The following message was sent to all employees Thursday, April 25, 2024. Dear Colleagues, We are writing today to provide several progress updates on the Budget Modernization Initiative, including both the work currently happening and what is planned for the remainder of the calendar year. Project consultants from Kennedy and Company were on campus the week of March 25 to host in-person listening sessions for campus units, followed by a virtual session on April 1. In total, approximately 750 faculty and staff attended a session. These sessions allowed the consultants and Planning Advisory Cou ..read more

Jeff Westover, Department of English Literature Jeff Westover, professor in the Department of English Literature, contributed an article to the book “Critical Insights: Ralph Waldo Emerson.” Westover’s contribution, “Writing Dawn and Day in the Work of Mary Oliver and Ralph Waldo Emerson,” explores the ways Oliver’s writing honors Emerson’s legacy. Both Oliver and Emerson emphasize the importance of nature in their works, and seek an “original relation to the universe.” Westover focuses on depictions of dawn in Oliver’s poetry and how her work connects interacting with the natural world and li ..read more

Shuck and Brun-Mercer, Department of Linguistics Gail Shuck and Nicole Brun-Mercer presented “Allies for Abundance: Uniting for a Linguistically Inclusive Placement Process” at the Conference on College Composition and Communication in Spokane, Washington on April 5. They described the process of creating a network of shared responsibility for re-envisioning first-year writing placement in a way that accounts for linguistic diversity at Boise State. Identifying students who need English language support while working toward their degrees requires building coalitions and sharing data within a n ..read more

A sampling team composed of Derek Freitag (middle), Lacey Kerr (left) and Haley Hester (right). Photo by Lacey Kerr. Boise State’s Grand Challenges are all about taking ambitious, complex issues and tackling them with interdisciplinary research and collaboration with the help of students, community stakeholders, industry, government, non-governmental organizations and fellow institutions of higher education. When Jared Talley, an assistant professor of environmental philosophy and governance, heard about the opportunity to receive financial support from the Division of Research and Economic De ..read more

Open enrollment is an annual opportunity to choose benefits that best meet the needs of employees and their families. Enrollment for all benefit-eligible employees begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, April 22 and ends at midnight on Friday, May 10, 2024. Elections are effective July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025, unless an employee has a qualifying event. An in-person benefits enrollment event is scheduled for May 9, 2024 in the Student Union Building. The State of Idaho will be transitioning health insurance coverage from Blue Cross of Idaho to Regence Blue Shield of Idaho. Dental coverage will remain with ..read more

Carolyn Quintero Carolyn Quintero, accessibility specialist in the Office of Information Technology, presented “Accessible Communications: Good Business, Ethical Practice” at Hackfort 2024 as part of Boise’s Treefort Music Fest. Co-presenting with Laine Amoureax, an International Association of Accessibility Professionals-certified expert in web accessibility, the presentation delved into the essentials of accessible communications, exploring its definition, significance and business benefits. Prioritizing accessible communication is not only a smart business strategy but also a moral and some ..read more

Lisa McClain, a professor of history and gender studies published “The Anglican Communion has deep differences over homosexuality – but a process of dialogue, known as ‘via media,’ has helped hold contradictory beliefs together” in The Conversation on April 22, 2024. An excerpt from the article reads: “With over 80 million believers in 160 countries, the Anglican Communion has been grappling with LGBTQ+ issues since the 1970s. “Congregations and church leadership disagree on whether homosexuality is contrary to Christian scripture; whether clergy can perform same-sex marriages; and whether ope ..read more

Several policy updates were recently approved and posted to the Policy Office website. Please contact Angie Zirschky at angiezirschky@boisestate.edu or the responsible party listed in the policy with questions. Approved Policy Revisions Policy Development Authority (Policy 1000): This policy was revised adding Section 6 which allows for the expedited approval of a policy change by the President or Chief Compliance Officer. Such approval, which can bypass the normal policy approval process outlined in the policy, may only occur for the limited purpose of complying with a change in governing law ..read more

College of Education student Bailey Reece. Photo by Sean Evans. Meet Bailey Reece, originally from Middleton, Idaho, and set to graduate in the spring of 2024 with a Master in Teaching in Secondary Education degree. Reece is part of a fellowship program that’s allowed her to teach rural students at Parma High School, returning to her roots after living in Boise to attend the university. “Growing up in a rural area, I thought I would never go back and that city life was for me. But I have an amazing team at Parma High, amazing students and I have an amazing time teaching,” she said. “The opport ..read more

Have you ever learned a fun fact and immediately found yourself sharing it with others? This is the same kind of excitement that junior Makena Chase exudes when talking about the Associated Students of Boise State University (ASBSU). Chase anticipates graduating in December 2025 with her bachelor’s in nursing. She is a College of Health Sciences ASBSU senator alongside social work major Typhene Bulape Mishambo. Chase (left) is excited to work with partners across the College of Health Sciences to connect with more students. Representing two different areas of the college “helps us reach out to ..read more