School. His assistant coaches have joked about him being the winningest coach in the state to never win a state title. While that is [more…]
By John Gunther, The World BANDON — Shannon Smith’s parents weren’t surprised she became successful at running even though she came to the sport relatively late — she didn’t start until the track season of her sophomore year. “Shannon has always been the person if she’s going to do something, she’s going to do it [more…]
By Carol Rosen, Canby Herald Most of us love to travel, visiting states in our homeland and occasionally taking a look at the countries that make up the world. But few of us ever get a chance to work abroad, meet and live with the people in their culture and see what they think of [more…]
By Ray Pitz, Portland Tribune When Anthony and Jamie Taylor-Weber were looking for a work space to run Anthony’s home inspection business, they initially thought that a small space on a kitchen table in the family’s Tualatin home would work just fine. It didn’t. “Even if we had a room in (our) home, it’s still [more…]
By Nicholas A. Johnson, The World Last week the Coos Bay Police Department held a swearing in ceremony where Coos Bay Police Chief Gary McCullough welcomed the department’s new officer Chris Rule. Rule comes to the Coos Bay Police Department with about 10 years of experience working law enforcement, having spent eight of those years [more…]
Western Oregon University’s (WOU) Regional Resource Center on Deafness (RRCD) is the first to offer a nationwide American Sign Language assessment service (RSLA) in the western United States. The service uses Sign Language Proficiency Interview (SLPI) conducted in American Sign Language (ASL) model to assess the individuals’ ASL skills. The service has widespread value to [more…]
Winter break is a great time to tour colleges you may be considering for next fall. Though the leaves may be sparse and rain may be in the forecast, the gap in classes gives extra time to explore and narrow down your list of dream schools. Whether you’re near Monmouth, or states (or even an [more…]
Western Oregon University welcomes Jerry Ambris of Habitat for Humanity of Mid-Willamette Valley and Linda Herrera of Atala Consulting, LLC to its Board of Trustees. The Oregon Senate confirmed Ambris and Herrera on Nov. 20. Ambris has worked a decade for Habitat for Humanity, most recently as the executive director for the Mid-Willamette Valley affiliate. [more…]
During its quarterly meeting Wednesday, the Western Oregon University Board of Trustees approved a new Bachelor of Science in Aquarium Science that encompasses a partnership with Oregon Coast Community College. In the new academic program, WOU students will study three years in Monmouth followed by a final year at OCCC where they will take their [more…]
In honor of Veterans Day and the activities hosted by our Veterans Resource Center throughout this week, we wanted to introduce you to five veterans who are part of our WOU community. Thank you to these students and staff for talking with us, and to all veterans for your service. Brian Ulbricht Brian Ulbricht, a [more…]
Western Oregon University’s (WOU) Regional Resource Center on Deafness (RRCD) has received a $1 million grant from the federal Rehabilitation Service Administration to support its Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling (RMHC) Program. The grant begins immediately and runs through Sept. 30, 2024. RRCD will receive $200,000 annually for the grant, which supports RMHC students with [more…]
Lisa Catto
Posted on September 13, 2019 1280 views
Western Oregon University (WOU) finalized today the purchase of the historical Vick building in downtown Salem at 525 Trade St. WOU’s Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to approve the purchase. The Vick building will be WOU’s Salem home for several programs, including the brand new Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership. “We’re thrilled to be [more…]
Are you about to start your first term at Western Oregon University? We want to help prepare you for move-in day, New Student Week, and the rest of your time at WOU with a 30-day countdown to move-in day. We’re talking all about living on campus, getting involved, places to eat on campus, and much [more…]
Looking for something fun to do over summer weekends? You’re in luck! The Valley Shakespeare Company (VSC) is performing their rendition of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet during the last weekend of July and the first weekend of August. The VSC’s goal is to “[encourage] students, families and community members, young and old, to join in the [more…]
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees on Wednesday approved a deficit budget for 2019-2020, which reflects a previously approved 2.33% increase in resident undergraduate tuition. The budget passed even as the Oregon Legislature has yet to release its Public University Support Fund. WOU was one of the first state universities to finalize its new [more…]
Western Oregon University was deeply saddened to learn of Oregon Sen. Jackie Winters’ death Wednesday after a courageous battle with cancer. Winters, a longtime WOU supporter, was known for her work to further higher education in Oregon. Not only did Sen. Winters represent District 10, the region where WOU is located, but she also gave [more…]
Western Oregon University and Linn-Benton Community College on May 10 will finalize a partnership that makes it easier for LBCC students to transfer to WOU, a four-year university, and earn a bachelor’s degree in the expected timeline. The Degree Partnership Program (DPP) between the two institutions marks a collaboration that ensures students who begin at [more…]
The English Studies Department announced the winners of the 2019 Peter Sears Poetry Prize. The first prize went to Nicole Caldwell, second prize to Tricia Manzano and third prize to Laura Wildfang. The three winning poems are below. The competition received over 60 poems from students. An English Studies committee selected 10 poems that were [more…]
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees approved an increase of 2.33%, or $4 per credit, for Oregon resident undergraduate students in the 2019-20 academic year at its quarterly meeting Wednesday. WOU is one of the first state public universities to finalize its new tuition rate in advance of the Oregon Legislature’s budget decision for [more…]
The Western Oregon University Dance program has graduated hundreds of students into careers such as studio owner, dance instructor, professional dancer and choreographer. Starting with the 2019-20 academic year, however, students in the program will have two new emphases to consider, each with its own important path to a job in dance. “We always had [more…]
Western Oregon University welcomes Doug Morse of Columbia Sportswear to its Board of Trustees. Morse was confirmed by the Oregon Senate in late March. Currently serving as a senior vice president at Portland-based Columbia Sportswear, Morse brings nearly 25 years of business experience from the company to his position on the WOU board. He will [more…]
Western Oregon University (WOU) is hosting a weekend of men’s rugby on campus for the National Small College Rugby Organization’s (NSCRO) 2019 Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Region Championship on Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31. The four teams competing at the championship are WOU, Central Oregon Community College, Humboldt State University, and Azusa Pacific [more…]
We’re thrilled that Dr. Rob Winningham is now serving as Western Oregon University’s provost. Winningham joined WOU in 2000 as an assistant professor of psychology. Over the years, this homegrown leader moved up the ranks to full professor, chair of the Behavioral Sciences Division, then interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, [more…]
Save the date for Western Oregon University’s annual Giving Day on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. Learn more at wou.edu/givingday. Check out our toolkit on that site for resources you can use to help spread the word.
Welcome to SOAR: Summer Orientation Advising & Registration at Western Oregon University. This event helps get you ready for fall term. Are you ready to become a Wolf? Visit our Admissions page and apply today.
A preview for the 2019 Jensen Lecture featuring Pulitzer prize-winning playwright Ayad Akhtar on Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m. in Rice Auditorium at WOU. Visit wou.edu/jensenlecture to learn more.
Dr. Rob Winningham began his position March 1 as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Western Oregon University. Winningham previously served in that post on an interim basis since July 1, 2018. Winningham started at Western Oregon University in 2000 as an assistant professor of psychology. In the ensuing years, he earned tenure [more…]
March 1 is major deadline for many scholarship applications (including at WOU), so this week can be a stressful time for lots of incoming freshmen–and returning students as well. Although there are plenty of scholarships geared to specific majors, backgrounds and schools, every college student should be able to ferret out a few that pertain [more…]
Right now, scholarship applicants everywhere are tempted to tax their brains and wring out the perfect essay, which they will then show to 10 people who will transform the words into poetic prose that not only won’t resemble the original, but probably won’t resemble the writer. Don’t do it. Yes, it helps to have proofreaders, [more…]
Most high school graduates believe they have a pretty good grasp on who they are, what’s important to them and what beliefs they hold dear. But ask any college graduate, and he or she will tell you how much they changed while in school. In this case, change is a good thing! Here are some [more…]
The struggle is real: Most students heading into the world of higher education are seriously worried about building up a bunch of debt while earning their degrees. It’s a well-founded fear for many people, as tuitions continue to rise across the nation. Fortunately, there are more resources than ever for students who are looking for [more…]
Students graduating high school have many choices for seeking a college degree. They can go to a traditional four-year university to earn a bachelor’s degree; start at a community college and then transfer to a four-year university; get a two-year associate’s degree; seek vocational training or take courses entirely online. Only students and their families [more…]
Football scouting is what Zach Ayers calls his “perfect fit” of a career. The South Albany High School graduate loves to travel, talking with and meeting new people and watching football. Ayers played soccer first as a youngster growing up in Albany, but he moved on to football in middle school when that was offered. [more…]
The National Small College Rugby Organization (NSCRO) announced that Western Oregon University, located in Monmouth, OR, has been selected as the host of NSCRO’s 2019 Challenge Cup Pacific Coast Region Championship. The men’s 15s competition is scheduled for Saturday, March 30 and Sunday, March 31, and will feature four teams including Western Oregon and Central [more…]
PALMER— Al Strawn stepped down from his position as CEO of the Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union in October. He is still figuring out what his retirement is going to look like in the coming years but he does know one thing — he enjoys having more time on his hands. “I’m discovering that I [more…]
The weeks from mid-December to New Years Day are a terrific time to knock out some of the tasks related to preparing for your college years. We’ve compiled this handy list of steps you can get done between sipping cocoa and watching movies, no matter where you are in the college-prep process. Just getting started [more…]
PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Tyler Jones, a senior at Western Oregon University, is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2018 NCAA Division II Men’s Cross Country Championship. Jones, majoring in mathematics, currently carries a 4.00 GPA. Jones was presented with the award during the championship festivities on Saturday. Jones qualified for the NCAA DII National [more…]
Western Oregon University will begin offering classes in Salem beginning January 2019 at the Willamette Education Service District building on Pringle Road. The number of WOU offerings in Salem will increase gradually, with a much larger range of classes available starting fall term 2019. WOU:Salem courses are designed to help working adults get the higher [more…]
By Audrey Caro, Polk County Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — The Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein is meeting for their annual quiche breakfast at Western Oregon University — for the next couple of weeks. Set in 1956, “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche” captures a moment in time between five women, who refer [more…]
New Director of Student Success and Advising Niki Weight describes herself as a small-town girl, growing up, as she did, in tiny Driggs, Idaho. It’s one of the things that drew her to Monmouth and her new position at Western Oregon University. The move was a return to her town-size comfort zone after years living [more…]
Western Oregon University celebrated scores of donors Sept. 21 at its annual President’s Club Dinner on the university campus. More than 125 people attended the event, which highlights donors who generously supported WOU with significant financial gifts in 2017-2018. Dr. Richard Woodcock, who made the largest single gift of $1 million, attended the dinner, which [more…]
Lisa Catto
Posted on September 17, 2018 2233 views
Many Western Oregon University graduates have jobs lined up before they even leave campus. Others plan to go on to grad school or otherwise further their educations. A small group, however, chooses a different route; they enroll in the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps was created in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, and the [more…]
By Audrey Caro Polk County Itemizer-Observer MONMOUTH — Sandy Newland is retiring from Western Oregon University at the end of August, again. The first time was about four years ago. “I was manager of donor relations when I retired,” Newland said. “They asked me whether I would just consider doing part time in the Smith [more…]
Jim Baumgartner ‘81, an attorney and Western Oregon University alum, just finished up a four-year stint as chairman of the Board of Trustees. His time on the board is not over, though, as he was also appointed to another four-year term as an at-large trustee. Baumgartner is proud of what the board has accomplished in [more…]
Associate Director of Student Engagement Megan Habermann was honored to win the 2018 Frank Harris Outstanding Student Government Advisor Award earlier this year from the National Association Campus Activities, and the kind words shared by her nominators went straight to her heart, she said. Former ASWOU Presidents Cynthia Olivares and Jessica Freeman wrote warm recommendations [more…]
Prestige Monticello Park senior care center in Longview is rolling out a new program for the public this month aimed at one of older adults’ biggest fears: falling. Studies indicate between 30 percent and 50 percent of elderly people fear falling, and it’s easy to understand why. The average hospital cost for a fall-related injury [more…]
Update 12/17/18: With heavy hearts, we report that Bob Hautala passed away from an accident a few days ago. We encourage you to comment on this post with your memories of beloved Dr. H. A memorial fund has also been set up in his honor with the WOU Foundation. If you’d like to give to [more…]
Kevin Hughes could regularly be spotted out and about on campus as he took care of our beautiful grounds (or dressed in a suit using our school colors on Commencement day). He always offered a hello and warm smile to those he passed and has been a fixture on campus for decades. Hughes is among [more…]
Western Oregon University’s Board of Trustees will welcome several new members in coming weeks as terms expired and the governor made new appointments. In July, the governance panel will welcome Trustee Zellee Allen, the co-CEO and founder of Partnerships in Community Living in Monmouth. Allen earned his bachelor’s degree at WOU in 1993 and won [more…]
The Mario and Alma Pastega Sta Excellence Award honors a classified or administrative staff member who demonstrates exceptional service to the university. Once nominees are received, a screening committee submits a list of finalists to the president, who then chooses the recipient. Creative Arts Facilities and Program Coordinator Jeanie Stuntzner insists that she uses her [more…]
The Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Excellence in Scholarship honors a full-time faculty member who demonstrates outstanding creative or scholarly accomplishments. Once nominees are received, the Honors Committee votes by secret ballot on whether there will be a recipient that year, and if so, who the recipient will be. The bookshelves, tables and chairs [more…]
The Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Excellence in Teaching honors a full-time faculty member who demonstrates excellence in teaching and relationships with students, both in and out of the classroom. Once nominees are received, a screening committee submits a list of finalists to the president, who then chooses the recipient. When sociology Professor Peter [more…]
From the OHSU School of Nursing, Monmouth Campus, the Golden Lamp Award is based on the American Nurses Association Code for Professional Nurses and the Florence Nightingale Pledge. It is given in recognition of exemplary demonstration of scholarship, leadership, professional commitment, innovative contributions and humanitarian ideals. OHSU School of Nursing’s Golden Lamp Award winner Janine [more…]
The Outstanding Graduate Student Award honors a student who has demonstrated superior achievements in scholarship and academics, character, leadership and initiative during graduate studies. Last year at this time, Alissa McAlpine was in this same place: at Western Oregon University’s Commencement on a June afternoon. Then, she was gathering her undergraduate degree, a Bachelor of [more…]
The Julia McCulloch Smith Award is presented to the outstanding female student of the year in the memory of Smith, alumna of the class of 1895, who died in 1930. e award was first presented in 1931. When this year’s Julia McCulloch Smith Award winner for outstanding female graduate, Sara Madden ’18, says she “didn’t [more…]
The Delmer Dewey Award, presented each year to the outstanding male student, is named for former Dean of Men Delmer Dewey, who died in 1953. The award was first presented in 1954. Like many Western Oregon University graduates, Delmer Dewey Award winner Carter Craig ’18 touts the university’s welcoming nature. For the outstanding male graduate [more…]
The Alumni Award of Excellence is awarded each year to an alum (living or deceased) for his or her contributions and services to the university and community as well as for his or her distinguished professional work. Lynn Hamersly’s dedication to Western Oregon University—known as Oregon College of Education when she attended—was a positive in [more…]
Graduating senior Roger Deleon, from Beaverton, book-ended his college experience at WOU. He started out at WOU in 2010 for two years, then transitioned to community college where he earned two associate’s from Portland Community College, before returning to WOU in fall 2016. Why did you choose WOU? It was cheaper than other schools I [more…]
First-generation student Javier Garcia, from Newberg, plans to work in sports marketing now that he’s completed his bachelor’s in Business with a minor in Sports Leadership. Why did you choose WOU? I lost my little brother in a car accident during my senior year of high school. I really didn’t think about college after that [more…]
Portland native Brittany Johnson, a first-generation Math major with a Math Education minor, is making a big leap after graduation – she’s heading to Nebraska for a Ph.D.! Why did you choose WOU? I was originally an education major, and I knew that WOU was the best placed to be for that. I also wanted [more…]
If you asked first-generation student Louann Casares how long it took to complete her bachelor’s in Business Administration and minor in Humanities, she would tell you her freshman year took 24 years and the rest took three. She transferred to WOU from Linn-Benton Community College with credits she earned between 1991 and 2015 and completed [more…]
First-generation student Efrain Quevedo-Ramos tried a couple of colleges, but found his best fit was close to his home of Dallas, Ore. He’s graduating with a bachelor’s in Business and a minor in Communications. Congratulations, Efrain! Why did you choose WOU? Smaller campus, great atmosphere, and closer to home. What do you love most about [more…]
Not only has Barbara Ettenauer, from Vienna, Austria, completed a master’s in Special Education – she did so in her second language. What do you love most about WOU? I love the beautiful green lawns on campus, the very old sequoia and the library. Why did you choose WOU? My husband is a professor of [more…]
First-generation student Brenda Flores, from Stanfield, Ore., developed her interest in advocacy and social change during her time on campus. She earned a double degree in Spanish and Public Policy and Administration, with a minor in Communications. What a combination! What do you love most about WOU? I love how small the classes are because [more…]
First-generation student Sophia Dykast, from Albany, managed to complete her bachelor’s in Public Policy and Administration (with a minor in History) in only three years. What an accomplishment! Why did you choose WOU? WOU has a beautiful campus, small class sizes, offered scholarships, and most importantly, had the exact major I wanted. What do you [more…]
Congratulations to Whitney Gilman, of Salem, for completing her bachelor’s degree in Business with a minor in American Sign Language! Gilman transferred to WOU from Chemeketa Community College and is the first in her family to graduate from college. Why did you choose WOU? I chose to attend WOU because it is close to home [more…]
Cody Welty, from Boring, Ore. (yup, he says it’s a real place), is graduating with a bachelor’s in psychology and a minor in biology. He’s found a great balance of activities and coursework to set him up for an exciting future. Why did you choose WOU? The moment I stepped on the campus, I knew [more…]
This year’s Commencement speaker has been a strong advocate in the state Legislature for Western Oregon University as well as for the surrounding the communities of Monmouth and Independence. Senator Jackie Winters represents Senate District 10, an area that includes Monmouth and Independence as well as a large portion of Salem. She was rst elected [more…]
Our 161st Commencement Exercises will be 10:30 a.m. on June 16, 2018. Tickets are not required to attend the event, held at McArthur Field and Stadium. More than 1,000 graduates have signed up to participate in the Commencement ceremony, a number that continues to grow each year. Oregon Sen. Jackie Winters will give the Commencement [more…]
Western Oregon University received a $1 million commitment from the Richard Woodcock family in May. The funds were designated to support scholarships for students studying STEM fields and education. Dr. Woodcock, a longtime WOU supporter who recently contributed to the new education building that bears his name, wanted the donation to help underserved, diverse students [more…]
Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics Patricia Giménez-Eguíbar does a decent amount of traveling for work and pleasure, and two of her trips in the past year have been to conferences where she was representing Western Oregon University as keynote speaker. Giménez-Eguíbar teaches Introduction to Spanish Linguistics, Spanish Pronunciation and Phonetics, Spanish for Heritage Speakers and [more…]
On Thursday, May 17, Physical Education Teacher Education Professor Gay Timken was announced as the 2018-2019 T.H. Gentle Professor. Timken, who has been on the faculty at Western Oregon University for 15 years, will take over the professorship from Deaf Studies and Professional Studies Professor Elisa Maroney, who held the post during the previous academic [more…]
Among the priorities listed in the Western Oregon University strategic plan is a section on sustainability and stewardship. Not only does the university carefully manage its natural resources on a daily basis, it also ensures that buildings on campus meet high standards for eco-friendly construction and operation. When Ackerman Hall was built on campus in [more…]
Miaja Lopez ’18, from Lakeport, Calif., just finished her Early Childhood Education degree this past winter term and is already teaching in Willamina. We had the chance to chat with her recently about her time at WOU. Why did you choose WOU? I chose WOU after looking at many different schools. I loved how close [more…]
Senior Yadira Diaz-Rodriguez, from Independence, is a mere two months from completing her Early Childhood Education degree. She took some time to tell us about her experience in the program. Why did you choose WOU? I chose to attend Western Oregon University after finishing a transfer degree from Chemeketa Community College and deciding I wanted [more…]
Starting this week, the Western Oregon University campus community will being seeing orange and wheels. About 100 orange, dockless bikes will appear on campus streets, available for use by anyone who has downloaded the app provided by Spin (search “Spin bike” in your app store), the company that supplies the bikes. With an .edu email [more…]
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees welcomes Lydia Muniz, a recent retiree from the Office of Equity and Multicultural Services (OEMS) within the Oregon Department of Human Services. The state Senate confirmed Muniz on Feb. 13, 2018 and she will attend her first board meeting this month. Muniz served as director of the OEMS [more…]
Tim Cook will serve as the next president of Clackamas Community College after the school’s current leader Joanne Truesdell retires this summer after more than a decade with CCC. Cook is the vice president of instruction at Clark College in Washington. He will join Clackamas Community College on Sunday, July 1. Jane Reid, CCC Board [more…]
Where are you from? I am originally from Layton, Utah but I currently live in Hillsboro, Oregon. Why did you choose WOU? I chose Western because it was recommend to me bey several of my dad’s employees who graduated from Western as well. I also took a tour before I decided to come to Western [more…]
Student Brant Cheeley talks about his experience in our History program for this week in We are WOU: Academics. This Donald (now Salem) resident hopes to graduate in spring 2019. Why did you choose WOU? WOU felt like home when I visited for the first time during the SOAR program for new students. I liked [more…]
Representatives from the El Segundo Police Department in Southern California visited campus this week in their first out-of-state recruiting trip. They have high hopes for the outcome after taking with Western Oregon University students, many of whom are in the criminal justice program. “We’ve had a great experience,” said Sergeant Ed Villarreal. “We’re meeting a [more…]
Criminal Justice graduate student Ryan Painter ’17, from Roseburg, Ore., talked to us about his experience at WOU and in our Criminal Justice graduate program. Painter is focused on law enforcement and is particularly interested in working at the federal level. Why did you choose WOU? I chose WOU because of its incredible reputation for [more…]
Taylor Winder ’18, a Criminal Justice student from Wheeler, Ore. chose WOU after attending Criminal Justice Day during her junior year of high school. “I really liked the layout of the campus, the smaller class sizes, and knowing that I would be able to contact my professors easier than I would if I attended a [more…]
Eric Frey ’19 describes himself as soldier, scholar, veteran and artist. So much so, in fact, that those four adjectives form the title of his latest art exhibition, which opened Feb. 19 in the Werner University Center and runs through March 4. Frey served more than 20 years in the Army before retiring from the [more…]
Western Oregon University’s Cannon Gallery of Art in Campbell Hall will present David George Andersen’s Wish You Were Here beginning Feb. 21. The exhibit opens to the public with a reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and will be on display through March 23. Andersen (1960-2017) was a Salem artist known for creating politically [more…]
Oregon College of Education (OCE) alum Dwight Triplett ’66 is the embodiment of what can happen when you take life’s opportunities as they come. Even today, Triplett embraces the idea that taking chances and saying “yes” can lead you to places you never imagined. For him, that place was Asia, which was a long way [more…]
Two members of Western Oregon University’s English department faculty have recently earned national recognition from prestigious literary journals. Professor Henry Hughes won the 2017 Oberon Poetry Prize from the journal Oberon Poetry. The New York-based journal runs the annual contest to highlight the best unpublished poem from among hundreds of submissions. Hughes’ winning poem, Fish [more…]
Western Oregon University’s Theatre Department will be presenting the classic musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas on March 1-4 and March 7-10. The musical, first performed on Broadway in 1978, is based on a book of the same name by Larry King and Peter Masterson. Much of the music and lyrics, created by Carol [more…]
The time-jumping play The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence by Madeleine George will come to Western Oregon University’s Black Box Studio stage Feb. 8-10. The piece, which was a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize in Drama, will be directed by student Matthew Miller ’18. The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence takes a [more…]
We look forward to welcoming Oregon Sen. Jackie Winters to the stage June 16, 2018, as the Commencement speaker. The Republican senator represents District 10 in the state Legislature, an area that includes Monmouth and Independence as well as a large portion of Salem. She was first elected to the Senate in 2002 and had [more…]
This week, we’re featuring the Information Technology (“info tech”) master’s program for We are WOU: Academics. We’d had a chat with a current student in the program about his experience. Meet Benjamin Kahn ’19 from Seattle who’s currently living and working in Portland as an instructional technologist at the University of Portland. Kahn Why did [more…]
Western Oregon University Dance Professor Darryl Thomas’ latest touring project, in addition to his well-known Rainbow Dance Theatre, has an innovative and ambitious mission: inspiring young children to explore computer coding. Since 2013, Thomas and a troupe have been presenting iLumiDance to schoolchildren visiting WOU. The program focuses on dancers who are wearing black suits [more…]
Several of Western Oregon University’s diversity-related groups will present activities surrounding the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day from Jan. 15 to Jan. 18. The biggest event of the 10th annual Celebration Week will be the dinner Wednesday, which will feature keynote speaker Walidah Imarisha, an educator, writer, public scholar and spoken-word artist. [more…]
Western Oregon University’s Student Veterans of America (SVA) chapter won the Chapter of the Year award Jan. 6, 2018, at the organization’s national conference in San Antonio. Student Veterans of America is a national organization based in Washington, D.C., that is committed to veteran welfare and ensuring that today’s and tomorrow’s veterans are supported in [more…]
The TED Conference motto is “Ideas Worth Spreading,” and Saturday at the Salem Convention Center, more than a dozen Western Oregon University students will help advance that mission. For the second year, seniors in WOU’s Interpreting Studies program will get valuable, real-world American Sign Language interpreting experience as they share the stage with presenters at [more…]
When Study Abroad Advisor Akaanchya Pradhan first meets with a student to discuss options for studying in another country, she usually doesn’t know what to expect. Some students have used the program’s online tool to narrow down their options, while others don’t know anything about studying abroad and all its ramifications. Pradhan said she generally [more…]
The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees welcomes Gayle Evans, the chief human resources officer at Unitus Community Credit Union, to the governance group. The Oregon Senate confirmed Evans on Nov. 15, 2017. Evans has been with Unitus for 10 years and has served on multiple boards of directors in the past, including for Trillium [more…]
If the idea of attending grad school classes at home while wearing pajamas is appealing, read on. Western Oregon University offers several online master’s degree programs that can completed on students’ own timeline and in the comfort of their own home. The dress code is up to them. One of WOU’s most popular online grad [more…]
Western Oregon University has been an active member of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) for more than a decade, but Director of Admissions Rob Findtner still meets students who are unfamiliar with WICHE’s most popular program, the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE). “You can never assume that people know,” said Findtner, who, like [more…]
Politics, Policy and Administration Professor Mary Pettenger wants students to know they can make a difference in their worlds. That’s why she considers her Political Science 355 course to be one of her favorites. The class, Civic Literacy and Engagement, has several components, from proposal writing and project management to media literacy and effective communication. [more…]
Western Oregon University Board of Trustees member Jaime Arredondo is not a WOU alumnus, but you’d never know that from talking to him. His advocacy for the university is strong enough to qualify him as an honorary Wolf, and besides, he’s surrounded by family members who walked across the stage at McArthur Field. Arredondo actually [more…]
Western Oregon University has released official enrollment figures for fall 2017, and highlights include a higher-than modeled enrollment number and a strong showing in diverse populations. As a reflection of consistent declines in the number of high school graduates in Oregon, WOU’s spring enrollment projections had modeled a drop in enrollment of up to 5 [more…]
We are currently highlighting services that are tailored to three specific audiences: nontraditional students (Nov. 4), veterans (Nov. 9) and transfer students (today). There is a lot of overlap within these three groups, of course, so readers may qualify for multiple resources. In cooperation with several area community colleges and in accordance with the new [more…]
We are currently highlighting services that are tailored to three specific audiences: nontraditional students (Nov. 1), veterans (today) and transfer students (Nov. 15). There is a lot of overlap within these three groups, of course, so readers may qualify for multiple resources. According to Veterans Services Coordinator Andrew Holbert, student-veterans constitute about 4 percent of [more…]
For the next three weeks, we will be highlighting services that are tailored to three specific audiences: nontraditional students (today), veterans (Nov. 9) and transfer students (Nov. 15). There is a lot of overlap within these three groups, of course, so readers may qualify for multiple resources. The official Western Oregon University definition of a [more…]
Dr. Dallas Swanson, a resident with Oregon Health Sciences University’s Cascade East campus in Klamath Falls, will be serving at Mountain View Medical Clinic Oct. 25 to Nov. 26 as part of the OHSU Rural Residency Program. Dr. Swanson has ties to Wallowa County, having lived here as a child before his family moved to [more…]
MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees on Wednesday addressed multiple agenda items, including proposed changes to academic programs and a master plan presented by university President Rex Fuller. Two academic program changes were approved by the board and now move to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission and the Northwest Commission for [more…]
It’s no secret that one of the biggest Western Oregon University selling points is its location. From its vantage point in the Mid-Willamette Valley, WOU is primed to dispatch students to day trips on the sandy beach shore, up snow-capped mountains or into lush forests with minimal travel time. The WOU Outdoors Program, as part [more…]
As the work force moves farther way from the traditional format—think employees who spend 10+ years at a company—to the modern affinity for a new job every few years, Western Oregon University’s Business program is ready for the change. Case in point: the entrepreneurship minor, which allows students, both current and incoming, to chart a [more…]
Western Oregon University is highly invested in student success, and as such, it offers a wide variety of free tutoring assistance for enrollees. However, many students aren’t familiar with the full breadth of options for getting help with different subjects, and that’s something the Academic Advising and Learning Center (soon to be Student Success and [more…]
A student’s first few terms at a four-year university can get a little hectic. Jessica Freeman ’18 gets it. But the Associated Students of Western Oregon University (ASWOU) president said that getting involved in a club or organization can make a world of difference for students acclimating to their new environment. While students may worry [more…]
Financial Aid is the most popular office in the Western Oregon University Lieuallen Administration building this week, with students lining up to talk with counselors about their aid packets and to hammer out lingering details. The office staff is primed to help students as efficiently as possible. On Monday alone, the group served 104 students [more…]
The new dean of the Western Oregon University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Kathleen Cassity, arrived on campus Aug. 15, and while the move into her office in Bellamy Hall went pretty smoothly, the same cannot be said for the transition into her new home in south Salem. Cassity most recently was the assistant [more…]
For Western Oregon University students looking for an on-campus job, a work study position, a spring break adventure or a professional mentor, all the answers can be found in a single place: The Service Learning and Career Development (SLCD) office in the Werner University Center. The office, led by Director Adry Clark along with Assistant [more…]
The concept of institutional research (IR) is by no means a new one. But the creation of the Institutional Research and Effectiveness office is a first for Western Oregon University, which until independence in 2015 had relied on the Oregon University System (OUS) for help with statistical reporting. Abdus Shahid was the OUS analyst who [more…]
The new Western Oregon University Student Health and Counseling Center has been serving students since June, but it won’t have its official grand opening until Oct. 2. When it does, and attendees get a chance to tour the interior, those familiar with the old SHCC will be impressed by the improvements the new building offers. [more…]
Last weekend, Western Oregon University hosted well more than 1,500 visitors to campus, a mix of alumni, community members, first-time visitors and groups from around the Pacific Northwest. They were all here to observe the total solar eclipse on Monday morning, but weekend organizers also embraced the opportunity to highlight WOU’s outstanding features. Judging from [more…]
The corner of the University Computing Services department in the Instructional Technology Center where digital media producer/director Deborah Rezell has her office is windowless, dark and awash in a constant background buzz. She’s got no complaints, though. The office, studio and control room are tidy and efficient—cozy even. It’s a much different scene than the [more…]
Larry Peterson ’05 doesn’t seem like a celebrity from the outset. The Western Oregon University alum is in his mid-40s, works in Independence and has a wife and four sons. But if you ask anyone who’s a fan of longboards—skateboards with extra length and interesting shapes—“Longboard Larry” is a well-known figure. He’s not convinced, though. [more…]
MONMOUTH — The 2016 season was always going to be a transitional one for Western Oregon’s volleyball team. A new coach, Tommy Gott, meant learning a new system and new expectations. The result was a 10-17 record overall. With a year under his belt as head coach, Gott and the Wolves are ready to take [more…]
Oregon Promise students now have more choices when it comes to attending a four-year college. Western Oregon University has created two scholarships available to students who meet the qualifications for Oregon Promise, a state grant program that covers most tuition for recipients at Oregon community colleges. Western’s incentive scholarships are the first of their kind in the state. [more…]
The ninth annual Silent Weekend event took place July 28-30 on campus, and a record number of participants were on hand for the American Sign Language-immersive experience. “(We had) 275 folks signed up from 18 states,” said event director CM Hall. “It’s our biggest year ever.” Hall, who in her regular duties is co-director of [more…]
Western Oregon University has created two new 2017-18 scholarships directed toward students who meet the qualifications for the Oregon Promise program. The first, WOU Jump-Start, is a scholarship for full-time students enrolling for fall 2017 as freshmen who desire the four-year college experience but are considering community college because of financial constraints. There are two [more…]
Students at Western Oregon University in Monmouth will still pay more for tuition come this fall, but it won’t be as much as anticipated. Western’s Board of Trustees agreed Wednesday to reduce the Higher Education Coordinating Commission-approved tuition increase of 10 percent to 6.5 percent. Officials attributed the drop to the $70 million added by the Oregon Legislature [more…]
When talking with digital art instructor Tim Hutchings, it’s clear the conversation could go in many directions. Will he tell you about his years as a “fancy-pants artist,” with gallery shows throughout New York City and “traveling the world on someone else’s dime”? Or will he discuss his life as a WOU teacher, and how, [more…]
When your last name is Gentle and you live on a farm at the edge of campus, there’s little question which college you will attend. And in 1939, that was just fine with Margaret Gentle. “I knew I was going to go there,” she said with a laugh. “It couldn’t be anything else, in this [more…]
For the second consecutive year, Western Oregon University’s women’s basketball team was recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) on the 2016-17 Academic Top-25 Team Honor Roll. The Wolves posted a team grade point average of 3.539, which ranks 21st in NCAA Division II and topped all Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) women’s hoops [more…]
At its core, “Much Ado About Nothing” is a story about how one person disrupts the lives of all around him. The troublemaker, Don John — better recognized as the villain in William Shakespeare’s oft-produced play — is the one who has to instigate the action. In the Valley Shakespeare Company’s upcoming production, Western Oregon student [more…]
Five girls hoisted Olympic barbells to the instruction of coach Cori Metzger in the Thunder Mountain High School weight room on Tuesday. The school was empty save for Metzger and her group, each learning the basics of powerlifting. “One more time: down to your knees, up and shrug,” Metzger said. Each girl extended at the [more…]
After saying for years he wanted to invent a board game, Marc Neidlinger finally decided it was time to roll the dice. “I said to myself, if I don’t do it now, I never will,” the Vancouver resident said. “If I don’t do it today, when? If you can’t answer that, it means it’s never [more…]
On some college campuses, the public safety officers just cover the basics; they patrol campus, lock buildings and file reports. Western Oregon University is not one of those campuses. The department’s six officers plus Director Rebecca Chiles are not content to do just the minimum. Their particular brand of flair is specialty training, and they [more…]
Curtis Campbell didn’t know much about Oregon. Born on the East Coast, Campbell had only been as far west as Illinois. Yet, when Western Oregon University began its search for a new director of athletics, Campbell was interested. “My wife and I have always wanted to live on the West Coast because we haven’t before,” [more…]
The Apple Box Children’s Theater production of Arabian Nights makes its debut tonight in the amphitheater near Rice Auditorium, when more than local 40 children will bring to life playwright Maren Bradley Anderson’s magical vision. Anderson, an adjunct writing and English instructor at Western Oregon University, based the play on the classic tale One Thousand [more…]
Tyrell Williams’ journey to the NFL is a feel-good story from the Mid-Valley. The former standout at Cascade High School and Western Oregon University went undrafted in 2015, but the San Diego Chargers signed him and gave him a shot, and he made the most of it. Williams led the Chargers with 1,059 receiving yards [more…]
Western Oregon University Associate Professor Misty Weitzel has a box of full bones in the corner of her office in Maaske Hall. A skull sits on the bookshelf, and skeletal “face” peers at guests from a pillow. It’s not gruesome, though. They are just tools of her trade. Weitzel teaches forensic anthropology, which harnesses the [more…]
Each year, Western Oregon University undergraduate students have the opportunity to win an unrestricted cash award of $5,000 in a contest known as the Maurice Prize. All they have to do is define a problem, then create and execute an innovative solution. The goal of the program, from the founders’ point of view, is to [more…]
Stacie Chance, the 2017 Golden Lamp Award winner, took a winding path to get to where she is today, but now that she’s fulfilling her life-long dream, there’s no deterring her from her ultimate goal. The Oregon Health & Science University honoree is focused on supporting the health and wellness of her community. To that [more…]
The 2017 Alumni Award of Excellence winner, Betty Komp, is the embodiment of Western Oregon University’s mission: providing a transformative education. Komp, now a retired Oregon legislator, came to WOU in the late 80s as a 30-something single mom seeking a significant change in her life. She graduated in 1990 with a bachelor’s degree in [more…]
Bruce Tuma, winner of this year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Staff Excellence Award, has completed hundreds projects on the Western Oregon University campus during his lengthy tenure. In fact, as he’s walking around the grounds, it is like a little trip down memory lane because he is reminded of all the work he has accomplished [more…]
Politics, Policy and Administration Professor Eliot Dickinson is a master of being in the right place at the right time. Opportunities have presented themselves to him throughout his life, and he never hesitated in spotting the opening. Dickinson, a nine-year member of the WOU faculty, is the winner of the 2017 Mario and Alma Pastega [more…]
Vivian Djokotoe, this year’s recipient of the Mario and Alma Pastega Excellence in Teaching Award, says she has been lucky through every stage of her life. Although she’s certainly been the benefactor of Fortune’s smile many times, however, it’s clear that good ol’ hard work deserves the lion’s share of credit for her success. Djokotoe [more…]
If the ultimate goal of attaining a degree is to get a job right out of college, Aleisha Douthitt, this year’s Julia McCulloch Smith Award winner for outstanding female graduate, is well ahead of the game. The Honors Program student already is putting her bachelor’s degree in elementary education to work; she landed a job [more…]
Connor Thompson, the 2017 Delmer Dewey Award honoree, has an incredible résumé. The chemistry major interned for NASA, researched nanotechnology and worked on a computational chemistry project involving cartridge cases from the Battle of the Little Bighorn. But in discussing the most influential experience he’s had while on the Western Oregon University campus, the hyper-organized [more…]
Jennifer Kepka has been working for years to make higher education accessible to more people, especially those with barriers to regular classroom attendance. But her work in online educational resources is just one of the reasons this year’s Outstanding Graduate Student Award recipient reaps praise from her advisers and nominators. “Jennifer’s work is more than [more…]
North Clackamas School District Superintendent and WOU alum Matt Utterback is this year’s Commencement speaker; it will be the second time that he has had the opportunity to address the audience at a WOU graduation ceremony. Utterback, a 1989 Western Oregon State College – as it was named then – graduate, was that year’s Delmer [more…]
This is part of our WOU graduate profile series where we’re featuring students who have been making incredible contributions to the WOU community Senior Max Norr is the creator of “The Record Keeper,” an exhibit and website based on books belonging to Sister Genevieve “Birdie” Lantz. She was a nurse with the American Red Cross [more…]
Imagine standing on a stage filled with Western Oregon University dignitaries. There are thousands of pairs of eyes watching you, expectant. President Rex Fuller is poised nearby, waiting to congratulate more than a thousand graduates. On the lectern in front of you is an extensive list of strangers’ names, many of which contain a dizzying [more…]
Western Oregon University has many treasures among its faculty and staff, but Archivist and Exhibit Coordinator Jerrie Lee Parpart is a rare gem, one that shines brighter for her in-depth knowledge of the university’s history and for wanting to share that story wide and far. Parpart joined the Western Oregon University staff in 1990, when [more…]
At first glance, it might not seem as though Erubiel Valladares ’05 is working in the industry he went to college to study. While at Western Oregon University, Valladares majored in The Arts with a focus on theatre, music and dance. Today he is community liaison for the City of Independence, working toward better engagement [more…]
The Western Oregon University Theatre’s final production of the academic year will be This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing, and although the play by Finegan Kruckemeyer is often described as being “fairy tale-like,” guest director Jen Rowe is quick to indicate her preference for “fable.” “I try not to go down [more…]
Western Oregon University hired Curtis Campbell as its new athletic director on May 15, concluding a nationwide search that brought a handful of diverse candidates to campus for individual presentations. It was Campbell’s unique mix of work experiences that vaulted him above the rest of the field, said WOU President Rex Fuller. “Curtis is the [more…]
The term “open source software” may not be part of the everyday vernacular, but it plays a significant role in our lives, driving the online engines of the digital world. And it just so happens that some Western Oregon University computer science students are getting a substantial head start in the open source world, thanks [more…]
Western Oregon University has hired Curtis Campbell as its new athletic director. Campbell is the current director of Athletics at NCAA Division II institution Tuskegee University in Alabama. Campbell boasts 17 years of experience in intercollegiate athletics at both the D-II and D-III levels and has overseen multiple athletic construction projects. In addition to his [more…]
David Ribich ’18, the WOU track standout, is what Director of Athletic Compliance Randi Lydum calls “the poster child of a student-athlete.” The junior from Enterprise, Ore. works hard, maintains solid grades and continues to make a huge mark in the track world on behalf of the Wolves. “You couldn’t ask for a better guy,” [more…]
Students at Western Oregon University on April 17 introduced “Alma’s Project,” a new website that comprises comprehensive resources for students and community members enrolled in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. The website is packed with information to support the academic, psychological and social lives of DACA students at WOU and beyond. There [more…]
The WOU Food Pantry, housed in the Academic Programs and Support Center building, has been getting a lot of press in the past four months. Media attention has come from several newspapers and a television station, all of which is welcome support in the eyes of Director Rebecca Hardgrave ’18. “We appreciate the attention if [more…]
Lisa Catto ’10 has been a fixture on the Western Oregon University campus for 12 years, though her title and office location have changed multiple times. Since the creation of Strategic Communications and Marketing in September, Catto has been the manager of media relations and social media, a title she describes as the most accurate [more…]
Western Oregon University is excited to announce Kathleen Cassity of Honolulu has been selected as the new dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). Cassity currently is the assistant interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Hawaii Pacific University and also served there as chairperson of the Department of English [more…]
The Gerontology program at Western Oregon University is a fairly recent addition to campus; The first graduates were a handful of post-baccalaureate students in 2012. But the area of study is high on the job-outlook meter, so the program has enjoyed quite a bit of growth during the five years since. Associate Professor Margaret Manoogian [more…]
The PBS series American Experience will air “The Great War” from April 10-12 in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the United States’ entry into the conflict. A familiar face is certain to appear in at least one of the three installments. Western Oregon University Professor of History and Gender Studies Kimberly Jensen was among [more…]
We’ve all seen this way too many times. A sharp review, words are exchanged online, things get personal. And the next thing you know everyone’s typing in all caps, using death’s head emojis and … well, it’s just getting out of hand. We love a good art feud as much as anyone, but usually nothing [more…]
It is challenging to chart one’s own path in the world of publishing, but a recent Western Oregon University graduate and a current WOU senior have fearlessly entered the fray to share their creative styles. Both women majored in English with a concentration in writing, and they describe their years at the university as transformative [more…]
Assistant Professor of Education Maria Peterson-Ahmad has been working for months to bring an innovative new education tool to Western Oregon University, and she will unveil the program tomorrow to a group of students, teacher-education partners and anyone who is curious about virtual classrooms. “I’m so excited to show Mursion to everyone,” Peterson-Ahmad said, her [more…]
Western Oregon University alumnus Matt Utterback ’89 has won the National Superintendent of the Year Award from the American Association of School Administrators. The award was announced March 2 in New Orleans. Utterback has been superintendent at North Clackamas School District since 2012, and during that time the district has made major gains in graduation [more…]
We set a goal of 161 donors for our Giving Day (in honor of WOU’s 161 years) and you amazed us with your support! You rallied and we had 223 donors contribute more than $20,000 to support students and programs. Donations were made from at least 16 different states from New York to Hawaii. “I [more…]
Allison Kingsella ’17 came to Western Oregon University with a plan. The California native had fallen in love with American Sign Language while working on a senior project in high school, and she wanted to train for a career as an interpreter. However, it didn’t take long for Kingsella to realize that standing at the [more…]
On March 3, Western Oregon University welcomed about 2,200 students, school staff and chaperones for the 27th annual César E. Chávez Leadership Conference (CECLC), an all-day event meant to inspire Hispanic students to seek leadership roles. The day’s events started with a welcome and keynote address in the New P.E. building, where the bleachers overflowed [more…]
Last fall, The Research Institute (TRI) and the U.S. Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women extended their six-year relationship until at least 2019. A $300,000 grant sealed the deal. There was not a lot of fanfare at the time, but the continuation agreement is a significant coup for Western Oregon University. Not only [more…]
The event is expected to draw more than 2,000 Oregon Hispanic high school students, with a focus on workshops, an exhibitor fair, guest sessions, an awards ceremony and a dance. When Western Oregon University welcomes the 27th annual Cesar E. Chavez Leadership Conference to campus on Friday, it will include a boisterous busload of students [more…]
Plenty of theatrical works involve a play within a play, but “Shakespeare in Hollywood” takes the concept to a new, hilarious level. Not only is there a movie within a play, but there also are characters from a Shakespearean comedy thrust into roles in a 1930s film. Confused? Don’t worry, said director Ted deChatelet. Just [more…]
If you’d asked Alli Yamnitsky ’17 during her freshman year at Western Oregon University what she saw herself doing after graduation, she probably would have said she’d be a history teacher. The Corbett High School grad lists history among her passions, along with environmental studies, her minor. But fate steered Yamnitsky in a different direction [more…]
After a fall term spent organizing, scouting and preparing, the Child Development Center on Jan. 18 started welcoming volunteers with Start Making a Reader Today for weekly visits to Western Oregon University. The seven SMART volunteers read one on one with children for an hour each Wednesday morning, providing personal attention and sharing their enthusiasm [more…]
Ryan Kingsella ’16 started as the executive director of the Monmouth and Independence Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center at the beginning of the year. The Western Oregon University alumnus is ready to build a stronger connection between the two towns and the university. A bond already exists, the 28-year-old early childhood education major said. WOU [more…]
Out & Proud is an annual celebration at WOU that explores the various cultures and ethnic backgrounds within the LGBTQ community. This year, there are two events planned Feb. 8 and a ball set for Feb. 10. Coordinator Katherine Macias-Torres is spearheading the Feb. 8 events, and the sophomore pre-nursing student said she’s excited to [more…]
Director Kent Neely describes All in the Timing simply as a “ridiculous comedy.” The title, which comprises six short plays, doesn’t lean toward social commentary, parody or satire. It’s just pure fun with a heavy focus on wordplay, absurdity and the examination of personal relationships, all set in a comedy club-type atmosphere. “The interactions and [more…]
To say Albert Worotikan hit the ground running in his new job as director of campus dining would be a serious understatement. He was sharing his ideas for improvements before he even landed the post. “I was showing them plans for my ideas during my job interview,” he said with a chuckle. “I think that’s [more…]
Most of what people need to know about 2010 grad Laura Gage’s world view can be found in the title of her YouTube channel: “Laura the Explorer.” She’s a world traveler, and she attributes her adaptability to her time at Western Oregon University. Gage has taken the knowledge gained during courses for her anthropology major [more…]
Western Accessibility Awareness Month hits the ground running with the main event on the first day of the month. The annual awareness event is meant to promote, celebrate, and build awareness about disability and accessibility at WOU through a series of presentations. The primary WAAM event on Feb. 1 will be Dr. Kathleen Bogart’s address [more…]
Western Oregon University alumni Eli Cox has come full circle. Not so long ago, he was a sophomore struggling to gain a foothold on a career path. With the help of patient and supportive WOU instructors, he finally navigated his way to a degree in a field he’s passionate about: public health. Now, six years [more…]
It’s winter term at Western Oregon University, and that means the opportunity to learn more about civil rights and the clash of class and race is again upon us. Starting today, the Civil Rights Film Series gets under way on its term-long run, starting with Citizen King, an overview of the life of Dr. Martin [more…]
Each year, the days following the observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday are full of events designed to honor the civil rights leader’s vision. For the 2017 celebration at Western Oregon University, there are five activities planned for students, faculty, staff and the community that aim to do just that. The main event [more…]
Last month, WOU President Rex Fuller learned that 36 Oregon members of the Marine Corps Reserves had been denied G.I Bill education benefits during a six-month deployment to Honduras. Despite their time spent renovating a hospital, building a school and completing other aid projects, the reservists learned when they arrived home that they had not [more…]
Each holiday season, Western Oregon University’s community comes together to collect toys and gifts for local foster youth of all ages. We’re excited to announce that this year the community collected the most toys in the drive’s history. Local staff from the Department of Human Services rely on support from our community to help provide [more…]
Barbara Dearing will retire June 30, 2017, as its executive director of intercollegiate athletics at Western Oregon University. “I have been blessed to have been involved with WOU Athletics,” Dearing said. “It’s been an honor to work alongside the coaching and athletics administrative staff whose focus has been about the student-athlete experience, and how that experience [more…]
The Sherwood School District is pleased to announce the hiring of Eryn Latt as associate director of special programs. Latt comes to Sherwood from the Greater Albany Public School District, where she served in various roles since 2008. Among them, are serving as a special education teacher at North Albany Middle School (2008-2012) and West [more…]
Imagine having to decide between paying for a course textbook or your next meal. Situations like that are becoming more common for students in higher education. “I had a student come in … who hadn’t seen vegetables for three years,” said Grecia Garcia, who helps oversee the Chemeketa Community College pantry. “We want students to focus on their studies, [more…]
Dear Campus Community: The national discussion following the election has raised many concerns among our most vulnerable groups of students. We gathered on November 11 to remind our students of the support that our university has for all students and to remind ourselves that we have nurtured a caring, inclusive community at Western. Now, more [more…]
Students applying for admission to Western Oregon University will no longer be required to submit an ACT or SAT test score. This change goes into effect for fall 2017 applicants with a cumulative high school GPA of 3.0 or higher and who have successfully passed the required college prep high school courses. “Our admission requirements [more…]
Western Oregon University welcomes the fall 2016 entering class of freshmen and transfer students – its most culturally diverse in the 160-year history of the Oregon’s oldest public university. WOU President Rex Fuller said, “Western Oregon University’s strengths are many, and are all focused around our mission of educating each student in a manner that prepares [more…]
The 2016 WOU homecoming football game takes place Saturday, Oct. 22 at 12:37 p.m. Details on how to watch, game preview, and more are below. Game No. 8 VS Western Oregon (3-4, 2-3 GNAC) vs. Humboldt State (3-4, 1-4 GNAC) Oct. 22, 2016 • McArthur Field (2,500) – Monmouth, Ore. / 12:37 p.m. PT [more…]
Western Oregon University announced it will make estimated financial aid awards for the 2017-18 academic year available in December 2016 for prospective freshman and transfer students. This action will allow incoming WOU students significantly more time to receive and understand their financial aid if they choose to attend WOU. The U.S. Department of Education now [more…]
Don Spinas, the long-time head track and field coach at Western Oregon University, passed away Thursday, Sept. 22 at the age of 83. Spinas is one of the most decorated coaches in the history of WOU track and field. During his tenure at Western Oregon (then Oregon College of Education and Western Oregon State [more…]
The Richard Woodcock Education Center, new home of Western Oregon University’s College of Education, opened this week. The 58,000-square-foot building is the first multi-story building in Oregon constructed with cross-laminated timber. This is the first time the three divisions of the College of Education will be under one roof, including nearly 100 offices and 23 classrooms. [more…]
Rick Bartow walked onto his spirit journey on April 2, 2016 due to congestive heart disease. He had suffered two strokes, the last in August 2013. According to the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts, this life-changing event affected his work and we see it in the collection as “exciting examples of Bartow’s production since [more…]
A football floated toward Tyrell Williams in the back-right corner of the end zone Sunday, the type of ball made for a man of his measure. The 6-foot-4 Chargers wide receiver had a good 4 inches on Ron Parker in coverage. Not only that but Parker’s back was to the ball, the Chiefs safety not tracking its [more…]
U.S. News & World Report ranked Western Oregon University highest of Oregon’s regional public universities in the 2017 annual higher education rankings released today. WOU was named 19th among “top public schools” in the regional universities (west) category and 67th overall in regional universities (west) category (10 spots up from last year’s 77th ranking). These [more…]
Western Oregon University has continued its expansion of services for members of the military and their families. Effective August 1, 2016, WOU will waive the $60 undergraduate and graduate application fees for current members of the armed services and former members who were honorably discharged. “Western Oregon University appreciates the service and sacrifices that members [more…]
Season ticket packages and single-game tickets for the 2016 Western Oregon Athletics fall season are now available for purchase online or at the WOU Ticket Office. Various ticket packages are available for football, volleyball and women’s soccer. For more information on purchasing tickets, click here. Women’s soccer opens the season at home on Thursday, [more…]
The Western Oregon women’s basketball team was honored Tuesday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) after the announcement of the 2015-16 Academic Top-25 Team Honor Roll. With a team grade point average of 3.566, the Wolves ranked 21st in NCAA Division II and topped all Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) women’s hoops teams. [more…]
Western Oregon University (WOU) assistant professor Dr. Denise Thew Hacket, in collaboration with WOU’s Regional Resource Center on Deafness, received a $200,000 grant from the State of Oregon’s Department of Human Services. The funding allows for research targeting Oregon’s Deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing loss communities. It will provide information regarding how well the [more…]
With age comes the freedom of retirement, the joy of grandchildren and the wisdom gained from lifelong experiences. But, it can also come with the reality of memory loss, diminished strength and the inherent risk of injuries from accidents and falls. To help today’s seniors improve their overall well-being, Prestige Care has launched a new [more…]
Two teaching graduates from OSU-Cascades returned from their trip to Spain and Portugal last week where they studied physical and human geography with the Center for Geography Education in Oregon at Portland State University. Heidi Wilson and Amanda Mattei received their Oregon preliminary teaching licenses from Oregon State University this summer and participated in the [more…]
On July 8, 2016, Western Oregon University’s most dedicated financial supporters were honored at the annual President’s Club Dinner. The event was held at Illahe Hills Country Club and featured toasts by Paul Kyllo, WOU Foundation Board chair, recent alumna Dominique Figueroa, President Rex Fuller, and Jim Baumgartner, chair of WOU’s Board of Trustees. Music [more…]
On a hot Willamette Valley morning last month, in the middle of the black robes and snapping cameras of graduation season, more than 800 brand new alumni collected bachelor’s degrees at Western Oregon University in Monmouth. It wasn’t the largest class among the state universities, and nobody occupied the stage in protest, but the occasion [more…]
The Western Oregon football team’s Homecoming and Senior Day game against Humboldt State (Oct. 22) has been picked up for a national television broadcast on the American Sports Network as part of the 2016 Division II Football Showcase, the NCAA announced Thursday. The WOU-HSU game will kick off at 12:30 p.m. at McArthur Field [more…]
Congratulations to the class of 2016! Today marks the 159th Commencement for Western Oregon University. Check out some of these interesting stats about our graduating class and stories about many of them. The graduating class of 2016 totals 1,323 individuals that have earned a total of 1,333 degrees. 900 are attending commencement today. 83 percent of [more…]
An unexpected incident led Sharyne Ryals, this year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Staff Excellence recipient, to Western Oregon University. Ryals had always worked in the private sector, and her previous job was at a silicon wafer manufacturer. This industry became an unstable environment to work in, and closed like many other businesses in [more…]
Dr. Cheryl Beaver has found a way to balance her academic interests at Western Oregon University: mathematics and education. This year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient, she has flourished as a math educator. She and her husband, Dr. Scott Beaver, joined WOU in 2005. Prior to becoming a collegiate educator, [more…]
Darryl Thomas’ interest in dance began with the hope of meeting girls, but quickly grew into a deep adoration for the poetry and beauty of human movement. Thomas, this year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Excellence in Scholarship and Creativity Award recipient, has had an eventful and productive career in dance. It all began in Detroit [more…]
The year before she came to Western as a freshman, Han Vu Gia Nguyen had moved to the United States from Vietnam with her parents. Now, just five years later, this year’s Julia McCulloch Smith award recipient for outstanding senior female is fluent in a new language, achieved significant academic and extracurricular success, and is [more…]
Some students find comfort in classes, some in sports, some in extracurricular activities, while others are happiest with a mix of involvement during their college career. John Goldsmith, this year’s Delmer Dewey award recipient for outstanding senior male, took advantage of as many academic and leadership opportunities as his time and interest afforded. On the [more…]
There is no traditional route to Commencement, as Kayla Corwin learned. This Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) graduating student has been an undergraduate for nine years. “I had a long road getting here,” she said. Science has always been a strength of Corwin’s. In high school she took an anatomy class and while her [more…]
Dennis Tichenor has dedicated his life to serving others. This year’s recipient of the Alumni Award of Excellence, Tichenor has made a lasting impression on the lives of countless children and young adults. He learned that lesson from his parents, who told him, “If you’re going to do anything, give some things back.” He found [more…]
WOU alumna, Representative Betty Komp, did not start college right after high school. At age 18 she got married and started a family. Seventeen years later she was raising four kids on her own and wanted a life change. It was time to go to college. Komp knew she wanted to be an educator and [more…]
Application. Waitlist. Overqualified. Underqualified. Wait in line. These words and phrases were repeated over and over again as students at Western Oregon University took on the personas of the homeless Thursday evening. The university’s Education Club organized the homeless simulation, modeled after a Habitat for Humanity program. The group said they wanted to spread awareness and help those [more…]
Despite battling post-traumatic stress disorder and alcoholism spawned by serving as a soldier during the Vietnam War, Rick Bartow was not afraid to use his artistic talents to address painful aspects of life. It’s a sentiment art enthusiasts may see as they view the Native American man’s art, which is on display through July 13 [more…]
Two young alums – and former roommates – put their passion for the arts to good use A lot can be accomplished in the few years following graduation. For two Western Oregon University graduates – friends and former roommates of the class of 2012 – it has been an eventful four years. Love, loss, cross-country [more…]
ONTARIO — Nyssa School District Superintendent Janine Weeks is set to retire at the start of July after 39 years in education. Weeks’ story is one of a lifetime of service to education, one that started when she was in elementary school. “I found myself doing some type of teaching, either through interactions with my [more…]
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) will be on campus April 11 to 13 to engage in the seven year review of the university’s accreditation. The university had successfully completed its mid-cycle NWCCU accreditation review in 2013 and had submitted a self-study report in preparation for this site visit. The NWCCU team is [more…]
Western Oregon University President Rex Fuller announced today that the university was taking another bold step in keeping its high quality education affordable for Oregon students. With the support of the Board of Trustees, WOU limited its tuition increase for undergraduate residents to less than three percent for next year. This will further protect many [more…]
In recognition of the astounding achievements of this year’s Western Oregon University men’s basketball team, Monmouth and Independence will issue a proclamation at the next Monmouth City Council that Friday, April 8 will be WOU Men’s Basketball Day. The City Council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5 in Monmouth’s Volunteer [more…]
FRISCO, Texas – The season-long ride with the most prolific Wolves men’s basketball squad in school history is over. The Western Oregon University men’s basketball team saw it season come to an end with a 74-55 loss Thursday night in the NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball national semifinals against Augustana (SD) at the Elite [more…]
Hungry Like the Wolves: Western Oregon Wolves are headed to the Division-II Elite 8 in Frisco, TX behind West Region Player of the Year Andy Avgi & 1st year head coach (WOU Class of ’85) Jim Shaw. Fox 12’s Nick Krupke reports. Watch the video by KPTV Fox 12.
The GNAC regular-season and tournament champion Western Oregon men’s basketball team has been selected as the No. 1 seed and host for the 2016 NCAA Division II West Regional Tournament, which will be held March 11-14 at the New P.E. Building. The Wolves (27-3) will play their opening round game on Friday, March 11 [more…]
A message from WOU President Rex Fuller: The University and WOUFT are pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached and the leadership of the WOUFT will be recommending ratification of the contract by its members. Mark Perlman, president of the WOUFT said “WOUFT is elated to conclude bargaining. We are very grateful to [more…]
The Western Oregon Wolves saw a year of firsts in the 2014-2015. Not only did head coach Brady Bergeson and star forward Andy Avgi lead WOU to its first 20-win season since 1996-97 (and its first as a DII basketball program), the team also won its first ever Great Northwest Athletic Conference title, made its [more…]
Passion, drive and enthusiasm. These are three words that best describe Andrew Holbert, the new coordinator of the Veteran Success Center. Holbert started working at Western in December 2015 and in just six short weeks he has transformed the Veteran Success Center into an inviting, calm, well-appointed and welcoming lounge for student veterans. He has worked feverishly alongside Cody Knight, [more…]
Uniting communities across the globe, Relay for Life celebrates those who have battled cancer, remembers loved ones lost to the disease and fights back by raising money to support research and help those afflicted by the illness. The signature fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, the event is often an overnight activity — signifying that [more…]
WINSTON — To every stop along the way, Kipp Archambault brings a similar approach to basketball. Star players mean less than the sum of the entire team. Archambault has coached all over western Oregon in a career spanning more than 25 years. Stops in Gilchrist, Klamath Falls and Salem go along with stints in Glide, [more…]
“Where Soldiers Come From” will be shown 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, at the Historic Grand Theatre as part of the Salem Progressive Film Series. This documentary follows childhood friends on a four-year journey from a small town in Northern Michigan to the mountains of Afghanistan and back. Beginning as a carefree group, enticed by [more…]
“What does it all mean?” Each November, hundreds of thousands of crazy people (325,000 in 2014) get together online to participate in NaNoWriMo to try to write 50,000 words of the first draft of a novel in 30 days. That’s 1,667 words a day for those who are wondering. I have completed the 50K in 30 days challenge [more…]
The WOU Newsflash Street Team is looking for new members. If you’re passionate about WOU, social media and writing – this position may be for you. Newsflash is a group of paid students who work with the Media Relations and Social Media Office on campus to help tell the university’s story via social media and [more…]
Western Oregon University will become an even safer and healthier place to study and work. As of September 18, campus will become fully tobacco free. This means no one (student, employee or visitor) can use tobacco anywhere on campus, including parking lots and residence hall areas. The City of Monmouth supported this decision and agreed [more…]
Story published on WillametteLive.com What if the industrial revolution never really caught on? Imagine a world where devices and technology were powered mainly by steam. Imagine fashions based on Victorian clothing, but without the weight of strict Victorian social and gender roles. Imagine a world which might include a bit of magic, where there are [more…]
Story published in The Dalles Chronicle By Derek Wiley As principal, Sandy Harris led Obsidian Middle School in Redmond to the highest rating (Level 5) a school can get for academic growth for three consecutive years. Now the new principal of The Dalles Middle School is ready to do the same thing here. “It’s always [more…]
Story published in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer By Lukas Eggen POLK COUNTY — The fall sports season officially kicked off on Monday. As players and coaches gathered to prepare, they were greeted by an unwelcome, and dangerous, guest — the heat. Temperatures reached into the 90s on Monday and Tuesday and a heat advisory went [more…]
Story published in the Corvallis Gazette-Times By Jesse Sowa Kevin Boss felt burned out as he reached the end of his freshman football season at Philomath High. He was battling injuries and decided to skip basketball. In his newly found downtime he got introduced to the weight room by PHS coaches Troy Muir and Chris [more…]
Story published by KUOW By Patricia Murphy Every morning the flags at Stafford Creek Corrections Center in Aberdeen, Washington, are raised in a color guard ceremony. The 10 men who do the job are inmates and veterans. The ceremony ends with a salute, although the solemnity and reverence can seem strange in this setting. The [more…]
In the hustle and bustle of campus life, let’s pause for a moment to recognize those who have reached important collegiate milestones. Students who earn a 4.0 grade point average in a term are placed on the prestigious President’s List and those who earn a 3.5-3.99 GPA are listed in the Honor Roll. In the spring, [more…]
Story published in the Statesman Journal By Capi Lynn From our archives. This story originally was published as part of our Headstones of History series from mid-2002 to early 2007. Nathaniel Ford was a surveyor, schoolteacher, flatboatman and sheriff before emigrating to Oregon. The resourceful pioneer then added postmaster and state legislator to his résumé [more…]
Story published in the Oregonian By Jeff Smith Hillsboro High School athletic director Steve Drake arrived at the school as a coach in 1984 and was promoted to his current position in 1997. Drake, 57, said the success of his athletic programs over the past couple of years has rejuvenated him and he can’t wait [more…]
Story published in the Corvallis Gazette-Times By Anthony Rimel According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in 2013, the most recent year with complete statistics available there were 13,075 murders in the United States. Of those, just over 64 percent of murder cases were “cleared,” meaning that they ended with an arrest, or through “exceptional [more…]
Story published in the Statesman Journal By the Statesman Journal Editorial Board WINNER: Western Oregon University. Oregon’s oldest public university began a new era this month, with new autonomy and a new president. WOU’s own governing board took over as the state disbanded its centralized administration of public universities. The Oregon University System had operated [more…]
MONMOUTH, Ore. – The inaugural Western Oregon University (WOU) Board of Trustees held its first meeting since taking on governance responsibility for the university on Wednesday, July 22. The board began by welcoming new President Rex Fuller. Both Fuller and the board began their roles on July 1. This historic event is the culmination of [more…]
Those who financially support Western Oregon University through gifts make an immeasurable impact on campus. Their generosity supports our students, programs and the physical campus itself. Each year, a dinner is held to thank and honor the donors who are members of the President’s Club. This exclusive group consists of donors who gave $1,000 or more [more…]
Published in the Statesman Journal By Joce Johnson All eyes were on teacher Ricardo Larios as he read from a list of difficult vocabulary words to a class of roughly 30 incoming freshmen Tuesday at McKay High School. Several raised their hands when Larios asked for the pronunciation and definition of each word. Most laughed [more…]
Published in Wired By Tim Moynihan EMOJI MIGHT BE one of the fastest-growing communication methods of the digital age, but a lot of people probably think the whole thing is silly. Yes, there are very creative rebus-like forms of emoji storytelling out there. No doubt, little pictures of hot dogs and airplanes can really spice [more…]
Published in the Statesman Journal By Tom Mayhall Rastrelli How do you like your Shakespeare? Are you a purist, who prefers a traditional Elizabethan presentation of the Bard’s masterpieces, or do you like productions that mix things up by setting them in different time periods or outrageous settings? If you prefer your Shakespeare shaken not [more…]
Published in the Statesman Journal By Tom Mayhall Rastrelli Tickets go on sale Monday, July 20, for Salem Concert Band’s upcoming special-event concerts “Thomas Lauderdale Plays Gershwin” and “Pinots of the Caribbean.” ‘Thomas Lauderdale Plays Gershwin’ Lauderdale is the founder of the internationally renown band Pink Martini. He’ll join conductor John Skelton and the Salem Concert [more…]
Story published in The Umpqua Post The city of Reedsport added another new police officer in July, the third in the last two months. Jon Rausch was raised in Elkton and graduated from high school there. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from Western Oregon University. He lives in Elkton with his wife [more…]
Story published in the Clackamas Review By John Denny Hess, 45, had assisted Thomas in coaching Gladstone’s girls soccer team since 2003, and he’s been the head boys track coach at Gladstone High School since 2010. “This program is in good shape,” Hess said. “Steve did a tremendous job of building the program up over [more…]
Story published on Willamettelive.com ART IN THE GARDEN The Oregon Garden 879 W Main St SILVERTON 503 874 8100 The Oregon Garden offers more than 80 acres that showcase the natural wonders of the Pacific Northwest. Over 20 individual themed gardens and related attractions are available for visitors to wander through and enjoy the spectacular [more…]
Story published in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer By Lukas Eggen POLK COUNTY — Thousands of cyclists are about to hit the road in and around Polk County. Cycle Oregon will hold its weekend ride, dubbed Camp Cycle Oregonnadogood, this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The group will set up camp at Western Oregon University, where cyclists will [more…]
Story published in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer By Emily Mentzer MONMOUTH — Stephanie Delker wanted to improve campus health at Western Oregon University. Delker, a senior in community health, tackled a project with teachers and fellow students to make WOU’s campus tobacco-free by fall 2015. The tobacco-free policy was signed by then President Mark Weiss [more…]
Story published in the Polk County Itemizer-Observer By Emily Mentzer MONMOUTH — As the sun dips below the tree line at Western Oregon University, shade creeps across the lawn at the outdoor amphitheater. It’s still warm, but cooler there near the stage. Are you dreaming, or are fairies playing pranks on Athenians on stage? No, [more…]
Story published in the Coquille Valley Courant By Shelby Case COQUILLE — A student at Western Oregon University is one of only 10 Oregon college youth chosen to attend the 100th anniversary meeting of the National Council for Geographic Education. “I feel really blessed to have this opportunity,” said Taylor Ryan, 21. “I just feel [more…]
Story published in the Statesman Journal Redhawk Vineyard & Winery celebrating 10 years with Pataccolis Redhawk Vineyard & Winery will celebrate its 10th anniversary with owners John and Betty Pataccoli. The celebration, which is open to the public, will be 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, July 24, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 25. [more…]
Story published in The Bulletin Most of the world remembers Quarterflash for their ’80s-era hit “Harden My Heart,” with its aching saxophone leads, and their ’80s style (particularly hairstyles — check out some recent TV interviews with the group). In this part of the country, the group — centered around husband-and-wife songwriter and singer team [more…]
Thanks for stopping by! The WOU Newsflash Street Team is on summer break and will be back to share all sorts of neat things in late September. Until then, please poke around and check out the great stories we’ve worked on the past three years.
Story published in the Chinook Observer Clatsop Community College is adding associate degrees in welding and computer science. Clatsop Community College will add new programs beginning fall 2015. Program details will be available with release of the 2015-16 academic catalog. The college’s existing one-year certificate program in welding is expanding to include a stepladder of [more…]
President Mark Weiss reflects on his time at the helm, and offers sage advice to the new president. As President Mark Weiss nears retirement, he offers advice for the new president and for the Western community as he reflects on the “the best job I’ve ever had.” Yet, this isn’t the first time Weiss has [more…]
At the beginning of May, Western Oregon University’s Director of Sports Performance Cori Metzgar was named a Master Strength and Conditioning Coach by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches association (CSCCa). Metzgar was presented with the blue MSCC jacket on May 7 by her mentor Master Strength and Conditioning Coach Anthony Glass from The Ohio State [more…]
June 13 was a pretty hot day, for Oregon in June at least. More than a thousand graduates packed into the New Physical Education gym to line up for the processional of the largest Commencement in Western Oregon University’s history. The graduates had to be pretty warm in their robes, but you wouldn’t have guessed it by [more…]
It is not unusual for a graduate of Western Oregon University to find his or her way back to campus in one form or another. Be it as a parent of a student, volunteer, or employee, WOU holds a special place in people’s hearts. Kellen Hendrickson ’05, this year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Award for [more…]
Everyone has a different path to discovering what he or she is passionate about. For Dr. Kevin Walczyk, this year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Excellence in Scholarship Award recipient, he discovered his passion early in his life: music and composition. He began playing the trumpet in 5th grade then added piano in 6th grade. At [more…]
Dr. Maureen Dolan deeply believes in the benefits of applied sociology and stepping outside of the traditional classroom setting. This has been her mission since joining WOU in 1993. Dolan, this year’s Mario and Alma Pastega Excellence in Teaching Award recipient, taught a Chicano studies sociology course where her students studied how a “culture of [more…]
A challenge faced by many in online academic programs is the difficulty in forming deep connections with classmates and faculty. Erica West Oyedele, this year’s Outstanding Graduate Student, said that problem was minimized with Western Oregon University’s master’s in Interpreting Studies. Although students were only on campus during two summers, West Oyedele said they found [more…]
For as long as Kacie Svesko can remember, she has wanted to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. One of her earliest memories of elementary school was a rainy day in Oregon. The worms were out and stranded on the sidewalk. “I couldn’t stand the thought of all those poor little guys frying in [more…]
Last Saturday, 9 Feb., Western Oregon University celebrated the lunar new year, otherwise known as Chinese New Year, with the annual festival hosted in the Pacific Room in Werner University Center. The festival started at 6:00 pm, opening doors and allowing time for guests to make use of the offered buffet, sponsored by Sing Fays, Yang’s Teriyaki, [more…]
Not many students can say they graduated with a 4.0 grade point average in their major and a 3.94 overall GPA. Eli Zachary, this year’s Delmer Dewey Award recipient for Outstanding Senior Male, can claim that honor. Not only does he have an incredible academic record – he majored in biology (with an emphasis in [more…]
Some students who grow up near a university feel the urge to spend their college years further away from home – no matter how good of a fit that college may be. Kylie Roth, this year’s Julia McCulloch Smith recipient never felt that way. Despite growing up close to Western Oregon University as a native [more…]
Lisa Catto
Posted on January 15, 2021 202 views
