Skip to main content Skip to navigation

How is WSU helping?

Working directly with communities, following their lead

As the overall response efforts turn toward long-term recovery, WSU will ensure our land grant mission and collaborative expertise is available for local government, the state, and the area’s citizens. WSU Snohomish County Extension is working side-by-side with the communities of Snohomish County in several aspects of the recovery response, including:

Community and economic development – Judy Pendergrass is WSU’s dedicated community and economic development coordinator based in Darrington who has been hired for two years to work with local businesses and officials as well as families and youth to develop economic and community development projects, including:

  • Multi-Agency Task Force on Human Services – Faculty and staff serve on the Employment & Business Interruption Committee
  • Arlington/Darrington Economic Redevelopment Team – WSU faculty and staff serve on this team building a strategic plan, identifying grant opportunities and providing relevant expertise, research and information
  • Tourism and natural resources – WSU Interns and the WSU Economic Development Coordinator are working with the Town of Darrington, the local business association, Snohomish County and the US Forest Service to facilitate economic development projects that build on the tourism and natural resource base.

Darrington Youth Outdoor STEM Pilot Project – WSU faculty and staff are collaborating with Darrington Mayor, Dan Rankin, North Counties Family Services, Adventure Cascades and a diverse group of organizations to develop a program the reinforces science, technology, engineering, and math knowledge and skills through applied forestry and natural resources education.

Summer Youth Programming – Rather than taking youth to other locations for summer programming, WSU provides programming in Darrington.

  • Robotics and nutrition education programming in Darrington with students in grades K-8.
  • Summer Youth Forestry Institute provides job experience and a stipend for 10 high school youth who learn about forestry as the work. WSU Snohomish County Extension partners with the US Forest Service, North County Family Services, with support from Workforce Snohomish local grants from the faith community and the Greater Everett Foundation.

Involving students to learn, earn, and give back

Ten students from the area contributed to recovery work through paid internships that placed them with City of Arlington, the Town of Darrington, Snohomish County and WSU Extension over the summer. The internships were sponsored by several colleges including the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, The Murrow College, Education, Arts and Sciences, Architecture and Engineering, and WSU Everett.

One additional student is served in a campus-based internship to organize WSU students on campus for fundraising and student service activities.

Learn more and meet the interns.

Campus-based efforts

 

A Week of Service in the Stillaguamish Valley March 12-19

WSU students on campus will have an opportunity to lend a hand to support the communities impacted by the SR 530 mudslide during a week long service-learning trip in the Stillaguamish Valley. They’ll also learn about the incident and response efforts, as well as what needs to be done to help strengthen these resilient communities and how Washington State University is supporting recovery efforts in the near and long-term. Learn more.

Expanding access to higher education

Long-term economic recovery will benefit from improved access to quality four-year degrees and the capabilities, expertise, and resources available through the University.

2014-2015 Tuition Waivers

As an educational entity serving Snohomish County, WSU offered tuition relief to students attending WSU in 2014-2015 who were residents of the impacted communities or directly impacted by the mudslide. As of July 2014, 130 students had accepted the waiver. For information contact Jocelyn de Jong.

WSU North Puget Sound at Everett

WSU assumed management of the University Center of North Puget Sound in July 2014. Currently, WSU offers four degrees in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, hospitality business management, and integrated communications through in person and online classes. In the years ahead, WSU will work collaboratively to offer more four-year degree programs that align with the economic needs of the community. http://everett.wsu.edu/