Preparing Southwest Washington for a Strong Tomorrow

High-Demand Programs for Pre-health Professions: Neuroscience & Biology

As Southwest Washington, and in fact the entire nation, faces a shortage of health care workers, we are responding by applying to the legislature to increase our education capacity in some of the pre-health programs we offer. We hope to increase our course offerings, as well as our number of faculty, in both the neuroscience and biology programs.

Despite high demand for health care workers and biomedical scientists in the state, access to higher education to train students in these disciplines is limited. As the population in Southwest Washington continues to grow, the economic strength of the region will be determined by the percentage of the population with quality training in high demand areas.

If the proposed funding requests meet all of the necessary approval stages, we will see a neuroscience major offered on our campus beginning fall 2009.

“This gives our students another degree option for pre-health programs,” said Michael Morgan, professor of psychology.

In biology, the high level of student interest is already apparent, with our science enrollment growing at the fastest pace of all of our programs.

“This pre-health focus is very important to meet both student and regional economic needs,” said Steve Bollens, director of Science Programs. Such highly trained health care professionals will not only help to meet the state and regional growing demand for health care, but they will also help fuel the rapidly expanding biotechnology and biomedical sectors of the state’s economy.

Proposed programs will prepare students for careers and graduate training in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary medicine, physical therapy, and biomedical science.

Class of 2010

Our first freshmen of 2006, now juniors, share some of their campus experiences.

Robert Chu, 22
Humanities and Public Affairs dual major

I have had the opportunity to be an ASWSUV Senator on the external affairs committee, serve as the student media board vice chair and chair, be a member of the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Committee and the Academic Journal Committee, while contributing as a staff writer for The VanCougar newspaper.

My most positive experience has been the small campus feel. I like the fact that the students have real ownership quality on the campus.

I take pride in the fact that my degree will really hold some weight in the professional arena. I’m a first generation college student and this is huge to my family.

Denise Eyerly, 21
Social Science major

Our campus gave me the opportunity to stay at home, which made the difference financially and allowed me the support I needed as a full-time student.

The best thing about this campus is the leadership opportunities. I have been an ambassador for our campus and I’m now currently the recreation intern. I love being able to see the university grow as a student and as a future community leader.

After attending the very first ROAR, I was temporarily called away to Germany just as classes were to begin. The faculty and staff rallied together to maintain international contact with me during the orientation process after the beginning of my first classes.

Doctorate of Nursing Practice Fall 2009

A new doctorate program in nursing is coming soon to our campus. Due in part to high demand in this field, the program received $50,000 in the last two years from the Samuel L. Johnson Foundation. This money has been for the planning process from last year through the final stages of the 2008-2009 academic year.

Chancellor Hal Dengerink announced that the Doctorate of Nursing Practice program is proposed for the fall of 2009. Presently the program is awaiting approval from WSU and legislative funding.

The Academic Affairs Program Prioritization (A2P2) report from the WSU Provost’s office released in May of this year spotlighted the new program. The DNP program will start at the Vancouver campus, with future expansion statewide, and the nursing Ph.D. program will continue at the Spokane campus.

Deaf Education Certificate for Teachers

Our Education Department is preparing to launch a new program for teachers of deaf and hard of hearing children across the state. The online program will be available to teachers wherever they are, without interrupting their current teaching schedule or the education of their students. Completion of the program will give these teachers a specialty-teaching certificate in deaf education, which can also be used toward a master of education degree from WSU.

Currently, there is no certification within the state of Washington for this sort of education. Teachers must use out-of-state programs either by distance or in residence, creating a shortfall of certified deaf education teachers in Washington. According to the Washington Sensory Disabilities Commission, there are 1,173 students with hearing loss in Washington, but only 82 trained teachers of children who are deaf and hard of hearing, which represents a shortfall of nearly 150 trained teachers.

Upcoming Events

• Jul 8: Test Taking Strategies Workshop
• Jul 10: Poverty Banquet
• Jul 14: A-Z of Financial Aid and Scholarships
• Jul 15: Social Media Workshop: LinkedIn
• Jul 22: Social Media Workshop: Facebook

View more events »

The Chancellor's View

By Hal Dengerink, Ph.D.
WSU Vancouver Chancellor

“Interdependence” is a word that frequently takes a back seat to “independence” in the American vocabulary. “Independence” has historically seemed a more esteemed trait, as we’ve seen illustrated in stories about the American Revolution, pioneers blazing the Oregon Trail, and modern-day trailblazers like Bill Gates.

However significant that pioneering, independent spirit is to entrepreneurship and innovation, none of us truly walks through life alone. It was not one individual who dumped tea into Boston Harbor, and it will not be one individual — nor even one organization — who prepares Southwest Washington for a strong tomorrow. The community at large, local businesses, local government, WSU Vancouver and others are interdependent partners in serving the area’s needs.

In response to the needs of the community, WSU Vancouver has established an electrical engineering degree program to ensure that local businesses have an available pool of educated workers, and that the region can attract new businesses, thus creating more jobs. Our proposal to expand health and pre-health professions programs will prepare workers to enter one of the most high-demand fields in the country. And our proposal to establish a Southwest Washington Autism Center, developed in response to the increase in autism spectrum disorders, will provide assistance to both families and the school districts.

As one of the partners in this interdependent team, WSU Vancouver has been and continues to be responsive to the needs of the region, serving a critical role in the region’s growth. We invite you to join us in making a difference through your continued support of Washington State University Vancouver.

Scholarships: Hope and Promise

By Jennifer Crooks
Director of Development and Alumni Relations

Scholarships are more than free passes to a college or university. They provide hope and the promise of greater opportunity to thousands of students who might otherwise be denied a college education.

At WSU Vancouver, we are preparing students to become innovative leaders who will bring positive changes to this community. Investing in students through scholarship support is a way for you to invest in our community by ensuring that bright and talented students become confident and visionary leaders of our future.

While state officials consider issues of college affordability and tuition, we are aggressively moving forward to do what we can to raise needed scholarship funds to assist as many WSU Vancouver students as we can. Scholarships are vital for students who are facing another tuition increase. Gone are the days when a student’s summer job would earn them enough money for tuition and books for the next academic year. Tuition rates have increased 53% since we moved to our permanent campus location in 1996, and with over 63% of WSU Vancouver students receiving financial aid, scholarship gifts are even more important to ensure a healthy economy and community.

Your investment towards scholarships gives the promise of a Washington State University education right here in Southwest Washington. And, it is an opportunity for you to share in the lives of remarkable people who are shaping the world and our community. Your gift is a visible way that private giving can make a different in the lives of students.

To learn more about contributing to scholarships, contact the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at 360-546-9600.

Grant Creates Full-day Kindergarten

Tod and Maxine McClaskey Foundation gives $1.5M

Thursday, Sept. 18 saw community members, parents, children, local lawmakers and WSU Vancouver faculty all digging in the dirt and sharing milk and cookies.

The celebration was in honor of the groundbreaking for the McClaskey Building full-day private kindergarten, scheduled to open in the fall of 2010. The building renovation and program are possible thanks to the generous gift of $1.5 million from the Tod and Maxine McClaskey Foundation.

“Why a preschool?” said Dengerink at the ceremony, “To help children get ready for their future academic endeavors. These children are the future of our community. This program will feature a scholarship program for low income families to help fill the gap for struggling community members in traditional early education environments.”

Southwest Washington Autism Center

In conjunction with Educational Service District 112 and health officials from around Southwest Washington, our campus is preparing to be the home of the new Southwest Washington Autism Center, with tentative plans to begin serving the area in the summer of 2009.

Our faculty will conduct practice-based research related to transitions throughout the students’ educational careers in our Psychology, Human Development, and Education programs.

“The goal is to become a place for parents to learn, and to get help and support, particularly when their autistic children are at an age when they are transitioning in to school, or transitioning to new levels of school,” said Michael Dunn, assistant professor of education and member of the SWAC committee.