Opportunities Abound at WSU Global Campus
Since becoming a Global Campus student in the fall of 2025, humanities major Elizabeth Donais has embraced every opportunity to enrich her learning experience and uplift those around her. From immersing herself in a discipline that has captured her curiosity to building community through clubs to taking advantage of the many resources and events that the college has to offer, she has come to learn first-hand that life at WSU Global Campus is about more than earning a degree; it’s also about uncovering passions, learning to connect across boundaries, and celebrating wins big and small.
Donais began her higher education journey at Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, where she earned an associate degree in communication studies. At the time, she was navigating life as a new mother at the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic while providing hospice care for her father, so she opted primarily for flexible online courses.
As she considered her professional and academic future, she concluded that it would be best for her to pursue remote employment so she could continue to care for and protect her loved ones.
Her decision to study communications at Clark College was driven by a desire to develop transferable skills that she hoped could prepare her for a variety of careers. As she progressed in her studies, however, she quickly rediscovered her love for learning, prompting her to consider furthering her education by pursuing a bachelor’s degree at WSU Global Campus.
For Donais, the flexibility of online learning has remained one of the most important parts of her college experience. “WSU Global Campus has allowed me to pursue higher education and work readiness skills while staying with my child,” she explained. With the flexibility to balance her education and family responsibilities, Donais has been able to fully invest in a multifaceted humanities program that supports her academic, professional, and even personal goals. While she continues to hone skills critical to numerous professional fields, she is also exploring academic niches that genuinely pique her interest.
Her current areas of concentration are English, art, and anthropology, though she has also chosen to pursue a minor in American Indian studies, a field that she says has always fascinated her. Not only has she enjoyed independent research on the subject with her husband to learn more about his Quinault ancestry, but she also credits the impact that a past intercultural communications course at Clark had on her. Both experiences “created a deeper interest in Native American studies, along with a desire to learn more about other cultures.” Fortunately for her, she has found ample opportunities to continue to pursue these interests with the options available at WSU Global Campus, both in the classroom and with her new Coug community.
To make sure she was aware of all that WSU Global Campus had to offer, Donais attended the fall 2025 Week of Welcome (WOW)—an annual weeklong series of virtual events open to all Global Campus students to bring the community together and highlight helpful resources and upcoming opportunities for networking and community. After taking part herself, she highly encourages other students to attend the upcoming 2026 Week of Welcome, which will last from Monday, August 17 to Friday, August 21. “It’s extremely helpful to learn about all the opportunities WSU Global Campus has,” she said. “Not only the clubs, but also programs for grocery vouchers, fitness reimbursements, financial aid information, mentorship programs, career assistance, and so much more.”
She also joked about another underrated benefit: that attending these low-pressure virtual meetings can earn students “Involvement points,” which can be redeemed for WSU swag, including the famous Cougar Gold cheese!
Though Donais has become an active participant in several of the clubs she was first introduced to at last year’s Week of Welcome, she recently became the new leader of Global Campus’ Cougs & Cubs Club, an organization dedicated to bringing together Coug parents and their little ones. Regular offerings include story times, interactive “Science Saturdays,” and informal discussions amongst caregivers. Thinking back to her first meeting as a new member, Donais recalled “sitting in with [her] camera and mic off… and [being] hooked from the beginning.”
Donais knows from her own experiences that both caregiving (especially for stay-at-home parents like her) and online student life can feel isolating at times. Balancing the responsibilities of both roles at the same time presents an even greater challenge. Thankfully, Donais and many students like her can credit clubs like Cougs & Cubs for providing them with some of the support they need. “This club has been amazing for connecting me with other parents, sharing tips, and venting about shared difficulties while also having a space to share with our kids,” she said.
As Donais has discovered through her own enthusiastic involvement, there is no shortage of opportunities for growth, personal development, and community-building at Global Campus. As the new semester approaches, we encourage both incoming and returning students to explore all that the college has to offer. Visit Involve to browse clubs and events, or follow Global Campus on instagram at @wsuglobal.
About the Author
Emma Seckington is a writer for WSU Global Campus, working alongside the Marketing and Communications team to spotlight the unique accomplishments of Global Campus students, faculty, and alumni.