Higher education

Whitworth University added sexual orientation to its list of protected classes Wednesday following more than a year of discussion and protests.

Idaho and Washington already had statewide bans on affirmative action in place. But residents could still see changes, both locally and nationwide. 

Washington State University recently lowered its nonresident tuition for the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences' Doctor of Pharmacy program by $12,000 a year, effective this fall.

The lawsuit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Spokane, alleges Whitworth was negligent in allowing a still-unidentified attacker to access health, financial and personal data of past and present students, staff and faculty. It was filed by Patrick Loyola, identified in court documents as a student at the time the attack occurred. The university initially reported the incident as a "sophisticated security issue" in August before informing the Washington attorney general's office in October that a ransomware attack had occurred. 

Senator Fetterman likes Cougar Gold. 

Pops of color frequently disrupted the steady stream of capped and gowned students who received their diplomas at Whitworth University last month as dozens of students handed University President Scott McQuilkin pride flags.

The university's administration clarified to the 11-member board that the money would not come from tuition or state funds, but instead interest earnings that WSU had on hand. 

A conversation over, well, a beer, in 2021 sparked a collaboration that ultimately resulted in the first keg of brew made by the students of Eastern Washington University's newly minted Craft Beer Industry Professional Certificate program.

Athletics Director Pat Chun, speaking to reporters Friday morning, called 2023's budget shortfall "an aberration" and said his office would be working to tighten controls on spending. He also said revenue from a new TV deal and the college football playoff expansion would lead to a better financial situation after the close of the fiscal year later this month.

A federal judge Tuesday dismissed Gov. Jay Inslee and Washington State University athletic director Patrick Chun from a lawsuit brought by ex-WSU football coach Nick Rolovich against his former employer for firing him after his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

PULLMAN – Washington State’s athletic department is implementing a temporary hiring freeze across all programs and putting a pause on nonessential travel, purchases and professional development, according to a statement issued Monday by school president Kirk Schulz.

Sometimes small schools earn big results.

A former North Idaho College professor arrested Tuesday for dumping water on an NIC trustee blamed the trustee for losing his job and for the college’s accreditation troubles, court documents said.

A peer evaluation of a campus visit last month acknowledges that North Idaho College is making progress toward addressing accreditation eligibility, but has more work to do.

The University of Idaho announced Wednesday that it intends to purchase the University of Phoenix as part of a $550 million deal that will keep both institutions separate and not roll that school's mostly-online 85,000 students into the system based in Moscow.

A former North Idaho College employee was arrested Tuesday in connection with a confrontation with NIC trustee Todd Banducci.

Communications studies professor Linda Seppa-Seppa-Salisbury hasn't missed a Spokane Community College graduation in 46 years at the school. That's because, in many years of teaching, she also wants to show she cares about her students. Seppa-Salisbury knows her students' stories, and that many overcame obstacles ranging from cultural differences to being low-income or leaving behind gang life. Seppa-Salisbury also knows something about overcoming. She was born with a congenital amputation, and her left hand was not fully formed.

Officially, Malia Hanson will graduate Sunday from Gonzaga University with a bachelor’s degree in human physiology.

Before they land on dinner plates, fish raised at Spokane Community College will help grow the greens for a side salad.