Future Students

We are offering hybrid instruction for Undergraduate Bridge and Academic English students for summer 2021, which means students may come back to campus.

Distance (online) learning will continue to be an option for students who are unable to be on campus.

January 25, 2021

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff:

Navigating the challenges of COVID‑19 together as a Cougar community has taught us much about the resiliency of the human spirit. We have sacrificed individually and collectively while simultaneously adapting to a redefined world, a world requiring new pathways to pursue our goals and hopes and dreams. Your own courage and grit have humbled and inspired us.

Knowing these sacrifices makes today’s announcement even more special: while details remain to be finalized, we are planning for a robust in‑person student experience both inside and outside the classroom for fall 2021 and beyond. While each of our campus locations around the state has its own constraints and opportunities, we look forward to a return to in‑person activities as soon as possible. Chancellors throughout the WSU system soon will communicate campus-specific details about their fall schedule.

As we look optimistically toward the coming months, we also want to share some additional important information:

• The 2021 fall semester course schedules for all WSU campuses are expected to be available online in early April.
• We will celebrate the achievements of our students graduating at the end of the 2021 spring semester with a system‑wide virtual commencement celebration on May 8. Additional event details will be available in the coming weeks.
• For the 2021 summer session, we are planning for both in‑person and remote delivery. We are building a synchronous delivery schedule that will allow us to shift quickly to remote instruction if in‑person delivery is not possible.
• Details about fall semester housing availability on the WSU Pullman campus will be provided in a separate email this week. We anticipate additional residence hall capacity for fall semester.

Our planning will continue to reflect state guidelines and the expertise of health authorities. Protecting the health of our students, faculty, and staff will continue to guide all of our decision-making in the coming months. If the pandemic worsens, we will quickly adapt our plans and revert to remote delivery of most coursework.

Our students’ learning, personal well‑being, and life success remain our top priority. Faculty and staff continue to strive to deliver the best possible remote experience, applying anew the technology and best practices we’ve learned during the past 10 months. Our staff in the Division of Student Affairs are similarly committed to providing a robust Coug Experience.

Now is also a good time to remind ourselves of how we can help eliminate COVID‑19. Practice the 3 W’s each day: wear a mask, wash your hands, and watch your distance. Please continue to refer to our COVID‑19 website for updates about the University’s plans going forward. We also urge you to get the coronavirus vaccine as soon as it is available to you.

Thank you for your continued understanding, your patience, and all of your efforts during this unprecedented challenge of our times. We eagerly look forward to the day when we once again can be together in person as a community.

Go Cougs!

Kirk Schulz
President

Elizabeth Chilton
Provost and Executive Vice President

Mary Jo Gonzales
Vice President of Student Affairs