This morning, thanks to the naming rights support of Idaho Central Credit Union, we are $10 million closer to making the dream of a new arena on our Moscow campus a reality. ICCU’s sponsorship makes a great difference toward construction of a stunning facility, one that serves our student-athletes well, offers a dynamic space for our community, and proves the potential for large-scale mass-timber wood construction. I am proud to have the support of an Idaho company committed to serving our state. Like the University of Idaho, ICCU, born and based in the Gem State, has a statewide mission and presence. Over the years, ICCU has been a sponsor of many events at U of I, including our “Battle of the Domes” rivalry with Idaho State University, and many Vandal graduates have built careers at the company. We are thrilled to be further connected with this values-driven organization, already a positive presence across so much of Idaho. The sponsorship of Idaho Central Credit Union sends a clear message about the direction of our state and our land-grant university. Our current fundraising for the project is about $34 million. Recent design estimates suggest that we have about $11 million to go. As we gain more support for this project, I am very optimistic. This is Idaho — we can achieve big things. We started down this fundraising effort several years ago. Our students, represented by the Associated Students of the University of Idaho, stepped up with financial support. Our Alumni Association and the University of Idaho Foundation have made important contributions. Individuals and organizations in Idaho and beyond have been drawn to the project. If you want to join that effort, we welcome that support. A world-class arena is a critical piece of infrastructure on our campus. I have always believed U of I can build outstanding basketball programs that compete for championships year in and year out. A modern, well-equipped facility sends a clear message to student-athletes who want to be a part of that excellence. The arena will contribute to a dynamic campus environment for students, faculty and staff alike. We can also show the world what Idaho industry and natural resources like timber are all about, with a unique wood facility at the leading edge of the commercialization of engineered wood construction. This project is not quite a slam dunk yet, but victory is in sight. We’re deeply grateful for Idaho Central Credit Union’s partnership on this project. Over the next year, we need more partners to continue to step up and get involved. To borrow another basketball metaphor, every bucket counts. | | Go Vandals! Chuck Staben President | | | Committed to Helping Students In and Out of the Classroom “Taking care of students both in and outside the classroom is a priority of the U of I College of Engineering,” said Dean Larry Stauffer. Generous donors like Linda and Bob Parkinson share this commitment. The Parkinsons established an emergency fund to assist students facing unforeseen financial needs; they understand that an unexpected car repair or rent payment when a roommate walks out is a financial burden that can jeopardize a student’s ability to stay in school. The Parkinsons’ have also made a commitment to support a student success center, a larger college strategy to retain students and equip them with the tools they need to be successful and graduate. This summer, the college will begin construction on the center, helping mitigate common challenges students face in pursuit of their education — professional and academic planning, career guidance, and financial aid and scholarship counseling. For information on supporting the student success center or other College of Engineering giving opportunities, contact Bobbi Hughes at bhughes@uidaho.edu or 208-885-5303. | | Jacob Sannon Named to Football Academic All-America First Team University of Idaho senior wide receiver Jacob Sannon was named to the 2017 CoSIDA Football Academic All-America First Team, the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) announced in December. Sannon is the fifth Vandal football student-athlete to earn Academic All-America distinction since the award’s inception in 1952, and Idaho’s second first-team honoree. He is just the third first-team Academic All-American in school history, regardless of sport, and the first since 1973. Football student-athlete Bruce Langmeade garnered Idaho’s first such honor in 1970, followed by baseball student-athlete William Tomtell in 1973. A native of Bradenton, Florida, Sannon earned an accounting degree last spring with a 3.91 grade-point average and currently holds a 4.0 GPA in graduate school as he works toward a master’s degree in accounting. | | Graduation Improvements and Success Guest column by President Staben published in Idaho Education News and the Moscow-Pullman Daily News: Many of us in higher education and across Idaho’s education system have spent a lot of time in recent years working to get more of Idaho’s students to go to college. In today’s economy, we all know how important postsecondary education is for individual success, and for our society. But that goal of getting more students into the higher education system means nothing if we do not also have a goal of getting those students out of the system, graduated and on their way to a better life. In Idaho, we have lowered the hurdles for accessing an education through statewide initiatives such as dual-credit programs, direct admissions and a common college application. But we also must be proactive about the obstacles that prevent students from finishing their degrees. Our students — and our state — deserve a thoughtful approach to college retention and completion, complementing robust go-on efforts with measures that encourage students to stay on through graduation. Read More » | | | | |