At the University of Idaho, nothing is more important than the safety and security of our students and our Vandal community. This week I connected with Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Blaine Eckles to share with Friday Letter readers some of the ways U of I fosters a caring, supportive, and safe living and learning environment. Blaine earned a doctoral degree at U of I before coming to join the Division of Student Affairs as dean of students in 2015; in 2016 he took on leadership of the division as vice provost. President Chuck Staben: You’ve been dean of students for three years. What progress are you most excited about during your time here? Dean of Students Blaine Eckles: What stands out most to me is the way the students have engaged in challenging, difficult conversations, and have taken strong leadership stances to help improve the campus experience. Our students care about what is going on in the world and look to affect change on our campus. I remember standing with students and listening to them share their voices during events to raise awareness of challenges many people of color face, or to contribute to conversations surrounding the treatment of victims of violence. Other issues of importance to them have been the move back to the Big Sky, with many students quite excited about engaging in regional competition, going to watch away games and renewing rivalries. Student leaders in the Greek community took a strong stance on safety when they self-imposed a moratorium on alcohol at social events last year, taking an inward look at what it means to create a safe community. Student voices are important and necessary to create change in our larger culture and society. It’s awesome to see the things our students are addressing. CS: In terms of safety and security, what are key programs that make an impact for students? BE: We are quite a safe campus. We recently ranked in the top 15 of campuses nationwide for safety by Alarms.org and No. 17 nationwide by Safewise. That is in large part due to great support programs and education in place to help encourage students to create a safe environment. Programs such as Think About It, an online education program, promote responsible behavior around alcohol consumption and healthy relationships and are required of students. Our Green Dot program teaches students how to be positive bystanders, especially as it relates to interpersonal and relationship violence. One great program we have is our CARE program, where anyone can file a report of concern about a student, faculty or staff member. We want to continue creating a culture on campus where if people “see something,” they “say something.” As Vandals, we look out for one another and get help if something seems amiss. This fall, I look forward to co-chairing the Student Safety and Wellness Task Force where we review our safety and support programs at the university. We will perform a “gap analysis” to assess how we are doing and what more we can do to create an even safer, healthier campus for our students. Celeste Keller, a parent of a student as co-chair, will ensure we are looking at these issues from all angles, and I’m excited to see how we can serve students even better. CS: What’s a common question or challenge new students have as they start their Vandal careers? How do you approach that? BE: One of the most difficult things an incoming student faces is the realization that they are the ones in charge of their future. And as a result, they are responsible for their actions … and the consequences. I recall having a conversation with a student one day who, after some discussion, finally admitted he had not been attending classes for the prior six weeks. He was hanging out with his friends, playing a lot of video games, and in short, he was failing all his classes. It wasn’t until we talked that he finally realized he was going to have to tell his parents about this … and he wasn’t sure how to do that. After some discussion, we placed a call to his parents together and through a rather tense conversation created a plan for him (and his family) moving forward. Owning one’s decisions can be hard, but it’s a critically important life lesson and one many incoming students begin to learn at the university. One of the funnier, yet endearing, questions I have received from a student when they first arrive, is what time they are supposed to go to bed. I gently remind them that when they go to bed is up to them … we don’t do bed checks! But I also remind them the importance of a good night’s sleep and how that can help them be successful. CS: What should parents know or understand as their students head to U of I? And how can they stay connected? BE: When I talk to parents of incoming students, I remind them that it’s time for them to step back so their student can step forward into his or her own future. While this is a hard transition time for students, I would say it is equally difficult for parents. I assure parents their children will return to them, but they will be different. Their relationship will grow deeper, in more meaningful ways, and that is a beautiful thing. CS: We have a positive Greek Life culture here at U of I. Why is that so important? BE: The Greek community goes back over 100 years at U of I. Our Greek experience for students is something that distinguishes us from all other institutions in the state. Many leaders of industry and in government have come from the U of I Greek community — people committed to high ideals, giving back and helping others. I often remind our current students in the Greek community that they are standing on the shoulders of generations of men and women who have come before them, who have paved the way for them through scholarships and support as alumni. The actions of our Greek students reflects on our alumni, as well as the institution, and thus they should continue to work and act in ways that enhance the reputation of the Greek community and the university. I believe our current student leaders understand this and are working in ways that help honor the rich traditions generations of alumni have created at U of I. CS: We have a saying, “big enough to matter, small enough to care.” What does that mean to you and to Student Affairs? BE: I love that we are known as the “Vandal Family.” When I think of “family,” I think of a tight, core unit of individuals who look out for one another, in spite of our disagreements. That is what we do here at the University of Idaho. We look out for one another, even though we may not know each other. Students can make a significant impact on campus and in the lives of others through their actions … they are not “lost in the sauce.” One experience I had with a student highlights this very saying: I was driving through campus one day when I came upon an ambulance outside of a living facility. A few students had been playing basketball, and one tripped and hit his head on a post. I followed the ambulance to the hospital, and in the ER waiting room I met a junior named Sam, who was waiting on the injured student. Sam shared that he’d transferred from a school in California because at U of I he could do research as an undergrad with faculty both in the laboratory and in the field. Sam wanted to go to medical school, but he realized he wouldn’t be able to at his prior institution because research was only available there for graduate students. Through his U of I connections, he was able to volunteer as an emergency medical technician, gaining great transferable skills and building his resume. I was thankful he transferred because he was playing basketball with the student who was injured and was a first responder on scene, providing assistance until the ambulance arrived. Sam stayed in that emergency room, even though he didn’t have to, until the student was released, and he helped get him home. That, to me, is what it is all about — Vandals looking out for Vandals. I was so proud to write a letter of recommendation for Sam a year later, helping to get him in to medical school, where he is studying now. “Big enough to matter, small enough to care.” Go Sam. And Go Vandals! CS: Thank you, Blaine, for sharing your information and perspective. We appreciate your leadership! | | Go Vandals! Chuck Staben President | | | Jim Russell Prioritizes Student Success in College of Engineering When Jim Russell ’56 was an engineering student at the University of Idaho, Dean Allen Janssen awarded Russell a timely scholarship. Janssen kept in touch and encouraged Jim throughout his four years as a student. “Dean Janssen showed he cared, and he has motivated me to this day,” said Russell. That motivation led to a high level of engagement during college and continued into his professional life. He spent over 30 years as Senior Vice President for Corporate Development with Science Application International Corporation (SAIC). He has since worked as an independent consultant, senior advisor and private investor, continuing to support innovative technologies. Russell was inducted into the University of Idaho Academy of Engineers in 2012 and continues to support the College of Engineering with technical and financial contributions, most recently, the Engineering Student Success Center and the Grand Challenge Scholars Program. To learn more about the Academy of Engineers or supporting students through the Engineering Student Success Center, please contact Executive Director of Engineering Advancement Bobbi Hughes at bhughes@uidaho.edu or 208-885-5303. | | U of I Study Looks at Firefighter Diet and Sleep Wildland firefighters are working long shifts this summer all across the West. And they are getting really tired. Randy Brooks knows exactly how tired. The University of Idaho professor is closely tracking 18 smoke jumpers with the help of advanced motion monitors that use an algorithmic fatigue model originally developed for the U.S. military. This is not just an academic exercise — Brooks is aiming to save lives. “Wildland firefighters need to be alert and vigilant of their surrounding situation because something could happen at any moment,” he said. […] So Brooks, who works in U of I’s College of Natural Resources, and Callie Collins, a doctoral student in environmental science, conducted a survey of more than 400 wildland firefighters. The majority indicated that the main contributors to accidents in fire operations were inadequate sleep and fatigue, both mental and physical. Read more. | | IGEM Funding Supports Sustainability at Northwest Food Processing Plants The University of Idaho will work with food processors and suppliers in the Pacific Northwest to support reductions in their energy, water and waste footprints as part of a new Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) grant awarded to U of I and its partners around the state. The Idaho Department of Commerce recently released the first $700,000 installment of the $2.1 million grant earlier this month. An additional $1.4 million in funding is anticipated over the next two years. Professor Karen Humes, an expert in hydrology and geospatial science in U of I’s College of Science, will lead efforts to pilot, demonstrate and transfer technologies that will help food processors and producers reduce water and nutrient use, as well as recycle nutrients and other valuable byproducts. U of I researchers will also use the award to provide interactive simulation models to help communities and business stakeholders better understand the interconnections and tradeoffs between energy, water, nutrients and land use. | | | | |