Health Science students have cause to rejoice today as Governor Inslee signed into law House Bill 1726, a student-led and WSU-supported bill designed to enhance training opportunities for students in nursing, pharmacy and medicine.

Currently students are required to have a professional from their own discipline supervise them if they provide any type of health care service. This policy has led to lost opportunities for students who can’t find available preceptors in their fields or are left in a bind when a supervisor is forced to cancel due to unforeseen circumstances. HB 1726 will increase opportunities for inter-professional training by allowing students in the … » More …

The transportation budget approved by the Legislature over the weekend and sent to the governor’s desk advances the schedule for previously funded safety improvements on State Route 26 between Dusty and Colfax.

With safety for WSU students and others traveling across the state to and from the Pullman campus in mind, the Legislature in 2017 approved $11.15 million in the transportation budget to construct new climbing lanes. Construction was slated to occur in two stages. Some of it was to occur during the 2023-25 biennium and the bulk of it was to occur during the 2025-27 biennium.

But legislative leaders — at the urging of … » More …

Gov. Jay Inslee this afternoon signed into law a bill requiring higher education institutions that use dogs and cats for research offer the animals up for adoption before considering euthanasia.

Senate Bill 5212 was passed out of both the Senate and the House unanimously, with stakeholder support from the University of Washington, Washington State University, and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. WSU has used cats and dogs in research projects related to pharmacology, nutrition, orthopedics, arthritis and cancer therapy, helping to improve overall animal health and comfort.

The legislation was sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo, D-Maltby, who serves as Chair on the Senate … » More …

The Legislature adjourned its 2019 session just before midnight Sunday, having approved budget compromises. Most notably, the Legislature fully funded WSU’s $14.4 million request for core funding to support the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine.

The operating budget package completes funding for the College of Medicine’s existing cohorts of 60 students per year as well while also funding first- and second-year instruction for an additional 20 students, allowing the college to admit 80 students this fall. This request was WSU’s top legislative priority.

We are working jointly with the Budget Office on a comprehensive analyst. In the meantime, here is an overview:

Operating budget:

… » More …

Governor Jay Inslee signed House Bill 1563 into law this afternoon, enacting legislation that will allow students under 21 enrolled in viticulture and enology programs at four-year universities to taste, but not consume wine as part of their educational experiences outside of the classroom.

The law will now include grape-growing areas and wine production facilities as allowable places for supervised students to sip and expectorate wine. This means students in these programs will now have the opportunity to better understand flavors … » More …