Oct 12, 2024  
2023-2024 Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Student Involvement


Student Affairs

Vice President Gary Dukes
wou.edu/student/
 

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs provides general liaison assistance to students. The vice president is responsible for all student-related services including Campus Recreation, Service Learning and Career Development, Student Conduct, Disability Services, Multicultural Student Services, Student Enrichment Program, Student Health and Counseling Services, University Housing, Campus Dining, Werner University Center, Student Engagement, Greek Life, Student Media, Upward Bound, National Student Exchange and the WOLF Ride program.

The Office of Student Affairs fosters students’ academic, personal and professional growth; educates students to respect and appreciate diversity; and prepares students to be responsible and engaged citizens in a global community. The office is located in the Werner University Center. The phone number is 503-838-8221 or visit our website at wou.edu/student/.


Student Government

The Associated Students of Western Oregon University (ASWOU) is the official governing body of the students. All WOU students are members of ASWOU by virtue of having paid tuition and fees. Students can have a major role in decision-making at the university through student government. ASWOU has three branches including a policy-making legislative branch called Student Senate, a policy-implementing executive branch and a policy-interpreting judicial branch called the Judicial Board, which also administers elections.

According to its mission statement, student government serves as a voice for students. ASWOU is committed to providing opportunities, activities and services to students; representing students’ interests; and advocating for students’ rights. For more information on how to get involved with student government, contact the ASWOU office at 503-838-8555 or visit our website at wou.edu/aswou/.


Arts and Entertainment

Throughout the year, WOU offers a wide variety of on-campus entertainment and arts events presented by student and professional groups.

The Art Department’s Campbell Hall Gallery provides art exhibits by professional artists of the Northwest in addition to student exhibits. Student exhibits also appear in three other campus galleries.

Music organizations are active in performances and concerts throughout the year. They include classical, jazz and American vernacular styles.

The WOU theatre stages plays from Shakespeare to Sam Shepard, including a musical every other winter term and every summer in conjunction with the Music Department. Student-directed plays are also presented. The WOU dance program presents informal concerts for student choreography each fall and spring and a main stage Spring Dance Concert every spring, featuring faculty, student and guest artist works. Activities also include faculty collaboration and student performance in the main stage musicals.

While campus groups give students a chance to perform and provide a regular source of entertainment, the Edgar H. Smith Fine Arts Series brings top names from the professional arts and entertainment world to campus.

Honor Societies

Chi Alpha Sigma

Chi Alpha Sigma is the academic fraternity for the National College Athlete Honor Society. Chi Alpha Sigma works with NCAA and NAIA member institutions to recognize outstanding college student-athletes for their successes both on the field of competition and in the classroom.

Phi Alpha Theta

The International History Honor Society, Phi Alpha Theta, was founded in 1921 with the purpose of distinguishing outstanding history students. It has more than 700 chapters and more than 200,000 members. It publishes a national journal, The Historian.

The WOU chapter, Alpha Iota Xi, annually initiates new members and sponsors forums on historical and contemporary topics. Students also present papers at the Northwest regional and national conventions.

Phi Kappa Phi

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is a national society devoted to the promotion, recognition and support of outstanding scholarship and learning. Undergraduate and graduate students who have demonstrated superior scholarly and artistic accomplishment are invited to membership. Each year about 10 percent of the senior class, five percent of the junior class and selected faculty are eligible and invited.

The WOU chapter was founded in 1981. Since 1987, the chapter has annually sponsored the Academic Excellence Showcase, which recognizes students and their scholarly and artistic accomplishments.

Phi Sigma Iota

This academic honor society is open to students studying modern languages at WOU.

Pi Mu Epsilon

The honorary national mathematics society, Pi Mu Epsilon, Inc (PME), was founded on May 25, 1914 and has more than 300 chapters at colleges and universities throughout the United States. The purpose of PME is the promotion of scholarly activity in mathematics among the students in academic institutions.

The Oregon Delta Chapter at WOU is open by invitation to outstanding mathematics majors. The chapter sends two students a year to a national PME conference to present their research in mathematics.

Psi Chi

The national honor society in psychology was founded in 1929 for the purpose of encouraging, stimulating and maintaining excellence in scholarship and advancing the science of psychology. Membership is open to undergraduate and graduate students who are making the study of psychology one of their major interests and who meet the minimum qualifications. Minimum qualifications include completion of 12 quarter hours of psychology, rank in the top 35 percent of their class in general scholarship, demonstration of superior scholarship in psychology by earning an average grade of B or better in psychology courses and high standards of personal behavior. Each year, students meeting minimum qualifications are invited to membership.

The WOU chapter sponsors an annual research conference that includes poster and paper presentations to highlight student accomplishments.

Lambda Pi Eta

The Nu Phi chapter, an accredited international honor society of the National Communication Association, is open to all communication studies majors and minors who meet the requirements for the honorary distinction.

Intercollegiate Athletics

wouwolves.com/

WOU offers a broad-based athletic program that has developed a strong tradition of excellence. WOU offers 11 sports and is a member of the NCAA Division II. Men’s sports of cross-country, football, basketball, baseball, indoor and outdoor track and field are offered. Women’s sports include cross-country, soccer, volleyball, basketball, softball, indoor and outdoor track and field.

The mission of the WOU Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is to provide each student-athlete with a championship experience through a commitment to academic achievement, athletic excellence, university pride, personal growth and community engagement. Central to this mission is the belief that athletics are an integral part of the total education of the students involved in our programs.

WOU coaches provide outstanding coaching and instruction in an environment that fosters highlevel athletic performance, dedication to academic achievement, exemplary sportsmanship and commitment to personal and team excellence.

WOU and the NCAA

Membership in the NCAA Division II provides the opportunity for student athletes to compete at a high level of competition while also balancing academics and campus life. WOU is a member of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, which is made up of the NCAA members from Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Alaska, Montana and Canada. For more information about particular sports, please contact the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at 503-838-8917.

Academic eligibility requirements

The NCAA has established academic requirements for participation in intercollegiate athletics. Freshman student athletes must be certified by the NCAA Initial Eligibility Center. Information regarding the eligibility center and first-year eligibility is available from high school counselors or online at eligibilitycenter.org.

Transfer student athletes are urged to contact the coach of their sport or the director of compliance. The NCAA has also established academic standards related to progress toward degree for continuing student athletes. Contact your coach or the director of compliance for specific details regarding this requirement.

Facilities

Student athletes have access to a variety of athletic facilities. Two physical education buildings, the football stadium and track, weight room and fields for baseball, softball and soccer offer abundant opportunities for student athletes. The opportunity for high-level competition, combined with quality coaching in an outstanding academic environment, has attracted the exceptional student athletes that represent WOU.