WSU-Wide Programs Supporting All Undergraduates
The Office of Undergraduate Education (OUE) serves first-year programs, for undecided undergraduate students and students in transition, as well as for programs that support student success and retention.
The OUE houses a team of talented faculty and programs with a mission to provide each entering undergraduate student with ...
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a world-class first-year experience
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a smooth, seamless transition to a degree program
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a general education (core curriculum) that prepares them to excel in a global society.
Functions of the Office of Undergraduate Education
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Assists new students to make successful transitions to Washington State University and to build solid foundations for academic success
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Provides an academic home for undecided students and for students in transition between majors (typically across colleges)
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Supports WSU’s strategic plan and sustains students throughout their college careers, regardless of choice of major
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Offers a coordinated solution to current issues in general education, academic advising, first-year programming, reinstatement policies and procedures, and assessment of our current efforts to retain students
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Supports faculty and staff in piloting university-wide innovations in co-curricular and academic support, whether through orientation programs, academic learning communities, first-year seminars, academic advising, leadership opportunities, or major-specific internships.
Units
Center for Advising and Career Development The Center for Advising and Career Development offers a holistic approach to student learning and career success. We provide students with purposeful and systematic services that foster student learning and development throughout an academic career at WSU. We help students build the strongest educational experience possible, while developing life planning skills.
General
Education The
General Education unit helps students develop and
fine-tune their personal and academic
skills beginning with their very first class on
campus and continuing through graduation with their
baccalaureate degree. In October 2008, a General
Education Visioning Committee was appointed by the WSU
Provost to provide a new vision and strategy for
general education at WSU.
Honors
College The Honors
College offers an enriched general education curriculum
that emphasizes international contexts and is designed
to help academically talented students get the most
from their undergraduate education. The Honors
College will celebrate its silver 50th anniversary in
2010. Known for its innovative curriculum and
global studies focus, Honors' faculty and students
receive numerous awards for academic
achievements.
Learning Communities The Learning Communities program guides the development and maximizes the synergy of the communities on campus where students live and learn. Key to WSU Learning Communities is the nationally acclaimed "Freshman Focus" program, which each fall semester helps students enroll in classes with students who live in the same residence halls as they do. In fall 2009, about 2,800 freshmen (or about 80% of the class) are participating in Freshman Focus. The Common Reading program is affiliated with Freshman Focus.
New Student Programs New Student Programs serves prospective and enrolling students to Washington State University by organizing programs that familiarize students with university services, provide opportunities for academic advising and introduce academic and social networks that connect students to University life. Our mission is to help incoming students make a smooth transition to WSU with academic success, personal growth and social comfort as paramount objectives.
Pathways to Academic Success Seminar (PASS) The Pathways to Academic Success Seminar enhances students’ transition to Washington State University’s academic community by engaging them in inquiry, academic discourse, critical thinking and learning, and familiarizing them with campus resources to assist them in their path towards academic success
Undergraduate Research The Office of Undergraduate Research facilitates opportunities for students from all majors to partner in “research” (to design, create, and discover) with mentoring world-class faculty from across the university. As many as 25 percent of undergraduates participate in some degree of research before graduation. In summer 2009, the NSF_funded Research Experience for Undergraduates and similar programs were the largest in the Northwest and served nearly 100 students from WSU and institutions across the nation; they brought more than $450,000 to students in research programs.
Writing Program The Writing Program evaluates and improves students’ written communication and faculty assessments of it. It includes the Writing Assessment office, the Writing Center, and the Writing in the Disciplines program. In August 2009, the WSU Writing Program was nationally ranked for the seventh of nine years as an "Academic Program to Look For" in the U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges 2010" report.