Save the date for Bengal Family Weekend 2022 - September 30-October 2 |
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“Anticipate and plan for change rather than merely hope that it will not arrive.” --Brian Rosenberg, Academe Today, April 13, 2020, “How Should Colleges Prepare for a Post-pandemic World?”
I always find myself bemused by my own attitude toward change. I know that change is part of a vibrant life, but I dearly love the comfort of some of my routines. I enjoy the cycle of the academic year, the predictable ebb and flow of energy and repose. I like coming to work in the morning, blowing right past the laundry hamper that is clearly crying out for attention because there is a time for laundry, and a work morning is not that time. And I like leaving the office at the end of the day because work also has its time, and evening is a time for other things. (Laundry? Maybe, maybe not.) I like my coffee in the morning. I like wishing my Facebook friends happy birthday on their special days. These patterns can be as reassuring and comforting as a favorite pair of warm socks.
But I also know that to live—to live fully, vibrantly, responsively—is to be in a constant state of adaptation.
That’s good because routine has certainly not described our experience in the last two years, has it? I laughed when I saw an email heading for the Academe Today news in the midst of the pandemic: “Making Fall Plans? Like ’Nailing Jell-O to the Wall’” (June 8, 2020). What an image!
But we have all been feeling it, haven’t we? We’ve spent the last two years engaged in what felt like a perpetual game of “Jello-O Nailing,” and we’re still figuring out what life looks like in our new normal. That can be intimidating…but I see an opportunity in it too.
Let’s think about change for a moment. Change and stability are not opposites. Change and stagnation are. Perhaps a good starting point for us is to acknowledge that unsettledness is not an optional element in our personal or professional lives right now. Covid has changed things. We don’t really have a choice whether to respond to it. We can’t just ignore it. We can’t just scurry back home to our “comfortable socks” and hope tomorrow is different.
Tomorrow will be different. It’s a fact.
For better or for worse, we are in a season of change for higher education, when routine is out the window and every day is a new opportunity to evolve. There’s something almost breathtaking about that! What are the new buzzwords of every day now? “Unanticipated.” “Unprecedented.” “Historical.” “Never before in our history.”
And that gives us the opportunity to make history.
Things are changing, and we want to be at the forefront of that change. We want to find new, creative ways to support our families, our friends, our colleagues, and our students. We want to figure out what higher ed looks like in this novel context. We want to take this out-of-the-ordinary moment and find ways to be extraordinary because that is the opportunity we are being given.
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Change is in the air for me personally. With both anticipation and regret, I will be leaving Idaho State and returning home to spend more time with family. In this last letter to you, I would like to introduce you to Dr. Craig Chatriand, who will be stepping in as the interim Vice President of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. Dr. Chatriand has been serving as our Dean of Students and the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, so you may already be familiar with his name. His office manages the Student Care and Assistance and Student Engagement resources and programs we frequently talk about in these newsletters, so you can rest assured that your students’ experience will remain Dr. Chatriand’s top priority.
And as we move into this transition, we want to partner with you! Email us at parent@isu.edu to tell us what you need. Tell us what your students need. Together, we can make sure that “tomorrow” at Idaho State is a wonderful experience for your Bengal!
Roar, Bengals, Roar!
Lyn Redington
Vice President for Student Affairs
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TRIO Seeks Students to Work as Paid Summer Mentors |
There is still time for students to apply to work as a mentor for high school students attending a summer program on campus, June 13-30. The position pays a $3,000 stipend, plus room and board on the Pocatello campus for 7 weeks. See the attached flyer for the QR code, or reach out to our TRIO staff at (208) 282-3242. |
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Students Can Make Progress on Their Degree with Online Summer Homeland Security and Emergency Management Courses |
Fully online courses are available in the summer for students seeking to complete online summer Homeland Security and Emergency Management courses. For summer 2022, students can check out these options. All courses (upper and lower division) are 3 credits, and offered in a fully online, asynchronous 8-week format. Registration is now open, with no prerequisites. HSEM 1125 Leadership and Influence is a great course for students in all majors. Follow on Facebook. |
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Breakfast Items Needed for Benny’s Pantry |
During the summer months, Benny’s Pantry receives visits from a lot of students, including Bengal Bridge students who are transitioning to college and in need of a little extra support as they make that move. If you’re going shopping, and you’d like to help, items that are particularly important at this time include the following:
- Cereal
- Oatmeal (instant)
- Granola bars
- Pop Tarts
- Frozen breakfast (and dinner) microwavable items
Remember that we can deliver your items to the pantry for you. Just drop off your items at the Student Affairs Vice President’s office (PSUB Hypostyle). We appreciate you!
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Whitewater Trip on the Owyhee River |
May 16-21
Departure time: 8:00 a.m.
Last sign-up date: May 11
Pre-trip: May 11, 5:30 p.m. at OAC
Nonrefundable deposit/cancellation fee: $100
The Lower Owyhee from the Rome boat launch to Birch Creek takeout is a rare wilderness experience that few get to encounter. The Owyhee Canyon offers spectacular cliffs, white water rapids, and camping. At this time of year, water levels are usually low, and inflatable kayaks can be used to navigate down the river corridor. If water levels permit, we will use rafts to travel down the river. Idaho State University students can request to have their trip paid for by the Tim Magnuson Memorial Trip Fund. This is a fund established in memory of Tim Magnuson by his wife Rhesa Ledbetter to allow ISU students to share in the outdoor experiences Tim was so passionate about. ISU students can apply funding for the trip by contacting the OAC. The cost of food is not covered in the trip fee. Fee covers transportation, permits, boat rental, and wag bags.
Group size: 10
ISU Students: $180 (ISU Students can apply to have their fees paid for by the Tim Magnuson Memorial Trip Fund).
ISU Affiliate: $220
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Representing Idaho State University Access & Opportunity Programs |
Every year, TRIO professionals from across the United States and its territories gather on Capitol Hill to provide updates and advocacy for the TRIO programs. These programs, initially enacted as part of Lyndon B. Johnson’s War on Poverty in the 1960’s, are critical federal investments to the states to provide educational access to limited income, first generation communities, as well as services to veterans, individuals with disabilities, and under-resourced communities. This spring, TRIO professionals and students from across Idaho gathered on Capitol Hill to gain leadership skills and share the successes of Idaho programs with congressional offices.
Idaho State University programs were represented by Dr. Sari Byerly, Assistant Vice President Access and Opportunity Programs; Amy Christensen, Director TRIO Veterans/President-Elect Idaho Association of TRIO Professionals; Samantha Jimenez Castro, MBA student and ISU TRIO Alumni; Dalene Hunter, ISU TRIO McNair Scholar and ISU TRIO Student Support Services participant; Jo Do, ISU TRIO McNair Scholar and ISU TRIO Student Support Services participant; Maya Peters-Greño, ISU TRIO McNair Scholar; and Leslie Maldonado, ISU TRIO McNair Scholar.
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Reminder: Encourage Students to Apply for Financial Aid and Scholarships |
ALL current and new incoming students should be applying for scholarships now in the Bengal Online Scholarship System (BOSS) for Fall 2022. Once they have created a profile in BOSS, students should watch their ISU email for new scholarships for which they may be eligible, as well as if they have received any scholarship offers.
Students who are attending Summer 2022 and who want to be considered for federal financial aid should complete their 2021-2022 FAFSA (if they haven’t already). They will also need to submit the Summer Supplement form that is now available on the Financial Aid website. Students must be registered for summer courses prior to submitting this form.
Students are encouraged to complete their 2022-2023 FAFSA to ensure they receive the maximum financial aid available to them. Students need 2020 tax and income information to complete this FAFSA. Students should watch their BengalWeb and ISU e-mail for correspondence regarding their financial aid for the 2022-2023 academic year.
Need help? Not sure what options you have? Remember that our ISU Financial Aid and Scholarship offices are also available to answer questions and guide you and your student through the process. Contact Financial Aid at finaidem@isu.edu or 208-282-2756. Contact the Scholarship Office at scholar@isu.edu or 208-282-3315.
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More Reasons Why Idaho State is a Great Choice for Higher Education |
Each month, we will link to announcements published in the previous month by our University Marketing team that you might have missed. If you see something that provokes your or your student’s interest, and you’re not sure where to go for more information, email us at parent@isu.edu, and we’ll help you get connected.
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