New Student Information

Automatic Payroll Deposit/Deductions

It is highly recommended that you set up automatic payroll deposit. This task is completed in Workday.

Graduate students on assistantships may authorize Payroll Services to deduct the total amount of their tuition and fees owed over eight (8) pay cycles beginning the second pay date of the semester. Deductions may be authorized for:

• full operating fee or residual operating fee,
• service/activity/ building fees, and
• spouse and/or dependent medical insurance (fees vary).

Payroll deduction is an optional service provided at a fee of $8.00. This is also done in Workday (set up payroll deductions in Workday). This must be completed each semester and must be submitted before the last date to pay tuition before late fees accrue (to avoid paying late fees).

The payroll deduction service is not offered for summer appointments. For more information or assistance with any part of theses processes contact Payroll or use the link below.

Contact Payroll Office

• Phone: (509) 335-9575
• Email: payroll@wsu.edu
• Fees eligible for payroll deduction at Payroll website

Copier and Printer Information

The copier in room 154 (mailroom) is for office and faculty use. Copy and print work must be related to assigned research or teaching assistantship projects. Office staff will assign a number code for TA’s that allows you to operate the copy machine. The copier is not to be used for copying class notes, articles, or books used for study purposes. Under no circumstances should the copier be used to duplicate your thesis or dissertation. There are copy machines available in the library, at Cougar Copies, and at FedEx, or the UPS store in Moscow.

The graduate student computer is located in College Hall Room 150 (the main office). All students can log into this station using their WSU username and password, between the hours of 8am – 5pm Monday through Friday. Jo Bonner, Administrative Assistant, will assign a printing code to each student. Please use your code and follow instructions by the computer to print directly to the large copier/printer in room 154.

Cougar Card

A Cougar Card is required to gain entrance to a number of buildings on campus, charge items to your student account, access Pullman Transit for free and many other things. New students may obtain their Cougar Card in the Cougar Card Center, located in the Compton Union Building (CUB), room 60. Returning students will continue to use their previously issued card. The Cougar Card Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. A $20.00 replacement fee is charged for replacement cards. For any information or to report lost or found ID cards, call 1-509-335-CARD or visit their website.

Counseling Services

The WSU Counseling Services office offers free and confidential assistance to students with personal, social, and vocational problems. Stop by the Washington Building, NE Washington St., call (509) 335-4511, or visit the Cougar Health website . If you have a crisis situation after regular office hours, call: (509) 335-2159.

Insurance

Graduate students on a paid assistantship who maintain a 3.0 grade point average and are enrolled for a minimum of 10 credit hours are entitled to the Graduate Student Health Insurance Medical Plan. Graduate students not on assistantships who are not eligible for this plan may enroll in the Student Medical Insurance Plan, but they must pay the premium. The insurance policy is effective beginning August 16th. However, because it takes a little time for it to reach the insurance company and be keyed into their system, it is suggested that you create an online account starting around September 1st .

Dependents such as spouse and/or children may be added to the insurance policy but the student is responsible for the additional premiums. Coverage from spring semester runs through August 15th. If premiums are being paid for a dependent, spring semester rates will be higher than fall semester rates because of the summer coverage. No premiums are deducted during the summer months if the policy was in effect during spring semester.

Cougar Health Services administers the WSU graduate student health insurance plan. For student health needs covered by the plan, an appointment can be made by calling 1-509-335-3575. Cougar Health Services facilities are located in the Washington Building on the WSU campus (intersection of Stadium Way and Nevada & Washington Streets).

International Programs/SEVIS Information

The International Programs Office (International Students & Scholars): office is located in Bryan Hall, room 206, phone (509) 335-2541, or email them at: ip.admin@wsu.edu. Students are responsible for maintaining their legal status within the country. All SEVIS information, including required entry and departure documents, is available through the International Programs office.

There are changes in policy for the academic year 2024-2025 regarding English Language Assessment for International Teaching Assistants. Many of the new standards will exempt international students from ITA exams. The international graduate assistants will be required to meet the Graduate School test scores for TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo.

Students who do not meet either the Graduate School or graduate program score thresholds may be required to pass an ITA exam before being appointed as a TA.

Mail (United States Postal Service [USPS] and Federal Express Mailing)

Students are assigned a mailbox here in the department. Please check your mailbox frequently as the office staff puts phone messages and important notices in your mailbox as necessary. Mail is picked-up and delivered on weekdays by approximately 11:00 a.m. Please bring outgoing interdepartmental mail and USPS mail to the front desk. When sending interdepartmental mail, you must use a four-digit campus zip code which can be found in the online WSU zip code directory, our four-digit code is 4910.

No personal mail should be sent to or from your university address. There is a USPS mail drop box across the street in front of the French Administration building. Personal mailboxes are available only at the Post Office located on Grand Avenue. The U.S. Postal Service sorts mail electronically. For the quickest delivery, the complete address should be in capital letters with no punctuation. Mail sent to you at the department should be addressed as follows:

YOUR NAME
DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY
WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE HALL ROOM 150
PO BOX 644910
PULLMAN, WA 99164-4910

*NOTE: Any packages shipped via Federal Express or UPS must have a completed Shipping Request form that is completed on-line and approved by Annette Bednar. If you have a hazardous material shipment you must speak with Jo Bonner.

Office and Building Keys

Whenever possible the Department of Anthropology works to assign an office to each of our graduate students. All of our offices are located in College Hall. Upon arrival, students will be issued both an office key, a building key, and a mailroom key. During a student’s academic career, they may be issued lab keys or other office keys based upon their research and who they are working with. All keys must returned to the office at the completion of a student’s program.

Office Assignments

Whenever possible the Department of Anthropology assigns each of our graduate students to a specific office. Please come to the Anthropology Main Office (College Hall 150) for your office assignment. Do not trade or move offices without first speaking with Jo Bonner. If you would like to change offices please contact Jo and she will work with you.

Setting Up Your WSU Email

Upon your arrival at WSU you will need to set up your wsu.edu email account. WSU has partnered with Microsoft to provide Microsoft Exchange Outlook e-mail accounts for students. Once you have paid your enrollment fee you will be able to download the Office 365 Suite free. When you are admitted to WSU your Outlook e-mail account and your official WSU e-mail address is automatically set up. Please visit the Crimson Service Desk for assistance with your student e-mail account.

Once you have established your email account, contact Jo Bonner (jobonner@wsu.edu), with your new email address.

Email-Network Safety

In order to keep your new email account and your personal information safe you will need to be diligent with regards to phishing emails and scams. All unsolicited emails you receive that originate outside of the university should be treated with caution. It is good practice to not click links unless you have verified it is safe and you know the sender. Emails may look official and can present as potential employers or banks requesting account verification. Even email addresses from accounts originating within WSU could be sent from compromised email accounts of staff or students. Please forward any suspicious emails to abuse@wsu.edu.

Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Training

Part of being a world-class university is providing a workplace environment where all individuals feel safe, valued, and respected. Accordingly, Washington State University’s core values include a commitment to being an institution that demonstrates trust and respect for all persons and cultivates individual and institutional integrity in all that we do. Sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination compromise the integrity of the University and destroy the trust and respect expected in the workplace.

Eradicating discrimination and sexual harassment requires an ongoing, demonstrated commitment from all members of the University community. A truly respectful workplace involves cooperation and support from each and every employee of the institution. To achieve this goal, Human Resource Services (HRS), in collaboration with the Compliance and Civil Rights [CCR] office, has developed the required online sexual harassment and discrimination training specific for WSU. You may also obtain answers to common questions and resource information at this site.

Travel Information

A travel authority is required for any travel and must be completed prior to travel. Please contact Dori Emerson or Neal Baksi for assistance with travel. If you have a grant a travel advance may be requested in order to help with anticipated expenses. An advance should be requested at least 2 weeks before travel begins. Conference registrations will be paid directly by the university if received at least 2 weeks before the registration due date. If registration payment requests are not received in time for the university to pay directly, the traveler will have to make the payment and will be reimbursed for the expense. Once your travel authority is approved, you can make airline reservations using local travel agents. Ask the agent to call the service center office at 1-509-335-0534 for approval to purchase the tickets. The university pays the airfare directly for you. Tickets for approved travel may not be purchased through online sites.

Travel Expense Voucher (TEV)

Expenses are reimbursed up to a set amount for the travel destination. This is called the per diem rate. Check with the office for these rates prior to travel so you can plan your expenses. You will need original, itemized receipts for all lodging and any other expenses. If you share a room with WSU personnel, you will be reimbursed one-half of the room rate. A travel expense voucher (TEV) should be submitted by the fifth of the month following travel. If a travel advance is received, the TEV must be completed immediately upon return from travel.

Reimbursements are generally received within three weeks of completing the TEV.

Dori Emerson or Neil Baksi can answer your travel questions, they are in the finance office.

Visitors

The Anthropology Department hosts several visitors throughout the year. Students are expected to actively participate and attend receptions, meals, and seminars for these visitors to the department. These events may be hosted in the evenings and on weekends.