Teaching

Carla Peperzak’s story and honors have one goal: never again

Carla Olman Peperzak has told her story of helping Jews during World War II many times. She’s been honored for her heroism, including receiving an honorary doctoral degree from Washington State University that will be conferred at commencement in May. On this cold February day, however, she has something else on her mind. “Germany before the war […]

Carla Peperzak.

In the name of art

Following a thorough vetting by faculty members and the Faculty Senate, and approval by the president and Board of Regents, the WSU Department of Fine Arts is now the WSU Department of Art. The name change reflects the breadth and depth of the artistic areas available at WSU, yet the use of the singular “art” is […]

Various kinds of brightly colored artwork hanging from a ceiling.

Million-dollar gift supports teaching at WSU

The tremendous impact made by professors Tom and Julie Lutz during 20-plus years at WSU and the legacy of Julie’s “full life” are now honored and celebrated in a professorship, a teaching excellence award, and a scholarship all bearing the Lutz name. During the 1960s and ‘70s in America, it was not altogether common to […]

Julie Lutz in a knit hat posing near a telescope.

History prof received teaching award

Shawna Herzog, assistant professor for Washington State University’s Department of History, is the winner of the 2022-23 Excellence in Online Teaching Award. The student-nominated annual award is sponsored by WSU Global Campus. The award, now in its seventh year, seeks to acknowledge and reward WSU faculty members teaching Global Campus courses who employ best practices […]

Washington State University.

Tackling the ethics of ChatGPT

When students in Samantha Noll’s Honors College course on philosophy and technology raised the issue of ChatGPT and academic cheating, she knew she had to address it. Noll, associate professor in the School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs, is the newly appointed Elma Ryan Bornander Honors Distinguished Chair. Recipients are outstanding WSU faculty at […]

Samantha Noll teaching in class.

Hands-on classroom: ancient dart throwing

The first complex weapon system developed by humans is helping Washington State University students learn about both ancient technological innovation and modern-day experimental archeology.  Originating in Europe over 30,000 years ago, the “atlatl” consists of a short stick or board with a cup at one end that enables the wielder to throw a dart farther […]

A student prepares to throw a dart from an atlatl.

Global Campus: 30 years of opportunity

In 1992, Washington State University extended its land-grant mission by launching one of the nation’s first opportunities for students to pursue a degree from anywhere on the globe through distance delivery. Today, our Global Campus is the second largest campus by enrollment in the WSU system with more than 4,000 students enrolled in one of […]

Merging virtual and in-person field trips

Prior to 2020, students enrolled in Washington State University’s natural resource ecology course (SOE 300) made field trips to Kamiak Butte County Park, 20 minutes north of Pullman, as part of a semester-long project. As lovely as spending class time off-campus in nature is, it’s also a challenge for students who don’t drive. During the pandemic, […]

A mule deer and two fawns in a green field.