Written by Maureen Brakke

MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University Board of Trustees convened on April 16 and 17 to consider and approve several items, including the tuition & fees for the 2024-25 academic year.

The Tuition Advisory Committee, which includes students, staff, and faculty, submitted a proposed five percent tuition increase, which was accepted by President Jesse Peters and presented to the Board of Trustees on April 17. The trustees approved the five percent increase to resident undergraduate tuition and a 4.86 percent increase to nonresident undergraduate tuition. Graduate tuition will increase by five percent, and is assessed at the same rate regardless of residency. Summer 2024 tuition rates are included at the same rates as the 2024-25 academic year.

“We firmly believe that higher education should be accessible to all, and affordability is a cornerstone of our mission,” shares Board of Trustee Chair Betty Komp. “While a slight increase was necessary, it enables us to continue delivering quality education and support to our students, ensuring their success and fulfillment throughout their academic journey.”

Western Oregon University remains among the most affordable public higher education institutions in Oregon, offering the second-lowest tuition rate in the state. Western is also a member of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, the largest regional interstate tuition savings program, where students from participating states can attend Western and pay no more than 150 percent of the in-state resident tuition rate. 

“Students choose Western because it’s a special place. We take pride in offering students a tailored educational experience, fostering a sense of belonging, and delivering quality support services,” said President Jesse Peters. “We have worked hard to maintain affordability without compromising the exceptional quality of education and services that define Western. This slight tuition increase reflects our dedication to sustaining the excellence that makes us truly extraordinary.”

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s men’s and women’s+ rugby clubs have qualified for the Rugby 7s Collegiate National Championships. 

This is the first time both teams qualified in the same year, and the first time Western’s women’s+ team has made it to the Rugby 7s national championships. The national tournament will be held in Boyds, Maryland between  April 26 – 28. 

To assist with travel costs, both teams are holding the following fundraisers. 

In-person fundraisers: 

• Friday, April 12, from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.,  stop by the Werner University  Center on Western’s campus to purchase a Western Rugby t-shirt, hoodie, sweat pants, or Rugby ball. All forms of payment are accepted. Due to construction, please check out our updated parking routes.

• Sunday, April 14, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., stop by Les Swab in Independence for a $15 car cleaning. All forms of payment are accepted.

Online fundraisers:

• 50 percent of popcorn proceeds go to the women’s+ rugby club.
• Donate to the women’s+ rugby club
• Donate to the men’s rugby club

Western is currently the only institution across all divisions to have both men’s and women’s+ teams qualify this year.

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University student Caiden Madzelan is a first-year majoring in exercise science and has competed on the hit show, American Ninja Warrior, three times at 19.

American Ninja Warrior is a competition show where elite athletes compete on the world’s most difficult obstacle courses. In the newest season, athletes compete in new, leveled-up stages, including a never-before-seen pole vault, the tallest-ever Mega Wall, and thrilling head-to-head races.

Madzelan was in fourth grade when he was inspired by his father’s CrossFit coach, who applied for the show. In middle school, they announced their inaugural season ANW Junior and he applied. He placed in the semi-finalists at the age of 13. The age limit for ANW was lowered from 21 to 15 during the COVID-19 pandemic, where he competed in his first adult season. 

“There are other ninja warrior leagues that are not affiliated with the show all around the country. I compete in these all the time,” shared Madzelan. “In my last completion, which was a month ago, I placed first. It fills my cup up to compete in these leagues when I’m not competing on the show.”

Madzelan competes in the World Ninja League during his off-season. His goal is to become a physical education teacher and eventually open his own ninja warrior gym for other athletes to train. Ninja warrior gyms have obstacle courses similar to the show, where athletes can train and practice.  

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University will host the third annual Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Summit on April 26, 2024. This year’s summit will focus on what it means to truly serve students.

Following the previous two years, this summit will continue to invite state and national partners along with university and greater community members to share ideas and best-practices.

“I’m so excited to see Western host our third annual HSI Summit. Participation has grown every year, and that reflects the commitment leaders on campus, and throughout the state, in serving Latiné students,”  shared President Jesse Peters. “This is a time for us to bring collective voices to the table and have good conversations with our partners. Together we work better; in community we are stronger.”

Western is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution. A goal of hosting these summits is to bring together the campus, the community, and both regional and national partners to discuss what it means to become an HSI and why it is so critically important to the success of students and the greater community.

Dominique Vargas, Western’s executive director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, is leading the summit planning team. “I’ve been working at Western for almost two years, and it is clear that we are committed to growth and development for our students and as a university. We are working to become a serving institution, and our best and strongest path toward servingness is to engage our entire community.” 

This year’s summit will feature two keynote presenters, Patrick L Valdez, Ph. D., and Marissa Vasquez, Ph. D. Valdez will focus on the history, policy, and current context of Hispanic Serving Institutions, while Vasquez will discuss operationalizing servingness. There will also be a student panel, an afternoon of concurrent sessions, and networking time for attendees. Registration is open to everyone through April 12, 2024.

Register for the HSI Summit

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

Photo: Carlos Camacho teaching his masterclass to Western students

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s percussion ensemble hosted guest artist Carlos Camacho from the University of Panama for a week-long residency in March.

The percussion ensemble recently held its winter concert, performing several chamber and solo works by Panamanian and Latin composers such as Samuel Robles, Ricardo Risco, Rodolfo Acosta, and Luis de Pablo. 

Before the concert, Camacho held a masterclass on Panamanian music and the Panamanian Tambor. Students engaged through Panamanian instruments and learned about the history of Panamanian music. 

“I’m really glad to be at Western. Thank you to Dr. Joel Garza for the invitation. It’s been cool to see how the students juggle their classwork and performances,” shared Camacho. “It was exciting to attend their concert and I like just being a part of it all.”

Professor Joel Garza, Ph.D., is the director of Western’s percussion ensemble. The ensemble is designed to meet the needs of percussion and music education majors. The group performs one concert each term and aims to challenge students in many percussive styles in the pursuit of advanced study and performance of the percussion ensemble repertoire. 

To learn more about the percussion ensemble, contact Joel Garza garzaj@mail.wou.edu

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University is proud to highlight the accomplishments of alumnus Michael Waller ‘08. Waller received a bachelor’s degree in social science from Western, leading him to a career in social work.

Western introduced Waller to his two passions which are acting and sociology. Waller shares that he always knew he wanted to help people and while at Western,  learned there were a multitude of avenues he could take. Currently, he is a school social worker at McDaniel High School in Portland and a working actor. 

“One of the biggest things I learned at Western was to take chances. I did not believe that I could get into some of the things I’m into today. I was introduced to some staff at Western who really challenged me,” shared Waller. “They challenged me to have critical thinking and I wouldn’t be where I’m at without it. I recommend Western to everyone.” 

Waller’s story is a testament to Western’s commitment to supporting students in discovering and following their passions. His dedication to supporting youth through social work exemplifies the impactful contributions that Western alumni make to society, showcasing the values of compassion, leadership, and excellence instilled by their alma mater.

Watch Michael Waller’s success story

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University hosted Polk County’s youth conference earlier this month for the second year in a row. The conference invited all rural Polk County high school juniors to Picture their Future. 

Polk County Family & Community Outreach Department (FCO) Prevention Program’s goal for this conference was to open the students’ minds on what opportunities are available to them after high school. This included hearing from industry professionals about their careers, including Western’s President Jesse Peters.

“It was great to have President Peters speak and for bringing energy to the conference early on. It was really exciting because, for many students, when they can hear from someone in Western’s administration, they feel so welcomed at the conference and on campus,” shared Annie Buse, prevention coordinator at FCO. “We love hosting this conference at Western because students have shared that this is their dream school and for others, until they are on Western’s campus, they don’t know it’s an option for them.”

Western hosts a variety of conferences throughout the year. This conference echoes Western’s commitment to supporting students in their career goals. 

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s Aquarium Science program received a grant from the Western Foundation Competitive Grants program to create a display aquarium in the lobby of the Natural Science building. 

The Aquarium Science program trains students in the science of aquatic animal husbandry. Graduates are trained to be an aquarist, which is someone who manages aquariums and takes care of marine and freshwater plants and animals. Coordinated with Oregon Coast Community College (OCCC), this program combines core biology, business, and general education classes. Students complete their final year of coursework at OCCC in Newport, Ore.

The 100-gallon aquarium is on loan from OCCC. It currently houses two Siamese algae eaters, which can live around 8-10 years and grow up to 17cm. They are found primarily in Southeast Africa. A rope fish is also in the tank, which can live around 15-20 years and grow up to 15 inches. Rope fish are found in West and Central Africa. The fish are currently being cared for by Brooke Belluomini, a current Aquarium Science major. 

Additionally, several dozen small bladder snails are moving around in the tank to help keep the tank clean. They live for about two years and are found in freshwater habitats worldwide. A common aquarium plant Elodea, often called waterweed, is planted in the tank.

Learn more about the Aquarium Science program

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction. Together we succeed.

Pictured: Wyatt Smith

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University student Wyatt Smith is a senior majoring in Political Science and minoring in History. He recently traveled to Florida with USA Track & Field to narrate a championship road race. 

USA Track & Field hosts outdoor and indoor championships nationwide. Smith is working through their road racing initiative, which is fairly new. These races allow pro athletes to compete and win prize money. Smith’s role consists of recording the races with a camera in a gator, while commentating updates, prize pools, and expected winners to the audience.

Smith started working for RunnerSpace during his freshman year at Western and has moved up in the last three years to various roles. He has now directed seven national championships in Canada and the United States.

“Commentating is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve had the voice for it, and when I watch track and field events, I’m always able to predict what the announcers are going to say before they say it. So, it has been pretty easy for me.” shared Smith.

Smith is a current Track & Field athlete at Western, competing in the 800 and 1500 races. He credits the ability to work and be an athlete to his coach, Zachary Holloway, assistant Track & Field coach, who has supported him and helped balance their schedules. He will return to Western this fall to start a master’s degree in teaching. 

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon University’s annual Giving Day, Howl from the Heart, held on March 5, saw great engagement. With 696 donors giving to nearly 60 funds, Giving Day raised $208,406 as of Friday, March 15. These funds will support scholarships, campus clubs, student organizations, academic programs, and athletics.

Gifts were received from 26 states and Washington, D.C.  on Giving Day. The top three funds to receive gifts were the Fund for WOU, Volleyball, and Men’s Soccer, with a combined total of 273 gifts. 

Western also launched its first-ever Giving Day service project at Heron Pointe Senior Living Center in Monmouth. Students spent the afternoon of Giving Day socializing and playing games with the residents. 

“This year’s Giving Day once again proved the commitment and dedication to student success from our generous donors,” says Dave Beasley, director of annual giving at the WOU  Foundation. “We are immensely grateful for each gift we received, and we are excited about the bright future such gifts will make possible at Western.”

Falling on the first Tuesday in March, Western’s annual day of giving has encouraged alumni, friends, parents, faculty, and staff to support areas of need across campus that positively impact students. Since 2016, donors have contributed more than $1.5 million on Giving Day to benefit the Western community.

Learn more about supporting Western and its students. 

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About Western Oregon University

Western Oregon University, established in Monmouth in 1856, proudly stands as Oregon’s oldest public university. Hosting around 4,000 students, Western embodies a mid-sized, NCAA Division II institution, with approximately 80% of its students hailing from within the state. Notably, its diverse student body comprises individuals from underrepresented backgrounds, veterans, and non-traditional learners. Western stands as the preferred campus in Oregon for those pursuing an enriching education within a nurturing, student-focused environment, characterized by faculty-led instruction.  Together we succeed.