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MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University offers a new Healthcare Administration Graduate Certificate which will support the growing healthcare industry and increasing healthcare needs of Salem and surrounding areas. According to The Occupational Information Network, over the next decade, 600 jobs will open annually in Oregon for medical and health services management.  “The Healthcare Graduate Certificate program at Western is an affordable and local option taught by healthcare professionals from the Salem community, including Western Oregon University faculty with expertise in gerontology and providing healthcare for minority and rural populations,” said Healthcare Graduate Certificate Program Coordinator Paul Disney. “The certificate can be applied to a master’s degree in organizational leadership with a healthcare administration emphasis and eventually to an MBA with a healthcare concentration.” The certificate offers a local professional development opportunity for current healthcare administrators in the Willamette Valley taught by local experts who are intimately familiar with issues and challenges impacting healthcare in Oregon. It can also be “stacked” with other organizational leadership certificates, that could become a master’s degree in organizational leadership with an emphasis in healthcare administration. This certificate provides a need highlighted by former Oregon Governor Brown in the Future Ready Oregon program, which aims to advance opportunities for historically underserved communities seeking employment or career advancement in healthcare and other select fields.   For more information, contact Paul Disney at disneyp@wou.edu ### About Western Oregon UniversityWestern Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of...

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University President Jesse Peters named Dr. Jose Coll as the university’s next Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs. Coll will start in the new role on June 30th. “Dr. Coll’s experiences in higher education leadership have prepared him perfectly to take the helm as Provost at Western,” Peters said. “But more than that, he is student-focused and collaborative, making him a strong partner in this community as we strengthen and improve our institution. We look forward to him joining the leadership team at our university. Welcome to Western Oregon, Dr. Coll.” After serving as a noncommissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, Coll completed a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Saint Leo University, his master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Central Florida, and a Ph.D. in Counseling Education and Supervision from the University of South Florida.  “I am humbled at the opportunity to work alongside President Peters, faculty, staff, and students to continue the legacy of Oregon’s oldest public university,” Coll said. “As Provost of Western Oregon University, I look forward to elevating and celebrating the accomplishments of our collective community while promoting academic excellence and innovation. I wish to thank the search committee for their service and look forward to meeting and working with the WOU community. Go Wolves!”  Dr. Coll is the current Dean of the School of Social Work and Interim Dean of the College of Education at Portland State University and has held administrative and faculty positions at Texas State University, University of Southern California, and Saint Leo University. His research interests have been...

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University announces its first doctoral program in Occupational Therapy (OT). Classes will be held at the WOU: Salem campus beginning in the fall of 2024. “It is wonderful to see Western Oregon moving to address the needs of the state in this area,” said President Jesse Peters. This will be the first doctoral program at Western Oregon and the first Occupational Therapy program to be located within Oregon’s public university system. Western is currently in the applicant phase of accreditation with the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) and will begin accepting applications by November 2023 with plans to start the first student cohort in fall 2024 “Our location in Salem provides incredible opportunities for our students to grow as healthcare professionals who are prepared to meet the current and future mental and physical healthcare needs of our diverse population,” says Sean Roush, Director of the OT program. “We can’t wait to welcome our first cohort of students.” The program is designed to prepare students to balance the art and science of OT practice as entry-level therapists. Occupational therapists work with individuals, groups, and organizations to promote health and wellness across the age span so that everyone can strive to live life to the fullest. “We are excited to launch the first Occupational Therapy Doctorate offered at an Oregon public university, as we need a more affordable option for students interested in this career path,” Rob Winningham, Provost of Academic Affairs said. “Oregon is in desperate need of more healthcare professionals and programs that lead to licensed practitioners.” Updates on the progress toward...

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Dr. Jesse Peters, Western Oregon University President, names Desiree Noah as the university’s Executive Director of Human Resources. Please join us in congratulating Desiree Noah, who will begin her role on June 26th. “Desiree Noah is the right leader at the right time for the Human Resources Team at Western Oregon University. I have confidence that she will engage our institution in ways that will make us stronger,” said President Peters. Noah currently serves as the Executive Director of People, Safety, and Compliance at Clatsop Community College, where she also served as Director of Human Resources and Title IX Compliance Coordinator. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a Master of Business Administration. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role, including years of experience working at a Hispanic Serving Institution. “I am excited to be a part of the WOU community and HR team. I cannot wait to contribute to the continued success I witnessed during my visit,” says Desiree. The Executive Director of Human Resources is responsible for leading the functional areas of employment, employee relations, labor relations, compensation, payroll, benefits, compliance, policy and procedure development, and performance management and training. Western Oregon looks forward to Noah’s leadership and support for our students and employees. ### About Western Oregon University Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution with about 70% of the student population being from Oregon. A significant portion of attendees are members of under-represented groups, veterans, or non-traditional students....

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s Board of Trustees convened April 18th and 19th to consider and approve several items, including the Tuition & Fees for 2023-2024 Academic Year & Summer 2023. The Tuition Advisory Committee, which includes students, staff, and faculty submitted a suggested tuition increase of 3.09% which was accepted by the president and presented to the Board of Trustees. The trustees approved the 3.09% increase to resident undergraduate tuition. Keeping non-resident tuition at the current rate brings the non-resident ratio in line with other Oregon Universities where the range is 2.6-3.2; non-resident tuition will be 3.2 times greater than resident tuition next year. Graduate tuition will also remain at the same rate as the previous year. “We believe access to higher education should be as affordable as possible. Therefore, a small increase was necessary to provide quality services to our students,” said Board of Trustee Chair Betty Komp.  Chair Komp also noted that “Oregon ranks 45th in the nation for state support to higher education; enrollment declines and rising costs to maintain facilities and services means that tuition must also increase. The only way to avoid tuition increases is to have more state funding.” Even though the increase of $6 per credit hour makes the price of a college degree more expensive, undergraduate tuition at Western Oregon University is still among the lowest in the state. According to President Peters, “WOU continues to be one of the most affordable public universities in Oregon. It’s our responsibility as a university to facilitate student success while providing access to quality education. Even though we face the real possibility...

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Write Place, a nonprofit founded at Western Washington University in 2013 and dedicated to creating and supporting literary and artistic projects that inspire appreciation of humanity’s intimate relationship with the natural environment, is moving to Western Oregon University.  The Write Place board approved WOU English professor Henry Hughes as its new executive director. “Henry Hughes is the right person for the job,” wrote founder and retired director John Purdy, an alumnus of WOU (class of ’78). “We are so happy that the organization will have a home at Western Oregon University.” John Purdy, a professor of literature at Western Washington University, envisioned an organization that would braid his lifelong interests in literature and the environment. Purdy specializes in Native American literature. Write Place produced two documentary films, Writing Oregon (2019), and Bearheart: the Gerald Vizenor Chronicles (2020). Proceeds from these films helped fund new projects and contributed to the Western Rivers Conservancy and the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association.   Henry Hughes states “I want to continue the great work of John Purdy and the board, and maintain their commitment to the Pacific Northwest and Native American writers,” Hughes says. “But I’d also like to connect with more scientists and enlarge our scope to national and international interests.”  The Write Place is hosting its first reading on May 30th, 2023. The author, Gordon Henry, will be reading and visiting with students. To learn more about this reading, visit https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/gordon-henry To learn more, visit write-place.orgAbout Western Oregon University Western Oregon University, founded in 1856 in Monmouth, is the state’s oldest public university. Serving about 4,000 students, WOU is...

Congratulations to all Western Oregon University students who made Honor Roll! Please note: The lists are published two days after grades are posted for the preceding term and are not updated with grade changes received after that date. Victor Abarca-LopezFowzia AbdiIsaiah AbrahamKendra AckerSierra AckermanJosie AckermanSarah AdamsAyla AdkinsZurisahi AguilarTalon AguilarTaylor AguileraJose Alaniz-BenitezElla AlbeeJames AlbrichMuath AlhamedKobe AllenMelissa AllenBrayden AllenJehan Khalaf A AlmotrafiAlyssa AlpersKatie  AltheideZoya AltuhovaXavier AlvaradoEva AlvarezOrlando Alvarez FloresYeudiel Alvarez FloresAmanda AmbrizMorgan Amerson Amerson HortonEsmeralda AmescuaChristine AndersMariam Anderson-TahaKrystal Andres AndresCami AnsleyChase AnspachMeadow AragonPal Aranda TuleBrittany ArendtJessica ArmfieldDrew ArmourMichael ArmstrongLynzey ArpMartha Arredondo PachecoKylee ArznerChloe AsciuttoTate AshleyKarlie AsmanMatt AtkinsTom AtkinsonBrittany AustinRyan AustinApril Avila JacomeLillian AxelsonAriel AylsworthLeela AyresViolet BabbittJustin BabcockKyle BabcockKailee BaduaCarmen BaezaJustine BaillonGretta BakerIndia BakerAshley BakerEvan BaldonadoZach BalducciMadie BaldwinEmma BalesKatelin BanesAshley BankerLeticia BarbosaIsela Barbosa-lachinoAdam BarnettJillian BarnhurstLogan BarrHannah BarrMiriam BarraganMirella Barrera-BetancourtMelody BarrettKarina BarronAngela BartlettTrenton BatemanDain BaughnSmithEsther BautistaSarahi Bazan GuerreroAlexandrea BealBrandon BeanSophia BeattieLogan BeckJasper BeckAidan BeeversMadison BeiswengerAdrien BeiswengerKendralee BellSteven BembenekAustin  BendeleJaden BenderAndrew BendtTony Benedetti WhiteJessica BennettJoel BennettLarenda BennettCallia BergSally BergMakenna BergersonEdgar Bermudez EstradaJohn BernardioAlex BernasconiKiana BerryTirzah BesseyKellen BetancourtAbigail BethkeJaden BeyerNick BeyerEmily BiamontJosh BietschekElla BintoroAngel Mae BioyAbby BirmanOwen BischoffPaige BlairKyle BlairSophia BlairLeslie BlakelyMaddie BlanchardLexi BlevensHailey BlueAshlie BodeauJude BokovoyBrooke BolenKayla BolnickBryce BondDiana Bonifacio HerreraEma BorchardJade BottJackson BouchardConnor BouckKelly BowenTiffanie BowlesTristan BrabsonMarisa BradleyLindsay BradyLitzy BrambilaMaddie BrandnerSamantha BraukmanMolly BraytonCalista BrazielKeira BreitkreutzSam BriggsJen BrinleeJessie BristowMalissa BrooksSierra BrouseCarlie BrownRebecca BrownEmma BrownBlake BrownMadison BrownKylie BruceClaire BruggersCarol BryanAlexander BuckKayla BuffingtonJacqueline BullerCaleb BunchEthan BurdisMelly BurgerNicholas BurgettCassidy BurnsOlivia BuschKaylee BusetAbigail BusickJessica ButcherMeredith ButlerShelby ButlerMolly ButtsClair ByrerRylie CaderStephanie Cadevilla CamposClark CallahanGustavo Camacho-JrCheyanne CampbellDanielle CampbellJennifer CanadyDestiny CannadayNichole CantrellAmelia CantuNicole CaporalAdrianna CardenasAlejandro CardenasCynthia CardenasAngelica CaredioLogan CarlosJoel CarlsonTyler CarmenGrant CarmichaelPeyton CarmonEmily CarpenterKyle CarpenterEmillia CarpenterSimon CarricaburuAisia CarrilloYarectzy CarrilloMia CarrollRilee CarstensenAmber CarverPaola Casco NavasAulani Casco-De LeonYasmin Castaneda BenavidesHector CazaresGriselda Ceja MontesStan CernevAlessandra Cervantes...

MONMOUTH, Ore. – According to the U.S. Department of Education’s Title II report, Western Oregon University remains the largest preparer of newly licensed teachers in Oregon for the second year in a row. WOU graduated 14.56% of all licensed teachers in the state of Oregon in 2021-2022. “Preparing educators is one of the strengths of Western Oregon University. This is especially important during times of state and national teacher shortages. The faculty and staff here provide an inspirational educational experience, and our students graduate incredibly well-prepared to enter the profession and be successful.” Dr. Jesse Peters, President of WOU. The Higher Education Act, Title II, compiles data with states and institutions with teacher preparation programs around preparation and certifications. WOU’s College of Education strives to ensure our academic programs generate deep, meaningful learning in real-world settings, resulting in more just, healthy, and educated communities. “Several core values underlie all our [teacher preparation] work including justice, equity, inclusivity, service, and application of our gifts in the real world. Our shared goals are to improve the world for our communities, the individuals with whom we work, and the world at large.” Mark Girod, Dean of College of Education. According to the Oregon Education Public Employment Report from 2022, WOU-prepared teachers also remain in their jobs in Oregon schools and classrooms longer than educators prepared at other colleges and universities. According to the data, when compared to 3-year retention rates across the State (Oregon Equity Reports, 2020 & 2019), Western prepared teachers are 16.87% more retained. For more information about WOU’s teacher preparation programs, please visit https://wou.edu/academics/education/ About Western Oregon University Western Oregon...