This is a time of transition at our University of Idaho. Yesterday, we welcomed C. Scott Green as the incoming and 19th president of this great institution. While we still have plenty of work to do before my administration ends in June, I would like to focus on welcoming the new president to the Vandal Family. An accomplished executive, Scott was born and raised in Idaho, and returns to the institution from which he earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1984. He earned a Master of Business Administration from Harvard University and currently serves as the global chief operating officer and financial officer for Hogan Lovells, an international law firm. He has had responsibility for more than 3,000 employees and over $2 billion in annual revenues. In my conversations with Scott, I’ve found him to be smart, inquisitive and determined. I am confident the University of Idaho will be in good hands come July 1. He mentioned in his speech yesterday: “U of I has a rich history, a distinct experience unlike any other university. We have many stories to tell of success and achievement.” I couldn’t agree more. I’m happy to work with Scott as the transition approaches. I know he will also have the support of many of our hardworking staff and faculty members, our students, and our alumni and friends. Transitions always present challenges, but the university is guided by its history, its mission and its dedicated people. U of I is well-positioned for continued success. | | Go Vandals! Chuck Staben President | | | The Ursos: Vandals, Through and Through This year, Capt. Bob ’80 and Gail Urso stoked the energy of Vandal Giving Day as match donors, generously matching all gifts made to the College of Business and Economics’ Idaho Entrepreneurs Program dollar for dollar up to $25,000. They also served as ambassadors, successfully recruiting 31 other ambassadors. “As an alumni supporter of CBE and the Idaho Entrepreneurs Program, I have witnessed the positive impact of our giving, both mentoring time and financial support,” Bob said. A unique and meaningful experience, the Idaho Entrepreneurs Program provides “hands-on” experiential learning to students who seek to develop and contribute innovative ideas and solutions to the business world. “There are many great ways to become involved in the University of Idaho success story and contribute to students’ ability to seize life’s opportunities upon graduation,” Gail said. The Ursos’ involvement makes a very real difference at U of I through the many ways they’ve identified — endowed scholarship support, mentoring and Vandal Giving Day, for example. For more information on how you can support the College of Business and Economics, contact Brian Mitchell at bdmitchell@uidaho.edu or 208-885-2634. | | Vandal Giving Day Boosts Student Success with Record-Setting Participation Vandal Giving Day 2019, April 2-3 at U of I, brought in 1,795 gifts – a new record, with 436 more gifts than 2018’s event. Many alumni, Vandal faculty and staff, and friends of the university stepped up with match challenges to multiply the generosity of donors. For example, the U of I Alumni Association board put up a challenge of $1,898 to honor their founding year, and a group of past Student-Alumni Relations Board presidents created a $500 matching gift. Online ambassadors, including 300 alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends encouraged their personal networks to get involved and give. Their efforts contributed to the $439,307 raised during this 1,889-minute event. “Thank you to everyone who participated,” said Eric Billings, director of Annual Giving. “Every email, every text and every social media post made a difference. Every dollar donated will matter to a student or a project at U of I. We’re proud and incredibly grateful.” Visit vandalsgive.uidaho.edu for giving details or contact VandalsGive@uidaho.edu. | | Idaho Needs to Focus on Getting Its Students to College Guest column by President Chuck Staben at The Idaho Press: The recent scandal over fraudulent admissions at “elite” private colleges takes attention from another real problem in college admissions: Too few high school graduates proceed to college, and too few college students graduate. In Idaho, with the “go-on” rate seemingly stuck, and graduation rates average at best, we need to continue to focus on the “why” and “how” of providing young adults with a postsecondary education. The “why” should be easy: College graduates, on average, earn $1 million more than non-college graduates in their lifetimes. College graduates also enjoy better health and are more engaged citizens, according to Gallup polling. In the bigger picture, our state’s long-term prospects depend on employees equipped with skills and perspectives gained through postsecondary education. Read more. | | | | |