Cougar Commons Events Kick Off the Academic Year

Cougar Commons, WSU Libraries’ academic support center for university students in Terrell Library’s first floor near the reference area, officially opens the new academic year with three events geared towards accommodations, time-management skills, and a Résumé Café.

On September 9 and 10, the commons is partnering with WSU’s Student Accommodations and Disability Resources to offer help for students needing accommodations. The unit provides accommodations and services to incoming and current WSU students with disabilities, psychological or medical conditions, or temporary injuries that limit their access to the educational environment.

Cougar Commons, the WSU student academic support center in Terrell Library, begins fall semester programming in September and October, including accommodations help, a time-management skills workshop, and a Résumé Café. Photo by Erica England.

A time-management skills workshop is being planned with First-Year Programs in September to help students develop strategies to make their academic experience a success, such as creating a daily plan, prioritizing tasks, establishing time limits, managing distractions, and more.

WSU’s Academic Success and Career Center (ASCC) will hold an October 5 Résumé Café where students can receive one-on-one networking and résumé support from company representatives. ASCC offers academic advising and coaching, career advice and exploration, and internship search assistance, as well as by-appointment tutoring at the Cougar Commons.

Other services offered by Cougar Commons include drop-in research help by WSU Libraries’ Ask Us! staff and drop-in writing consultations by the Undergraduate Writing Center.

Later in the fall, WSU Libraries will hold a grand opening to welcome the university community to the newly renovated Cougar Commons space. Last December, Access Services’ employees and volunteers moved almost 9,800 volumes from the physical reference collection to another location to make room for the commons. In January, construction workers removed existing bookshelves, laid carpet, and brought power and networking outlets up to code. Furniture is expected in mid-September.

For questions about booking a space for an event in the Cougar Commons, please email Erica England, WSU Libraries’ first-year experience librarian and the Cougar Commons coordinator.