DATE: February 1, 2011 12:44:08 PM PST

WWU Soundings is online. Click to see which WWU student club is going to nationals and which athletic team competes on television Wednesday night.

Soundings, the newsletter for WWU families, is available online.

Here are some of the stories you'll see in the latest edition:

Ilea Sather worked in Alaska's fishing industry last summer.

Students can start planning now for summer jobs

Summer jobs can be a great opportunity for college students to earn money to pay for school. But working during the summer can also give students some early career experience, a taste of adventure or even a chance to catch up on college credits.

Learn more.

Plus: Some jobs offer a bit of adventure along with a paycheck. Read about the experiences of two WWU students, one on a fishing boat, the other on a train.

Dead Parrots Society, regional college improv champions

'Dead Parrots Society,' WWU's student improv team, is heading to nationals

The Dead Parrots Society is heading to the national College Improv Tournament in Chicago in February to compete with other students who specialize in improvisational theatre, the fine art of performing comedic scenes at the drop of a hat.

Learn more.

Western creates a clearer focus on its identity

"This positioning effort will help people better understand what Western is all about today," says Bruce Shepard, WWU President, in a press release today.

"Effectively telling our story means critically understanding just what it is that we are, and are especially good at. This has a critical connection to a pressing issue: having the resource base to continue to do what we do so well. And competition for limited resources will continue to intensify."

Read who was WWU's honorary 100,000th degree recipient

Western officials knew the 100,000th degree would be awarded at Fall Commencement on Dec. 11, and selected a student at random to represent the recipient of the landmark degree.

In addition to the celebration in December, Western is honoring the entire 2010-11 graduating class with a commemorative brick paver installed in the sidewalk in front of Old Main.

Students thinking about moving off campus this fall? Experts offer advice

As students begin to make their housing plans for fall, Elva Giddings, director of Prevention and Wellness Services, and Lyndie Case, coordinator of the Campus Community Coalition, discuss what students can expect and offer tips for a positive off-campus living experience.

New students' words create a patchwork of hopes

Each fall during Welcoming Convocation, new students write notes to be placed in a WWU time capsule.

This word cloud illustrates some of the most common words the students used to describe their hopes, ambitions -- and some fears.

Read the story for more, longer examples of their words.

This week: Catch WWU basketball on television

Catch two upcoming WWU basketball games on Fox Sports Northwest TV:

WWU Women host Seattle Pacific: Feb. 2, 6 p.m.
WWU Men host Central Washington University: Feb. 16, 7 p.m.

Fox Sports Northwest will also broadcast the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Men's championship game on March 4 at 5 p.m.

Kiplinger's again ranks WWU among 100 best values

In its February 2011 issue, Kiplinger's magazine ranks Western 56th on its list of the 100 Best Values in Public Colleges for 2011.

WWU Libraries evolve to meet students' academic needs

Students expect information to be available on the devices they choose to use, says Christopher Cox, dean of WWU Libraries. It falls to librarians to provide the information students need when and where they need it.

Learn how WWU Libraries are changing to get students what they need.

Calling all parents!

Each year, Western students call families to ask for donations to the WWU Foundation's Parent Fund, which supports the Career Services Center as well as other important student services that aren't covered by tuition and state support.

Find out how you can help.

Make plans to join your student on campus for Back 2 Bellingham

Back 2 Bellingham Alumni and Family Weekend, Western's weekend extravaganza of reunions, family events, social gatherings and academic presentations, will be May 13 to 15.

Make plans to join us.

Newsletters, Parent Connection help families stay in touch with WWU

Make sure you're getting the latest news from Western -- including emergency text messages.

Visit the Soundings Web site for more stories on Academics, Campus Life, Careers and Networking and Financial Aid.

Soundings is produced online four times a year by Western's Vice President for Student Affairs/Academic Support Services and the Office of University Communications. Contact us.

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