Increase in credit hours, gift help WSU
By Joe Kleinsasser
An increase in credit hour production will allow WSU to serve students better in the future.
The credit hour increase will result in a request for additional funds of $614,000 from the Bureau of the Budget.
President Don Beggs has dedicated all of those funds, when received, to increase class offerings and improve information technology.
College deans have already added classes for the spring schedule in an effort to help students get the credits they need, according to Vice President for Academic Affairs and Research Robert Kindrick.
He also said an intensive review of WSU’s information technology needs has begun to help the university move forward.
Kindrick also announced that Internet technology corporation Cisco Systems has made a gift of equipment valued at $1.2 million to the electrical and computer engineering department.
The equipment will strengthen the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs. The equipment allows for new instructional laboratory projects for undergraduates and research opportunities in Internet switching technology for graduate students and faculty.
Additionally, it makes WSU a major site for educating students in new electronic technology and enhances the competitiveness of faculty in the electrical engineering program for federal and industry funding of research.
Kindrick said, "This gift, following previous equipment and student support gifts from Cisco to the electrical engineering program, is in recognition of the quality of the program and the students it produces, and the dedication of Drs. Ravi Pendse and Everett Johnson, who have built the program through a strong relationship with Cisco Systems."
