Well, we all made it through the first class week of the fall 2021 semester. Despite the fact that, well into the summer, we were still wondering what fall was going to look like, whether we would be in face coverings, whether students would return to school with the pandemic still lurking, whether we should go ahead and schedule events, whether we would have the resources to pull it all off or not...yeah, that was our summer.
Yet, here we are, eight days in, doing what we do and doing it well. We greeted students, distributed masks to those who forgot them, signed up every student we could for a vaccination and affirmed the diligence of those who already had them. We walked students to resources, got them to their classes, and even set in motion a 6-week celebration of campus life.
What a wild first week!
So I thought we might just take a breath today.
Do you remember, when you were a kid, lying in the grass and blowing the little puffballs off of dandelion stalks? I loved chasing the tiny aeronauts as they launched into the unknown. And did you ever paint your legs with mud from a puddle when your mom wasn’t looking, then sit in the hot sun until the mud dried into cracked slabs on your skin? I was always delighted by how soft the skin felt when I knocked loose my mud stockings, always just a little surprised that my skin was actually still under there! Oh, and what about finger painting days in grade school? How gloriously slippery the paint felt on the damp waxed paper and how fun it was to smoosh fingers together until the paint oozed between them with wonderfully inappropriate sucking noises. I loved art period.
Kids know how to embrace a moment. As grownups, we have a lot to do, and, as professionals, we always want to do what we do really well, so we don’t always feel like we have time for “unproductive” moments. But, as human beings, we also need to pause sometimes and just appreciate...well, the mysteries of mud and dandelions, a glorious sight, sound, or smell, laughter, good coffee, contemplation, friendship.
Take a breath, folks. We’ve begun well and have so much more to do, but let’s tackle the next things feeling rested and loving the experience!
Warmly,
Lyn Redington
Vice President for Student Affairs
and Enrollment Management
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CELEBRATING THE GOOD STUFF
"Leadership is not about being in charge, it's about taking care of those in our charge." - Simon Sinek, Apple News
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RESPOND: Partnering for Campus Mental Health - RSVP by September 29 |
Mental health problems affect each of us, but you can take action to RESPOND effectively. RSVP by September 29 for the next RESPOND training, which will be held Friday, October 2, 2021, 8:30-5:00 p.m., in the Little Wood River room in the Pond Student Union.
Why should you attend? About 1 in 5 of us will experience a diagnosable mental illness this year. All of us experience emotional pain or distress at times in our lives. Most of us want to help, yet we often feel uncertain about what to do or say. RESPOND will empower you to offer effective support and useful referrals to a student or colleague. The course provides a basic overview of symptoms often associated with mental health problems and offers an action plan to help you RESPOND effectively. The course will also address campus policies such as FERPA, as well as mental health resources.
Any Idaho State University faculty, staff, or administrators who wish to learn more about how to RESPOND to students or colleagues who are in distress may attend the training. Graduate and undergraduate students who work in student-assistance roles are also welcome to attend these trainings. Space is limited, and RSVP is required. REGISTER HERE
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A Welcoming Place for Parents of Infants and Young Children |
Did you know that each Idaho State campus offers parent rooms designated to provide a safe, welcoming place for parents to take infants and small children to feed them, change them, or for nursing mothers to pump milk? Having a resource like this can make our campuses more welcoming places for our parents of young children. ISU students, faculty, and staff can gain access to parent rooms by having their Bengal Card activated to work in card sliders on parent room doors. Once activated, the card can be used to access the rooms on campus for one academic year. To activate a Bengal card for this purpose, send an email, with the name and Bengal ID# to Shirley Taysom at taysshir@isu.edu or Stephanie Richardson at richstep@isu.edu. The card will be activated electronically.
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If Students are Planning to Graduate this Fall |
It is important that students apply for graduation early so that the Registrar’s Office can process the paperwork in a timely manner. The graduation application date for a Fall (December 17, 2021) graduation is September 13, 2021. This date is the same for all undergraduate and graduate applications, and it applies to all degrees and certificates. The deadline is for applying to have a degree or certificate awarded; it does not apply to commencement or any other ceremonies or celebrations, but students must apply in order to graduate. Missing the graduation application deadline or not applying can impact a student and their ability to find employment. If you are meeting with students who have questions about applying for graduation, have them contact the Registrar’s Office at reginfo@isu.edu or (208) 282-2661. They are looking forward to working with our Bengals to ensure that they apply on time and enjoy their graduation.
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Why We Should Encourage Students to Get to Know Their Profs
Lance Erickson, Idaho State Career Center Director
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Professors and faculty members have a significant impact on the lives of college students in a variety of ways, so it is important for students to cultivate a good relationship with their instructors early in the semester. Sometaimes professors can seem intimidating because of their knowledge and advanced degrees, but, more often than not, they are very approachable, friendly, and kind. READ MORE
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Celebrating Americans of Hispanic or Latino Ancestry |
The Diversity Resource Center is pleased to support National Hispanic Heritage Month, observed September 15 to October 15, 2021. Please join us in celebrating the cultures, histories, and accomplishments of Americans of Hispanic or Latino/a/x ancestry. Watch for more information about our speakers, presentations, and discussion.
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Partnering to Support Our Students’ Mental Health |
Our Counseling and Testing (CATS) staff is working hard to partner with parents and family members, faculty, and other staff to support our Bengals’ wellbeing at Idaho State. CATS services are available to students year-round, and students who are struggling or just need someone to talk to can complete the voluntary and anonymous Bengals RUOK? questionnaire on the Idaho State Counseling Center webpage. Knowing the challenges our students have faced during the pandemic, CATS is currently featuring Coping with COVID - free Virtual Wellness Resources and telehealth services.
In September, CATS will host a series of Suicide Prevention Month activities to empower our students to talk about mental health issues and participate in events designed to support their emotional and mental wellness during college. READ MORE
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Why We Do What We Do - Scheduling & Event Services |
When asked why we do what we do, the first answer that always comes to mind is, “the students.” Everything that we do is because of our position in higher education and in Student Affairs. At Scheduling and Event Services, we have the unique opportunity to provide the university community with open, inviting, and engaging spaces. We are fortunate in that we get to interact with and support students, faculty, staff, and community members on an individual and group basis. During the last academic year, when we had to find room to accommodate the required distance between participants, we especially had the privilege of providing faculty and students the space and the tools to conduct and participate in their classes.
We strive to provide students with rooms in which to study, and we work with student clubs, offering support in the form of spaces, set-up, and audio visual support for their activities. Our windows and boards are brightly colored with student organization and university sponsored activities, upcoming classes, and community hosted events. We get to support university departments with events such as career fairs, employee development and training, research and graduate symposiums, and lobby tables. Additionally, faculty reach out to us for help facilitating the availability of exciting and academically challenging workshops, meet-and-greets, and a myriad of student success activities.
Our goal is to be the behind-the-scenes support that allows for front-of-house success.
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