A new academic year
September 9, 2026
With the academic year underway, there is renewed energy across our campuses. Students have filled our classrooms and labs, faculty have launched new courses, research, scholarship, and creative activities continue, and we have welcomed new members to our community. The start of fall semester is always one of my favorite times of year at WSU.
Like me, I am sure many of you have been considering how our changing world will impact our students here and in their lives beyond WSU. Artificial intelligence is transforming how we work, and we find ourselves trying to predict the future, while preparing our graduates for the careers and lives they will find after their time at WSU. While we cannot know the future, the skills we teach in the College, regardless of the discipline, are enduring. I am steadfast in my belief that our students need a strong foundation in their disciplines and the ability to think critically, communicate clearly, solve complex problems, and perhaps most importantly, collaborate.
A bachelor’s degree remains one of the strongest investments students can make in their future, providing greater career opportunities, long-term earning potential, and flexibility as the workforce, and the world around us evolves. An arts and sciences education offers something equally important: the breadth and adaptability to succeed throughout a lifetime.
This is nothing new to CAS faculty. We have always prepared students to think deeply and creatively. Challenging coursework, combined with research opportunities, creative work, internships, study abroad, community partnerships, and classroom experiences help students connect what they learn with the world around them. Our responsibility – now more than ever – is to help them recognize those connections, build on them intentionally, and communicate their value with confidence.
Because this work is so important, we welcomed Katie Forsythe as our new Director of Student Success this fall. Working with faculty and partners across WSU, Katie will lead our Career-Ready, World-Ready initiative and expand opportunities for students to connect their education with the skills and experiences valued by employers and graduate schools.
I hope we all celebrate the many stories that show what we know to be inherently true, a degree from CAS is built for a changing world. Please help us share those stories. Tell others how a professor, experience, or idea shaped your career path, and celebrate the discovery, creativity, and mentorship taking place across the College.
The highlights below offer a glimpse of the energy, creativity and impact we see every day.
Featured Stories
Research reveals how relativity alters a chemical bond
CAS researchers have provided a first look at how relativity changes the nature of a chemical bond.
Expanding undergraduate research opportunities
The Aquatics Phenomics Research Center is giving more students access to meaningful, hands-on research experiences.
DTC students built a fantasy video game in 16 weeks
21 graduating seniors in the WSU Vancouver Digital Technology and Culture department partnered with local indie game studio Noctua Interactive to build “Fireflies”, a playable puzzle-stealth video game demo built in Unreal Engine 5.
Share your memories of Heald Hall
As WSU prepares for the next chapter of the science corridor, the community is invited to share its memories of Heald Hall.
I am grateful for all you do to move our college forward and look forward to building on this momentum together.
Sincerely,
Courtney Meehan
Dean