Mission
Our mission is to serve the science and engineering needs of Washington State and the global community by advancing scholarship and educating thoughtful leaders and problem solvers. We know that some Western students have found this time and circumstance to be very challenging. As a community it is important that we collectively recognize our ability to help, and to keep our focus and priorities on equitable access to education, inclusion, and providing opportunity.
Impact
We need to ensure that circumstances beyond their control do not keep our talented and driven students from achieving their goals. We also know that these times have not affected all students equally. If your situation and resources allow, I invite you to support us this year. Gifts to the Dean’s fund enable us to respond to emergent student and faculty needs.
Your gift will help provide the best possible learning experience for our students by supporting student research, scholarships, faculty and program support, technical equipment and innovative technology.
WWU has a national reputation for high quality, hands-on research and learning opportunities for its students. CSE is a shining star amongst its fellow colleges, boasting seven departments and two multidisciplinary programs. Our faculty participate directly in the classroom and laboratory instruction of our students in programs that emphasize independent student scholarship and the development of creative and innovative thinking.
Graduates from our departments and programs are prepared for a wide variety of professional opportunities in each of the disciplinary areas and are ideally prepared for pre-professional programs that require scientific and technical backgrounds.
Departments and Special Projects:
General College Funding Priorities
Advanced Technology Building - www.vikingfunder.com/wwunewbuildingfund
Supporting Black Students in STEM https://www.vikingfunder.com/blackstudentsinstem
Chemistry
Student success story from your department (scholarship recipient, study abroad experience or interesting undergraduate research opportunity).
Specific funding priorities for this year:
“In 2019, a team of investigators from across WWU was awarded two grants for acquiring state-of-the-art mass spectrometry instrumentation. This group was led by the Chemistry Department, with John Antos serving as the principle investigator, and Sergey Smirnov (WWU Chemistry), Greg O’Neil (WWU Chemistry), and Kathy Van Alstyne (Shannon Point Marine Center) serving as co-PIs. Along with these investigators, 19 additional faculty and staff from WWU Chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Behavioral Neuroscience, Engineering & Design, and Scientific Technical Services made invaluable contributions to the project. With these grants, WWU has acquired a high-resolution liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight (LC-QTOF) mass spectrometry system (National Science Foundation, $499,946) and a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometer (M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, $318,500). Both instruments are now operational in WWU’s University Instrument Center, providing a new institutional resource that will support a broad range of research, teaching, and training needs in fields such as synthetic chemistry, biochemistry, polymer science, marine ecology and many others.”
Biology
Your gift to the Biology Department this year will fund student research and travel to conferences, career networking opportunities, and most importantly, scholarships, especially for first-generation and underrepresented students.
Computer Science
The fastest growing field of study at Western is computer science. The discipline is exciting, socially impactful, and provides many challenging, rewarding, and lucrative jobs for graduates to pursue. Faculty specialize in areas such as Game Programming, Mobile Application Development, Machine Learning, Technology for Social Good, and Cybersecurity and ethics. The computer science department is committed to promoting economic, gender, and racial diversity within the department and the field at-large. Graduates are working as software engineers at places like Amazon, Microsoft, or Google. Some are involved with startup companies or data science positions. Others choose to pursue advanced graduate work in computer science.
We care about providing Computer Science students with the best support during their time at WWU. During these uncertain times, it is imperative to continue to provide our students with opportunities to network with professionals, present at conferences, and attend workshops. These opportunities may be presented in different platforms and in a virtual world, however your support to the CS Department will continue support the education and future of Computer Science students.
Engineering and Design
The Engineering & Design Department, in the College of Science and Engineering offers students five Bachelor of Science degrees: Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Plastics & Composites Engineering, Industrial Design, and Industrial Technology – Vehicle Design. These programs place an emphasis on practical laboratory experiences, in addition to theoretical course work. Each program’s curriculum is designed with input from strong industrial advisory committees to prepare students for professional positions in industry.
Funding Priority is the Advanced Technology Building!
Geology
In normal years, gifts to the Geology Department support student scholarships as well as activities that are vital for sustaining and improving the quality and reach of our programs. These latter activities have included support for innovative field- or lab-intensive courses, new instruments and equipment, vans, and other expenses associated with travel. However, this year, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, our most critical need is to support students who are facing financial hardship. Whatever you are able to donate towards Geology students in need will be greatly appreciated!
Mathematics
Student Success Story:
Funding Priorities
Physics and Astronomy
Student Success Story
Funding Priorities
Science, Math and Technology Education
SMATE is a national model for effective recruiting and preparation of the highest quality future elementary and secondary science teachers. We participate in STEM education research and contribute to STEM education reform initiatives, both in higher education and in K-12 school communities, and serve as a valuable resource to the university and broader community to improve teaching and learning in STEM fields. SMATE consists of a vibrant group of interdisciplinary faculty, and houses an innovative STEM education resource center for both the campus and the K-12 education community. Thank you for your consideration and support of SMATE students!