Announcements

With bowling classes removed from the course catalog, the Manwaring Student Center bowling alley is undergoing renovations in order to lose the “classroom vibe” and become a place where more students will want to gather.

The BYU-Idaho Architecture and Construction Management Services Department provides stewardship over construction, remodeling and repurposing of campus buildings to provide the best possible environment for the campus community. The construction and maintainence of campus buildings and grounds contributes to the overall mission of the university by providing a safe and beautiful atmosphere for learning to take place. Below are projects scheduled to take place during the 2018 Summer Session. Information regarding ongoing projects and those that began during the spring semester can be found at http://www.byui.edu/newsroom/news-and-notes/6-6-18-spring-2018-construction.

The Department of Home and Family is better preparing its marriage and family studies degree-seeking students for the workplace. Starting April 2019, new students will now earn their degree through a modular approach.

In an effort to increase students’ career options after graduation, the College of Language and Letters launched a campaign that is helping students identify elective courses that will complement their degree. The campaign is called “Smart Elect.”

Each semester, the BYU-Idaho Architecture and Construction Management Services Department provides stewardship over the construction, remodeling and repurposing of campus buildings to provide the best possible environment for the campus community. The construction and maintenance of campus buildings and grounds contributes to the overall mission of the university by providing a safe and beautiful atmosphere for learning to take place. Below are projects scheduled to take place during the Spring 2018 Semester. In its June issue, News & Notes will feature additional projects to take place during the Summer 2018 Session.

Interdisciplinary Studies is in its sixth year as a degree option to students at BYU-Idaho. Since its inception, the degree has grown into what it is today: a customizable degree for students who have a very specific career in mind. The Interdisciplinary Studies degree allows for a “customizable experience,” said Danae Romrell, dean of Interdisciplinary Studies.

While most services offered to students specialize in one area (i.e. Financial Aid, the Tutoring Center, or Academic Advising), the Dean of Students has a mandate to better understand all campus resources to ensure the wellness, safety, and stability of students.

Along with coordinating with the campus-wide efforts to focus on retention, the Department of Religious Education is seeking to develop techniques that allow them to identify and assist students who might be at risk of dropping out.

Just in time for Spring Semester 2018, the Counseling Center is preparing to serve more students with recent renovations that will accommodate two more therapists.

The recent completion of the new Wellness Center is enabling the student-led organization to grow and serve more of the university community. This new location on the north side of the Hart Building, opened last month after a week-long open house and months of construction.

In an effort to increase student retention, I-Plan is offering new features to help guide students through their educational journey. Since 2014, BYU-Idaho has utilized the online program, I-Plan, to provide students with enhanced ability to focus?on their career and academic futures. The first component released was the tutoring module, which allows students to schedule tutoring appointments. Between February 2016 and May 2017, developers added a host of other components. One of these components is the graduation planner–a means for students to map their required courses to graduation. Students can now also explore potential majors and view academic paths towards future careers.

BYU-Pathway Worldwide headquarters will begin moving to Salt Lake City over the summer, but it will remain closely aligned with BYU-Idaho for the foreseeable future. President Gilbert said BYU-Pathway hopes to maintain the characteristics learned through BYU-Idaho's history, which includes maintaining the Pioneer's Heart.

Henry J. Eyring was announced as the new president of BYU-Idaho on February 7 during a university devotional given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. He replaces Clark G. Gilbert, who will lead the newly created BYU-Pathway Worldwide, which will administer online programs for CES.

On July 25, Jeffery R. Morrin, who currently serves as a faculty member in the Business Department, will assume his new position as University Resources Vice President for Brigham Young University-Idaho. Vice President Charles Andersen is leaving the university to serve as the new managing director of the Church's Headquarters Facilities Department in Salt Lake City.

One BYU-Idaho employee is demonstrating what it means to be a disciple leader as she heeds the call of Church leaders to help refugees. After attending the General Women's Session of General Conference last April, Emmilie Whitlock, adjunct faculty member in the Department of Communication, and her husband, Eric, established "Rexburg for Refugees;" an organization aiming to help refugees relocated to Idaho and Utah.

Five BYU-Idaho students in the Department of Geology recently placed second in the regional yearly Imperial Barrel Award competition-a competition where they were the only undergraduate team competing.

BYU-Idaho's Marketing and Communication Team, commonly referred to as MarComm, provides services to strengthen messages coming from various offices and departments at BYU-Idaho that are delivered to students and off-campus audiences.

After years of renovations, the Romney Building's Geology Museum is now finished, with hallway displays that will allow students and visitors to have a more interactive experience.

BYU-Idaho has developed an incredible state of the art simulation suite for students in the Department of Nursing. Due to findings of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, regarding the effectiveness of simulated clinical hours for student nurses, nursing students across the nation will be able to utilize more simulation opportunities as part of their practical clinical hour requirements. The new findings of the NCSBN show that up to 50 percent of clinical time spent in simulation scenarios is as effective as being in an actual hospital with real patients.

The remodel and construction of several buildings at the Department of Animal and Food Science's Ag Science Center were recently completed in an effort to serve the department's needs as it continues to grow and develop.

BYU-Idaho students are helping to shape the world of psychology. Eleven psychology students attended the Rocky Mountain Psychological Association Convention in Denver, Colo. last month. Five of those students presented studies they had replicated in order to test the reproducibility of results published in previous studies. Accompanying the students were Department of Psychology faculty members Brady Wiggins and Scott Martin.

Students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering aimed to defy the laws of buoyancy as they competed in the American Society of Civil Engineers' Concrete Canoe Pacific Northwest Competition hosted by the University of Idaho. In this competition, they faced teams from across the nation as they raced concrete canoes they had spent months designing and constructing.

The Exemplary Employee Award nomination process opened on May 2 and will continue through May 31. This nomination process seeks to recognize staff and administrators who go above and beyond in their responsibilities.

The BYU-Idaho Women's Advisory Council has launched a new website, www.byui.edu/womens-services, in an effort to enhance the services they provide for the women both on and off campus. The website, that is specifically crafted to meet the needs of both employee and student women will be an indispensable resource.