January 10, 2003

FULL WEEK OF SEATTLE P-I OPINION COLUMNS ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Here is a selection of editorials that have been published this week in the Seattle P-I. To keep track of what's happening around the Northwest at http://www.seattlepi.com -- updated all day and as news breaks.

• Higher ed needs vision beyond this budget
  Joe Copeland, columnist: It's a choice that will help define Washington state for years to come. The 2003 Legislature can continue whittling away at the state's support for public higher education. Or legislators can summon the will to commit the state to providing the educational opportunities that will serve both Washington's young people and the public.
• Washington has fiddled while other states poured money into higher ed
  While other states put the ample revenues from a strong economy into improving their higher education systems, Washington chose to let its colleges and universities try to run on momentum. Now, it must decide how to stop the slide.
• The future begins at UW, WSU
  P-I Editorial: Washington has two great research universities. It's time that the Legislature and the governor start showing they recognize the value of the University of Washington and Washington State University.
• System not keeping up with demand
  P-I Editorial: If Washington wants to claim to offer a full range of higher education opportunities, it has a long way to go.
• Decrepit buildings now also too small
  P-I Editorial: After a good-times decade of surprisingly pervasive neglect of higher education in state budgets, community colleges and universities alike are in serious need of more and better buildings.

WASHINGTON LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS
Some of you have been contacted by various groups who have questions regarding WSU's budget requests for the upcoming state legislative session. The text of the capital and operating budget requests and a PowerPoint presentation are available on the WSU Budget Office Web page.

The slides Larry Ganders, Assistant to the President, used in our discussions with extension county chairs and extension leaders are posted at www.olympia.wsu.edu. Click on "state briefing papers" in the left hand margin. It is formatted in Microsoft Powerpoint XP.

INTERAL FUNDING TO STIMULATE INTERDISCIPLINARY WORK
Four WSU funding opportunities from the Office of Research and the Graduate School are being announced in response to the WSU Strategic Plan. Watch the WSU Today and your email for future announcements on these two new programs:

• "Initiation of Collaboration" to provide $5,000 per proposal for interdisciplinary seminar series, retreats, and/or symposia.
• "Collaborative Investments in the Future" will fund initiatives, up to $100,000 per year for up to 5 years, which transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries to support the education and production of PhD students. Outreach and Extension efforts are within the guidelines as interdisciplinary partners.

CAHE NAME CHANGE PROPOSAL
A CAHE committee, Tom Power, John Brown, Keith Blatner, and Bill Pan, have prepared a document regarding the name change of the College of Agriculture and Home Economics (CAHE). This has been shared with all department heads and district directors so that they may lead conversation in their respective units. Please take the time to read the full document and provide your input asap. Thanks to the committee for their labors!

"To reflect the current mission of the college and to better represent programs that emphasize responsible environmental stewardship and human sciences, we propose to change the name of our college to the "College of Agricultural, Environmental, and Human Sciences." Agriculture plays an essential role in environmental protection, and much of our college's mission is to provide growers with new technology that will help them economically and environmentally sustain their farms. In addition, numerous programs in the College address non-agricultural natural resource and environmental quality issues facing society. The term "Human Sciences" was chosen by a National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) commission to refer to fields traditionally labeled "Home Economics." We feel that "Environmental and Human Sciences" better describes the current instructional, research, and outreach activities in our college and better communicates to potential students, employers, and partners our activities and our mission."

INFORMATION SECURITY THEME FOR CONSUMER PROTECTION
Every year, National Consumer Protection Week offers consumer agencies a chance to highlight a topic of special relevance in their communities. The focus of this year's NCPW - February 2-8, 2003 - is Information Security, a theme that offers an opportunity for education and outreach on computer security, privacy, medical information, e-commerce, spam, or identity theft. Please visit the NCPW Web site -- and click on "Outreach Toolkit" to learn how you can get involved.

The Federal Trade Commission is hosting the NCPW site. Colleen Tressler, the FTC's NCPW Coordinator, is looking for web content, so please let her know if you have publications or websites related to information security. Please email Colleen at with the item's title and URL. Also let her know if the item is for consumers or businesses.

PERSONNEL
New Assignment
Dr. Dora Rumsey, SE District Director, has accepted the position of Extension Advisor on the USDA Marketing Assistance Project in Armenia for the period of 9 months extending from January 21 to November 1, 2003 (with the option of renewing another 9 months). She will provide leadership for Armenia Extension and help to develop a sustainable Armenian-led extension system in Armenia. Her responsibilities will include administrative, management and budgeting for Extension, development of a vision and plan for Extension, preparing an undergraduate Extension Education curriculum for the Armenian Agricultural Academy, and coordinating USDA programs with the Armenian Ministries of Education and Agriculture.

We wish Dora safe travels and bountiful learning experiences! Additionally, we thank Dora for her years of service as District Director. With this new international assignment, Dora is stepping down as District Director, effective January 21. We will begin a national search for the permanent position. In the meantime, we will appoint a short-term, interim director as soon as possible. This interim appointment will be for the period of time to conduct the search and fill the position. Wayne Madson, NE District Director will chair the search committee.

SCHEDULE
Mike will be in Washington DC through January 13th through the 30th. Linda will be in Pullman all of next week.

Mike Tate
Dean and Director
Linda Kirk Fox
Associate Director
Cooperative Extension
PO Box 646230
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-6230
Ph 509-335-2933
Fax 509-335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu