News

Every semester, hundreds of messages are shared on campus with the goal to reach the same audience—BYU-Idaho students. With so many messages competing for our students’ attention, President’s Executive Group (PEG) decided last spring that something needed to be done to prioritize university communications.

Executive Strategy and Planning was created just over two years ago by President Clark Gilbert. One of the charges of this group is to better manage the ever-growing amount of data collected at BYU-Idaho. If departments or offices on campus need data, Executive Strategy and Planning is the place to receive help. The university is fortunate to have skilled research and data professionals.

On Tuesday, September 11, President’s Executive Group held the annual all-employee banquet. At this banquet, the following groups were recognized for their efforts in accomplishing the university’s mission: the Institution Data and Research Teams, the Energy Management Team, the Student Success Council, the College Success Development Team, Foundations Taskforce, and the LMS/I-Learn Conversion Team.

Each fall brings a new beginning and level of excitement to the faculty at Brigham Young University-Idaho. It is the start of a new academic year full of teaching, learning, and “rethinking education.”

BYU-Idaho employees have been challenged to approach their work with a “beginner’s heart” by Sister Bonnie H. Cordon, Young Women General President and member of the Church Board of Education and Board of Trustees. She issued the challenge at this fall’s all-employee meeting, held on September 11, 2018.

Due to the growing needs of the university, BYU-Idaho has made the decision to switch to Workday Financial Management as its new financial management system. The decision was made after months of research, deliberation, and an approval from the Board of Trustees. Beginning January 1, 2019, Workday will be the official financial management system of the school and will become accessible to employees.

In an effort to better prepare students for future employment, the Department of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering is making changes to its curriculum aimed at the Spring of 2020. When a student declares a major in computer science (CS) or software engineering, rather than choosing from a long list of CS courses, students will choose from a cluster of suggested classes, referred to as certificates, based on what their end goal is upon graduation. Completing multiple certificates will then stack up into a more customizable bachelor’s degree.

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.