Showcase events postponed, canceled, redirected

Dear WSU Community:

Out of concern about risks posed by the COVID-19 outbreak, we have made the difficult decision to postpone or cancel many of this year’s events at Showcase, the University’s annual weeklong celebration of academic excellence.

The COVID-19 Town Hall (State of the University Address) has been rescheduled to Friday, March 27 at 11 a.m. President Schulz will deliver it exclusively to an online audience.  Join the Town Hall here.

The following events have been postponed until fall, with dates to be determined soon:

  • Distinguished Faculty Address
  • Celebrating Excellence Banquet
  • Emeritus Society Legacy of Excellence Lecture

Canceled are the following events:

  • Academic Showcase
  • Graduate and Professional Student Association (GPSA) Research Exposition
  • Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA)
  • Crimson Reads

The Three-Minute Thesis competition will be conducted online. Awardees will be announced in late March. Videos of contestants will be released publicly at that time.

We recognize that many members of our community have put in hard work to prepare presentations for Showcase poster sessions. Event organizers are exploring alternate formats for sharing scholars’ discoveries and innovations. They will provide updates as plans develop.

Faculty and staff members named to receive University awards and newly promoted and tenured faculty will be recognized at the rescheduled fall banquet.

For more than a dozen years, Showcase has been a central part of WSU’s academic culture. The decision to cancel is unprecedented, made in response to an extraordinary situation. As developments unfold, we will continue to seek new ways to share scholarly work across the University community and to honor those whose contributions surpass expectations.

Sincerely,

Laura Griner Hill
Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Affairs
Cochair, Showcase Steering Committee
509-335-8746

Rebecca Van de Vord
Assistant Vice President, Academic Outreach and Innovation
Cochair, Showcase Steering Committee
509-335-8915