For some new students the university educational experience is focused exclusively on attending classes and getting good grades. Other students, who wish to get the most out of their student experience, realize it will be most rewarding to pursue both academic excellence and to refine their life skills by working and collaborating effectively with people different from themselves. A key role for a university division of Student Affairs is to create that rich environment in which students interact and make the most of their life-changing, university experience. Student Affairs provides the foundation for this unique niche of benefits that WSU provides.
The Student in Student Affairs
Washington State University’s direction is beautifully summarized in our student recruitment theme, World Class, Face to Face. The campaign emphasizes how WSU’s undergraduate experience is discovery-oriented. Students learn by being engaged in research and exploration in conjunction with our outstanding faculty. Fostering support for students pursuing their academic disciplines is a core ingredient in student development. Learning experiences outside the classroom complete a student’s growth and maturation.
College success isn’t just measured by a graduate’s final grade point average in their chosen academic field. It is holistically measured by the sum total of one’s intellectual, physical and spiritual growth that has prepared the student to deal effectively and respectfully with oneself and with other people in their world. It is a measure of success that each student looks back on their university experiences and see that they were deeply involved both in challenging their minds and also in developing their life skills. For in practicing life skills the student will have gained a deeper understanding of themselves and an appreciation for working with people who are different than they are.
Student Affairs facilitates an environment rich for student interaction.
Today the world is changing in ways that require our students to deal with:
- Rapidly changing technologies
- An increasingly multi-cultural population
- An increasingly international economy
- And an extremely competitive society.
To live productive, satisfying lives in such an environment, students must master not only academic disciplines but also life skills including:
- How to collaborate with other students, faculty and staff
- How to work while respecting and nurturing diversity
- How to lead proactively
- How to follow effectively
- How to negotiate
- How to solve people problems
- How to pursue healthy life choices
It is certainly a focus of Student Affairs to help develop those student interactions outside the classroom…and encourage progressive partnerships, student-to-student, across student groups, and to our surrounding communities. These kinds of opportunities give WSU students practice exercising these essential leadership skills needed for productive employment, global citizenship and satisfying personal lives.
A safety net for student support
The University has a rich and diverse student body. Washington State University attracts returning adults, physically challenged students and male and female students in nearly equal numbers. We have students from different ethnic groups, races, religions, cultures, communities and nations. We are committed to ensuring that those differences be respected to the highest degree. We celebrate those differences.
While many students do extremely well individually in the college setting, others need in-depth support. To serve students’ needs and to help them accomplish their educational and personal goals, Student Affairs provides a wide variety of services and programs. These programs contribute to and support classroom learning and help students develop life skills. Student Affairs programs seek to create an environment that contributes to the personal growth of each student regardless of their background.
Partner with us
A university education can change lives and open doors of opportunity about which many persons in our state might only dream. Access to education is available not only in Pullman, but throughout the state at our branch campuses in Tri-Cities, Vancouver and Spokane, and through our Extended Degree and Cooperative Extension programs. As our state’s land-grant institution, Washington State University is unique by design.
Seize the day and take advantage of these opportunities!
Benefits of a Washington State University education include working side by side with world class faculty, outstanding career opportunities, an empowering community that helps students achieve their goals, and unparalleled leadership opportunities for students in numerous academic and co-curricular activities.
We in Student Affairs are available to help prospective students with opportunities to participate, work and learn. Many opportunities for personal growth and development are available at Washington State University. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about WSU or wish to join us in our unique learning experience, please contact our website, http://www.wsu.edu or call us toll free at 1-888-GO-TO-WSU (888-468-6978).
