Thank you for helping us build momentum. We’re grateful for your support of the School of the Environment.
Your gift to the Excellence Fund strengthens our academic programs, sparks bold new ideas, and opens doors for students, faculty, and staff to thrive. Thanks to your commitment, we’re not just moving forward, we’re gaining momentum. We’re advancing education, accelerating research, and enriching our community with purpose and energy.
Your belief in our mission keeps us going. You’re a vital part of the progress we’re making, and we’re excited to share a few highlights from the past year that reflect the impact of your support. There’s so much more ahead, and we look forward to keeping you connected to the incredible work you’re helping make possible.
With heartfelt appreciation,
GO COUGS!
- Thanks to your generosity, the School of the Environment (SoE) has been able to support a variety of events and initiatives that strengthen our community and foster interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty and students. These gatherings have become a valued part of our culture and have helped us grow into a unified “One School of the Environment.”
- Welcome Reception: Early in the semester, SoE hosted a welcome event in the Webster Hall lobby for new faculty and graduate students. We had 34 attendees and provided food and a $10 LCB banquet permit for the reception
- Fall Potluck Picnic: Our early fall potluck picnic brought together faculty, staff, and graduate students to kick off the academic year and the faculty/staff visioning retreat. It also offered graduate students a chance to connect with both Pullman-based and non-Pullman faculty. In 2024, we had 55 attendees and covered soft drinks and a $10 LCB banquet permit.
- Visioning Retreat: SoE held a facilitated faculty and staff retreat to guide our strategic direction for the next five years. This followed an external review of our unit, which favorably compared us to UC Berkeley’s Environmental Science, Policy, and Management department. The reviewers noted the need for a strategic plan, which we began developing in early fall. Over the past year, we’ve refined our goals, objectives, and strategies, and are now finalizing our Strategic Plan.
- Field Skills Course Support: Our new Field Skills for Earth Scientists” (SOE 207) course is a gateway for our majors to be introduced to exciting field research. This course that begins before the start of fall semester was taken by Earth Science and Environmental & Ecosystem Sciences majors and included 10 full-day field trips across Idaho and Eastern Washington. We recognized the contributions of student drivers in the “Field Skills for Earth Scientists” (SOE 207) course. We also provided pizza to celebrate the final day of the course. This course is helping build our Earth Sciences major and minor.
- Graduate Student Halloween Event: SoE graduate students organized a Halloween gathering at the Steffen Center to promote community building. We supported the event by purchasing the LCB banquet permit.
- Annual Holiday Party: Your support made our SoE Holiday party possible, bringing together faculty, staff, graduate students, partners, and families. The celebration included candy, cupcakes, pizza, salad, soft drinks, and bowling at Zeppoz. This well-attended tradition marks the end of the fall semester and honors recent graduates.
- Scholarships and fellowships provided financial support to students, helping them take part in educational programs and reducing barriers to participation. Awards and contributions also helped recognize and support those making a positive impact.