The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application officially opened on Oct. 1.
For many college students, the FAFSA form is one of the most important forms to fill out to receive financial aid, including scholarships, grants, work-study and loans. All students are encouraged to apply — even if you don’t think you’re eligible.
Here’s what you should know about filling out the FAFSA form this year.
FILING ONLINE
Apply online at fafsa.gov.
WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL I NEED?
Once you’ve created your online ID, it’s time to gather all your necessary documents.
DO I HAVE TO LIST THE SCHOOLS I WANT TO ATTEND?
Yes, you should list any school you plan on applying to or have already applied to — even if you haven’t been accepted yet. Washington State University’s FAFSA code is 003800. That number is the same at every campus in the WSU system.
In the form, you must list at least one school that will receive your information, and the schools you list will use your FAFSA information to determine how much aid you could receive.
DO I HAVE TO INCLUDE MY PARENTS’ INFORMATION?
If you’re a dependent student, yes.
You must provide information on both your parents whether or not they are married to each other if they live together. If your legal parent is widowed or never married, then answer questions about that parent. If your parents are divorced or separated and do not live together, you must answer questions about the parent with whom you lived over the past 12 months. If you lived with both parents the same amount of time, provide information about the parent who provided more financial support. For those who have stepparents married to their legal parent, you must provide information on them as well. If you don’t live with any parent, you must still provide information about them.
WHAT IF I’M UNABLE TO PROVIDE MY PARENTS’ INFORMATION?
If you can’t provide parent information because of circumstances like your parents are incarcerated, you have left home because of an abusive environment or don’t know where your parents are, you can still fill out the form.
However, your form won’t be fully processed and you will not receive an Expected Family Contribution and you must contact your WSU’s financial aid office. You should also gather as much information as possible regarding your situation.
WSU’s financial aid staff will work with you to determine how much aid you can get.
WHAT IF MY FAMILY’S FINANCIAL SITUATION HAS CHANGED SINCE DOING OUR TAXES?
Some FAFSA applicants may have recent financial changes because of the pandemic or other reasons. If you find yourself in this situation, complete and submit the FAFSA form like normal, then contact the WSU financial aid office to discuss how your situation has changed. The WSU financial aid team may be able to adjust your financial aid award based on your family’s current income.
WHAT ARE THE DEADLINES TO FILL OUT THE FORM?
Submit the FAFSA as soon as possible. The form opens on Oct. 1, and the federal deadline is June 30.
However, WSU has a Jan. 31 deadline for the general scholarship application, so it’s always best to complete it as soon as possible
To all WSU Everett employees,
As a reminder, all WSU employees, including faculty, administrative professionals, classified staff, temporary hourly (both student and non-student), and graduate assistants, public affiliates, academic affiliates, and contingent workers regardless of work location must verify their vaccination status in Workday. All employees must be fully vaccinated or have obtained a medical or religious exemption by October 18, 2021.
The vaccination verification requirement supersedes the previous vaccination declaration process in Workday.
Employees must complete and supervisors must validate, the COVID-19 Vaccination Verification process in Workday confirming completion of the COVID-19 vaccine regimen or employees are to file their completed request for a medical or religious exemption by Oct. 4, 2021 — TODAY!
The COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment. Employees, who are not fully vaccinated or do not obtain a medical or religious exemption, will be prohibited from engaging in work after Oct. 18, 2021.
Vaccination verification information, the Workday verification and exemption processes, and frequently asked questions are available on the HRS website at hrs.wsu.edu/covid-19/vax-verification.
HRS sent a direct communication to WSU employees on Sept. 1, 2021, outlining the requirements of the mandate.
HRS will offer informational sessions surrounding the COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement during the month of September. Enroll in an upcoming session through the HRS Employee Training System here.
Employee questions may be directed to contact hrs.
Student and non-employee questions to covid-19.info@wsu.edu.
Go Cougs!
Paul Pitre, Chancellor
Washington State University Everett
Campuses, alongside several colleges and departments are slated to hold virtual town halls throughout the fall semester, beginning this week with WSU Everett.
The traditional annual series provides faculty, staff and students throughout the WSU system with the opportunity to hear from and engage with university leaders.
The first town hall is set for the Everett campus and will begin at 1 p.m. Sept. 8. As with all of this year’s town halls, the event will be broadcast as a Zoom webinar.
This year’s event includes a change in the traditional format. In advance of the scheduled town halls, participants are asked to view a 20-minute recorded presentation featuring WSU President Kirk Schulz and Provost and Executive Vice President and Pullman Chancellor Designate Elizabeth Chilton sharing WSU’s significant advancements, achievements and developments made by the university in the last year.
The launch of the new Workday system as well as updates on WSU’s fiscal health, enrollment and philanthropy are discussed. There’s also an overview of the university’s expanding research portfolio and its efforts to better meet diversity, equity and inclusion needs. WSU efforts to manage budget and other challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic also are highlighted.
Viewers also will notice the video, embedded below, kicks off the with WSU’s new commercial, which will be featured during televised sporting events on the PAC-12 network.
By providing the recorded WSU system overview for viewing in advance, it allows more time to focus on topics of greatest interest to the campus, college or department being hosted at each specific town hall. It also provides more time for questions and answers.
Members of the WSU community have the opportunity to submit questions ahead of each town hall by filling out an online form.
WSU Spokane will host town halls for each of its three colleges as well as a general event for the entire campus community. More details will be announced prior to the event. WSU Vancouver will also notify its community of the time of its town hall in the near future.
To all our Cougar students, faculty, and staff: welcome back!
Washington State University Everett is excited to offer in-person learning this Fall Semester, which begins on Aug. 23. Week of Welcome is a week-long series that combines academic and social programming to help new and returning students kick off the new academic year.
I know you have big plans for your future and earning your bachelor’s degree is more important than ever to that future. We are here with you as you earn the academic credentials and gain the professional experience you need to launch that future.
As you prepare to join us on campus, here are five important action items to take care of before the first day of classes:
Vaccinations
Washington State University can offer in-person classes in large part because of the widespread, cost-free availability and proven efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, which WSU is requiring for all students, faculty, and staff. Exemptions can be requested for medical and non-medical reasons. For those without exemptions, we each have an obligation to serve the public good and promote the health and safety of the communities it serves by getting vaccinated.
WSU Everett will host a public Back-to-School COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic with Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson on the first day of classes, Aug. 23. A second-dose clinic will take place on campus on Sept. 13. Appointments are recommended, but not required. Pre-registration can be found at these links for Aug. 23 and Sept. 13. Those ages 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian.
WSU Everett students may now access the Cougar Health Services Patient Portal to submit proof of vaccination or file an exemption. This process must be completed by Sept. 10. This means that by Sept. 10 students must have either provided proof of COVID-19 vaccination or filed an exemption. After any of the three currently approved vaccines receive full FDA approval, personal/philosophical exemptions will no longer be accepted. Students will have 45 days following the approval date to provide proof of vaccination (or initiation of vaccination) or file a medical or religious exemption. Upon FDA approval, the updated process for filing a new medical or religious exemption will be provided. Questions about the vaccine portal, vaccines or exemptions may be directed to cougarhealth@wsu.edu.
UPDATE: Federal regulators granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine on Monday, Aug. 23. Students now have until Oct. 18 to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination (or that they have initiated vaccination), or file a medical or religious exemption in the Cougar Health Services Patient Portal.
Employee declarations of vaccination status are due in Workday by Aug. 23. All WSU employees are required to be fully vaccinated by Oct. 18. No personal or philosophical exemption will be allowed.
Masking
According to the Aug. 10 order by the Snohomish Health District and Aug. 18 announcement by Governor Jay Inslee, all persons five years and older must wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Snohomish County’s order took effect Thursday, Aug. 12, and the mandate applies to all WSU facilities in Snohomish County. The Washington state order takes effect Aug. 23 and has the same effect: All members of our Cougar community will be required to wear a mask on campus while these masking directives are in place.
Campus Safety Alerts
Please register for Rave Emergency Alerts. These text/email alerts cover emergency situations at Everett Community College (EvCC). WSU Everett is located on the EvCC campus, so these alerts apply to WSU Everett. Click ‘Register’ in the upper-right quadrant. An online identification from WSU or EvCC is not required.
Parking
Parking permits are now available to purchase. The permits are good from now through December. Everyone driving to campus should have either a fall parking pass or an individual day pass, purchased from the parking kiosk between WSU Everett and EvCC’s AMTEC building. Visit everett.wsu.edu/parking-permits for your guide to purchasing your parking permit.
Patience
We are in this together. Let me say that again: we are in this together. Guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, the state of Washington, and Snohomish County will change as we continue to operate within this pandemic. Please exercise patience generously as we apply those changes to our academic operations.
Go Cougs!
Dr. Paul Pitre, Chancellor
WSU Everett & Everett University Center
#WSUTogether
EVERETT, Wash. – Aug. 19, 2021 – Washington State University Everett will host a public Back-to-School COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic with Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson on the first day of classes, Aug. 23. A second-dose clinic will take place on campus on Sept. 13.
Operated by the Snohomish Health District, these Back-to-School COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics are open to the public. Appointments are recommended, but not required. Pre-registration can be found at these links for Aug. 23 and Sept. 13. Those ages 12-17 must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian.
WSU will return to in-person operations and classes, based on Gov. Jay Inslee’s higher education proclamation. This is in large part because of the widespread, cost-free availability and proven efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, which WSU is requiring for all students, faculty and staff. Exemptions can be requested for medical and non-medical reasons.
“COVID-19 vaccines are free, safe and effective. Vaccination is our way out of this pandemic, and Washington State University is doing its part to ensure our community is safe,” WSU Everett chancellor Paul Pitre said.
According to the Aug. 10 order by the Snohomish Health District and Aug. 18 announcement by Governor Jay Inslee, all persons five years and older must wear a mask indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Snohomish County’s order took effect Thursday, Aug. 12, and the mandate applies to all WSU facilities in Snohomish County. The Washington state order takes effect Aug. 23 and has the same effect: All members of our Cougar community will be required to wear a mask on campus while these masking directives are in place.
WSU Everett students may now access the Cougar Health Services Patient Portal to submit proof of vaccination or file an exemption. This process must be completed by Sept. 10. This means that by Sept. 10 students must have either provided proof of COVID-19 vaccination or filed an exemption. After any of the three currently approved vaccines receive full FDA approval, personal/philosophical exemptions will no longer be accepted. Students will have 45 days following the approval date to provide proof of vaccination (or initiation of vaccination) or file a medical or religious exemption. Upon FDA approval, the updated process for filing a new medical or religious exemption will be provided. Questions about the vaccine portal, vaccines or exemptions may be directed to cougarhealth@wsu.edu.
Media Contact: Randy Bolerjack
EVERETT, Wash. – August 4, 2021 – Girls Discover STEM is a free event this October 30 at Washington State University Everett, designed to increase interest in engineering among 11th and 12th grade female students. The event is funded by a grant from the American Association of University Women.
Youth will experience hands-on engineering and scientific activities while encountering challenges that engage them with specific engineering and science disciplines; all assisted by current WSU Everett student mentors and WSU Everett faculty who will work with them through each session.
Registration is coming soon! To be notified when registration opens, email everett.admission@wsu.edu.
“In engineering, coursework is frequently heavily focused on technical aspects of how things function. At WSU Everett, there is also an emphasis on soft skills like communications, writing, leadership, and problem solving within a group dynamic.”
In high school, I was fascinated by the laws and equations developed to govern nature and mathematics. I felt so happy after putting all the pieces together to complete a multi-page problem, or when I connected a concept I was taught in class to explain something I had experienced personally.
The last six weeks of high school I led a class project investigating the top ten innovations of prosthetics. It sparked my interest in robotics, the complex motions these prosthetics were able to achieve with electrical signals stimulated by nerves. Specific signals corresponding to mechanical movements allowing for the function of the prosthetic.
I was drawn specifically to mechanical engineering because of the diverse areas I could pursue after completing my degree. With a degree in mechanical engineering, I can work in medical applications, aerospace, manufacturing, construction, and so much more.
At WSU Everett, there is an exciting integration of mechanical, electrical, and software engineering, which is what lead me to major in mechanical engineering and minor in electrical engineering. When working with robotics mechanical, electrical, and software applications tie so closely together to execute an objective.
The summer before my senior year at WSU Everett I had the opportunity to tour NASA’s Goldstone Deep Space Network where I learned about the significance of the Deep Space Network and significant milestones of NASA. Exploring the compound in person and interacting with engineers on site was an experience that accelerated my interest in space and a desire to work in the aerospace industry. I’m fortunate to be able to learn about space systems through my new role as a test engineer in the Space and Airborne Systems department at L3Harris Technologies in Palm Bay, FL.
Right now, I’m working to complete environmental testing in the Space and Airborne Systems division to verify functionality of an avionic system component during a variety of environmental conditions. As a test engineer, I verify the design by cycling it through a variety of tests to simulate expected extreme conditions to ensure the system will continue to function. To conduct these tests and communicate with the technology, there are a variety of software and programming knowledge applied to generate and understand this information. Within the units there are complex electrical and mechanical systems I must understand to be able to design and conduct testing as well as diagnosing problems and errors I encounter during testing.
The Experimental Design (ME 406) course at WSU Everett was specifically relevant. We focused on preparing, conducting, and analyzing an experiment as if we were completing these tasks for a company. The key takeaway from this course is the interaction we had with the stakeholders of the fictional companies generated by the assigned prompt. We received feedback and changes to testing procedures, test plans, presentations, and various interactions with the fictional company. I use all of that experience now on behalf of L3Harris Technologies. The exposure Washington State University offered us as students and the direct engagement in my courses at WSU Everett gave me a foundation in the testing process and procedures I see professionally.
I was involved in The Associated Students of Washington State University Everett (ASWSUE), first as a senator and secretary, and was later elected ASWSUE President during my third year at WSU Everett. For two years I served as a Student Ambassador, which allowed me to connect with incoming and future students, share my experience, and even provide tours of the campus. I was also a member of Society of Women Engineers (SWE), where I assisted in planning events like Future Engineers Day.
My selection for the President’s Award for Leadership was based on my role and work as ASWSUE president, coupled with my involvement in other organizations on campus. I am honored to be a 2021 recipient of the award and for the acknowledgement of my hard work and impact on our Everett campus. As a student, I cherished my experiences in several student organizations. They truly enhanced my experience at WSU Everett. I met many of my friends because I was engaged, and had opportunities to network with local professionals, attend the National SWE Conference, and participate in community engagement.
In engineering, coursework is frequently heavily focused on technical aspects of how things function. At WSU Everett, there is also an emphasis on soft skills like communications, writing, leadership, and problem solving within a group dynamic.
Something that encouraged me to stay involved is that everyone graduating with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at WSU has the same, ABET accredited-coursework. So, I actively sought leadership opportunities within organizations to help set me apart. The result was a greater ability to really know my peers and to network with students from other majors. The network I established at WSU Everett created study groups, academic support, and plenty of great experiences outside of school.
Current and future #EverCougs should absolutely make the time to participate in student organizations and look for leadership opportunities around campus. Your involvement on campus provides great opportunities to build your own network, develop your soft skills, and set you apart after graduation.
June 30, 2021
We are thrilled that we can now officially announce that Cougs at all our campuses across the state will be back in‑person in full capacity this fall. We will share more details shortly about what this looks like for our students, faculty, and staff, both in and out of the classroom.
In the meantime, enjoy your summers, stay safe, stay healthy, and if you’re able, get vaccinated. We’ll see you in August.
As always, Go Cougs!
Kirk Schulz, President
Washington State University
Dear WSU Everett Community:
Today and this weekend we observe Juneteenth! Some of you already know that I am referring to the holiday long celebrated in African American communities as the day slavery finally ended in the United States.
Nearly two and half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, enslavers in Galveston, Texas continued to traffic in human bondage. It was not until June 19th, 1865, when Union soldiers forced them to comply with federal orders, that hundreds of thousands of enslaved Black people were finally free.
As a national holiday, I invite us all to mark this special day by celebrating the bravery, resilience, fortitude, courage and enduring hope that helped African Americans endure and survive. I encourage you to go beyond slavery to the many junctures in America’s past and present that have forced African Americans to step up, demand, and fight for basic, human rights.
It is a battle that continues to this day as black Americans are forced to still fight for equitable treatment in just about every aspect of life, including health care, education, housing and the criminal justice system.
Juneteenth is more than our newest holiday. It is a designated, intentional opportunity to reflect on American history and reaffirm our collective determination to wipe out every ounce of racist, disparate treatment in this country. We do it to honor the spirit of those who, while enslaved, built this nation. As WSU President Kirk Schulz and Provost Elizabeth Chilton noted here:
“Juneteenth presents us all with an opportunity to learn from history as we move forward to build the future. As Cougs, we must continue to educate ourselves, listen with humility, amplify the voices of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) members of our campus community, and continuously work toward being better allies.”
Remembering our past, yes much of it an ugly blemish on our nation, will not turn us into victims. It will remind us that we are descended from victors who struggled, fought and overcame. We can, because they did.
Earlier this year, WSU hosted Seattle writer Ijeoma Oluo and I had the honor of moderating the discussion. I will leave you with one of the many gems shared by this noted thinker on race and social justice:
“The beauty of anti-racism is that you don’t have to pretend to be free of racism to be an anti-racist. Anti-racism is the commitment to fight racism wherever you find it, including in yourself. And it’s the only way forward.“
Wishing you an inspired and productive Juneteenth.
Dr. Paul Pitre, Chancellor
Washington State University Everett
A team of Washington State University Everett students were finalists in an international software engineering competition.
The students, seniors majoring in software engineering, were one of five teams selected as finalists in the competition that was held as part of the International Conference on Software Engineering, a top research conference in the field. The competition is hosted every couple of years and draws participants from all over the world.
“This is a very competitive event, and being recognized is a great achievement for our team,” said Bolong Zeng, an assistant professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at WSU Everett who advised the students. “I wanted to show that we have a program with the best students who can be successful in such a high-quality competition. I am immensely proud of their achievement.”
As part of the competition, the students developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-supported tool that uses AI to analyze raw text into actionable and itemized items. The tool can help software engineers produce better quality products, while making their jobs more efficient and consistent. The project was also part of the students’ senior design project.
“We like to call it a ‘meta software engineering project,’ as they are using their software engineering knowledge to develop a tool to improve software engineering,” Zeng said. “A tool like this could definitely help improve productivity in the software development industry by a significant degree.”
As part of the project, the students worked with Skip Baccus, a WSU alumnus and senior manager at Microsoft, who served as industry mentor and learned valuable lessons in software engineering principles for their future careers, Zeng said.
“People often have the mistaken idea that software is all about programming and nothing else, while the truth couldn’t be further from that,” he said. “They have to work efficiently as a team, cooperate with their clients and customers, while tackling various technical challenges. That’s the ideal quality of successful engineers.”
The students on the project were Aric Monary, Emily Cawlfield, Phong Bach, and Nain Galvan. Cawlfield and Monary have since graduated.
“I am thankful that our professor, Bolong Zeng, gave us this opportunity to participate in the competition and mentored us throughout the process,” Bach said.