ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 2

ACUIregion VNewsletter

Fun in Flyover Country

Edition 2: August - October 2014

Greetings Region V Colleagues! I wanted to say thank you on behalf of the Regional Leadership Team for sharing our message with your colleagues and students. As a region we are working very hard to make sure we are providing the types of programs and support our members need. Sharing our message is not something we can do alone and we appreciate the shares, likes, email forwards, and tweets you contributed to help spread the word about our regional resources and programs. Because of your contributions, we were able to accomplish the following.

We hope you enjoy the second edition of our newsletter and look forward to connecting more with you at our upcoming events. If you are having trouble viewing this newsletter, please download the pdf. by clicking here.

- Kat ShanahanRegion V Communications Coordinator

Contents

1 ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 2

175 Likes on

Facebook

214 Twitter

Followers

355 Newsletter

Reads

119 Educational

Program Attendees

21Scholarship Applicants

The Exchange

ACUI Member Schools

Message from Director

Region V Core Values

Region V Member Spotlight

Region V Leadership Team

IPDS Recap

I-LEAD Recap

New Regional LeadershipTeam Members

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2014 ACUI Region V Conference

Community of Practice Highlight1213

2ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 2

Welcome New Regional Leadership Team MembersThank you to those that applied to be members of our Regional Leadership Team. We are very excited to announce the newest additions to the team who will start their term at the conference at Northern Illinois University this November.

Welcome to the team!

Awards and Scholarship Coordinator – Paul Wraalstad – North Dakota State UniversityMembership Coordinator – Andy Williams – Macalester CollegeOnline Learning Coordinator – William (Bill) Tourville – Minnesota State University – MankatoStudent Involvement Coordinator – Shelby Schuppe – University of Wisconsin – StoutVolunteer Coordinator – Aaron Flynn – University of North Dakota2016 Regional Conference Chair – Kyle Burke – Northeastern Illinois University

Save the Date The 2015 Conference Program Team is thrilled to invite you to the 95th ACUI annual conference at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter. San Antonio is a city steeped in history and rich culture. Shaped by centuries of influence of indigenous people and European immigrants, San Antonio represents a crossroads of culture and one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. With the beautiful and architecturally innovative Riverwalk serving as a focal point, San Antonio is the perfect setting for the ACUI to welcome the next century for our association.

The 2015 Conference Program Team was inspired by this rich setting, embracing the city’s values of diversity and innovation to guide the conference program. The 2015 conference will create opportunities for delegates to engage in dialogue within our community and will empower participants to successfully navigate the rapidly changing higher education environment. Just as the city of San Antonio has been transformed by its interaction with many cultures, the 2015 ACUI conference will embrace a spirit of transformation.

Join the 2015 Conference Program Team in San Antonio Wednesday, April 8 through Sunday, April 12, 2015.

SchoolsMember


region V

IllinoisCollege of Lake CountyDePaul UniversityEastern Illinois UniversityElmhurst CollegeIllinois CollegeIllinois Institute of TechnologyIllinois State UniversityLake Forest CollegeLoyola University ChicagoMillikin UniversityNorth Central CollegeNortheastern Illinois UniversityNorthern Illinois UniversityNorthwestern UniversityRoosevelt UniversityThe School of the Art Institute of ChicagoUniversity of ChicagoUniversity of Illinois-ChicagoUniversity of Illinois-SpringfieldUniversity of Illinois-Urbana-ChampaignSoutheastern Illinois CollegeSouthern Illinois University-CarbondaleSouthern Illinois University-EdwardsvilleWestern Illinois University

IowaIowa State UniversitySimpson CollegeUniversity of IowaUniversity of Northern Iowa

Normandale Community CollegeUniversity of Minnesota-Crookston University of Minnesota-Duluth St. Catherine UniversitySt. Cloud State UniversitySt. Olaf CollegeUniversity of Minnesota-RochesterUniversity of Minnesota-Twin CitiesUniversity of St. Thomas

NebraskaCreighton University Midland UniversityUniversity of Nebraska-KearneyUniversity of Nebraska-LincolnUniversity of Nebraska-Omaha

North DakotaNorth Dakota State UniversityUniversity of North Dakota

South DakotaBlack Hills State UniversitySouth Dakota State UniversityUniversity of South Dakota

WisconsinCarroll University Madison Area Technical CollegeMarquette UniversitySt. Norbert CollegeUniversity of Wisconsin-Eau ClaireUniversity of Wisconsin-Green BayUniversity of Wisconsin-La CrosseUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUniversity of Wisconsin-MilwaukeeUniversity of Wisconsin-OshkoshUniversity of Wisconsin-PlattevilleUniversity of Wisconsin-River FallsUniversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point University of Wisconsin-Stout University of Wisconsin-SuperiorUniversity of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Manitoba

MinnesotaBemidji State UniversityHamline UniversityMacalester CollegeMinnesota TechnicalMinnesota State University-MankotaMinnesota State University-MoorheadUniversity of Minnesota-Morris


From the director

“Just remember ... people are like sticks of dynamite; the power’s on the inside, but nothing happens till the fuse gets lit.” – Mac Anderson

Another academic break has come and gone and we have embarked on new academic year. As many of you probably have done in a midst the chaos of starting an academic year, you were challenged to think about your organization as well as your professional development at a summer staff retreat or end-of-the-year evaluation. Over the last two months, I have spent a lot of time thinking about where I am in my career and where I am going and how do I get there. This past July, I had the pleasure to welcome a new assistant director to my staff and for the first time since January 2012, I was finally only responsible for one role: be the director. I no longer needed to spend 12-14 hours a day working on projects, making sure budgets balanced, students showed up to work, events happened and clients were happy, problem solving when the freezer door falls off its hinges, while providing leadership and direction to team going through lots of transition (at one time I had five open positions). But now I am free to spend my 12-14 hours a day (I haven’t learned work-life balance yet) providing a solid vision and goal for the department, providing my staff with professional opportunities, and bringing a student union that is not student focused back to being student focused. After this realization, I was terrified.

As I thought about what it meant to be the director, I realized I was able to do this and it was due to the skills and competencies ACUI has taught me through conferences, educational programs, and the volunteer opportunities I have had with the Association. Just four years ago, I was a “young” professional new to the world of college unions and not sure what my future would be, however I attended an ACUI regional conference. At that conference, I met people you helped stir up the passion inside of me and lit the fuse for me to know that I wanted to someday be the director of a student union.

I started planning out my staff retreat this summer and I spent a lot of time thinking about professional development and the responsibility I had for making sure my staff continued to grow as professionals. Many options were put on a list as you all may have that same list but you include the same one I have. At the top of my list is the 2014 ACUI Region V Conference at Northern Illinois University on November 14-16, 2014. As the conference planning team provides me with updates and I am told about great keynote speakers, extended learning sessions, community service opportunities, and great networking events, I think about how so many of you will be growing as professionals. As the inaugural Region V conference, we all have so much to learn from each other and think about how your staff can gain some new great perspectives from institutions you may not engage with on a regular basis. The team is working to build educational content that will cover all competencies so not only can you provide your programmers development there will be sessions for students, facilities, and technology staff members! With a theme of “Inspiring Vision”, this conference will not only lit the fuse of your dynamic staff but get that dynamic staff member to want to give back to ACUI by volunteering.

Be sure to check out the ACUI Region V website for all the great things about the conference, I hope to see you at Northern Illinois University on Nov. 14-16!

Message from the Director

Scott R. MaasACUI Region V Director


PS - Special thanks to my Iowa State supervisors, Gail Sutton and Richard Reynolds, for selecting me to go to my fist regional conference in 2010. You knew the power within me and lit the fuse that has led to many dynamic opportunities with ACUI and the student union profession.

Core ValuesI. Innovation A. Use technology to offer programs and opportunities to regional membership B. Create ways using best practices and trends to facilitate forward thinking C. Mindfully examine practices to create better opportunities

II. Fiscal Responsibility A. Region V will not operate at a loss B. Insure affordability for member institutions C. Spend money based on mission and vision

III. Connections A. Creating, supporting, and maintaining interactive connections between people, resources, institutions, and communities of practice through positive evolution of membership, activity and involvement

IV. Educational Resources A. Create resources to promote existing tools provided by the institution B. Showcase individual and institutional knowledge and experience C. Create advanced learning opportunities based upon ACUI core competencies and member needs

V. Inclusivity A. Recognize, celebrate, and incorporate our differences through all efforts of Region V B. Outreach to non-members to promote the strengths and benefits of ACUI C. Invest in our regional members to create a welcoming and encouraging community that promotes open dialog and growth


November- Nov. 14-16: ACUI Region V Conference

April 2015 - April 8-12: Annual Conference - San Antonio

September- Sept. 16: Online Town Hall Meeting

- Awards Deadline

October- Oct. 3: Conference Early Bird Registration Deadline- Student Drive-In Conference- Entering Grad School Webinar

Dates to Remember

Core Values & Dates to Remember

Email Address: [email protected]

Institution: St. Cloud State University

Number of years in higher education:St. Cloud State: Less than 6 monthsUW-Green Bay: 15 yearsUW-Stout: 8 years

ACUI involvement/experiences: Regional Rec. Coordinator, Regional Conference Host, National Women’s Intercollegiate Bowling Championships Coordinator, Award Recipient, Conference Presenter

Areas of expertise:Staff and student training, facility project management, dining contract leadership, recreation programs and facilities, strategic vision planning, service learning projects

What are the most successful events or items you’ve implemented in your area of expertise?Development of comprehensive, learning outcomes-based student employment programs for each student center/union.

What were some of the challenges with implementing or creating the program, experience, policy, etc.?To be truly inclusive and collaborative takes more time, but the end result will be richer and more effective. Developing realistic timelines were challenging.

What resources would you like to share with regional members (ones you’ve created or used)?I have dozens of links to resources that may be helpful – contact me for more information!

How can other members gain more information on this topic?Members can contact me at 320.308.2905 or [email protected]

What is one piece of advice you would give to someone at another institution trying to implement a similar program, process, or policy?My advice is to be very inclusive, and think outside of the normal stakeholders and involve a broad scope of representation in the planning and decision-making.

Region V Member SpotlightAtwood Memorial Center, Executive Director: Ann Buttke


Region V Leadership TeamRegional Director ElectScott R. Maas Creighton University 200 Skutt Student Center 2500 California Plaza Omaha, NE68178 Phone: (402) 280-1701 [email protected] (7/1/2013 thru 12/31/2013)

Student Regional DirectorVacant

Business ManagerDan Abler Marquette University Alumni Memorial Union Room 245 PO Box 1881 Milwaukee, WI53201-1881 Phone: (414) 288-5528 Fax: (414) 288-1986 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2015)

2014 Conference ChairBeth Galatis University of Minnesota-Twin Cities 300 Washington Ave SE Suite 500 55455, MN55455 Phone: (612) 624-7294 Fax: (612) 624-7256 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2014)

2015 Conference ChairVanessa RyanUniversity of St. ThomasDirector of the Anderson Student Center2115 Summit AveMail #5012Saint Paul, MN 55105 Phone: (651) 962-6149Fax: (651) [email protected](9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2015)

Volunteer CoordinatorAaron Flynn University of North Dakota Memorial Union PO Box 8385 Grand Forks, ND58202-8385 Phone: (701) 777-0872 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2014)

Membership CoordinatorAndy Williams Macalester College Ruth Stricker Dayton Campus Center 1600 Grand Ave Saint Paul, MN55105 Phone: (651) 696-6472 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2014)

Awards & Scholarships CoordinatorElizabeth Desimone University of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjacket Union PO Box 2000 Superior, WI54880-2898 Phone: (715) 394-8535 Fax: (715) 394-8454 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2014)

Online Learning CoordinatorWilliam TourvilleMinnesota State University-MankatoCentennial Student Union220 Student UnionMankato, MN56001Phone: (507) 389-6076Fax: (507) [email protected](9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2014)

Communications CoordinatorKat Shanahan University of Wisconsin-Whitewater University Center 800 W Main St, UC 250 Whitewater, WI53190-1705 Phone: (262) 472-1239 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2015)

Web and Social Media CoordinatorSeth Dohrn Iowa State University 201 Memorial Union Iowa State Memorial Union Ames, IA50011-1130 Phone: (515) 294-7226 Fax: (515) 294-4172 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2015)

Regional Corporate Partnerships CoordinatorKevin Davis University of Illinois-Chicago Student Centers Admin (M/C 579) 828 S. Wolcott (SCW 247) Chicago, IL60612 Phone: (312) 413-5221 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2015)

Educational Program CoordinatorMichelle DeFranco Elmhurst College Frick Center 190 Prospect Ave Elmhurst, IL60126-3271 Phone: (630) 617-3284 Fax: (630) 617-6421 defrancom@elmhurst.

Inclusivity CoordiantorJeni Eltink University of Minnesota Duluth 134 Kirby Student Center 1120 Kirby Drive Duluth, MN55812-2403 Phone: (218) 726-6526 [email protected] (9/13/2013 thru 11/30/2015)


Connect With ACUI Region V

/ACUIRegionV @ACUIRegionV http://www.acui.org/region/v/

IPDS: New Professionals OrientationUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Scholarship Recipient: David Lemon, University of St. Thomas


I was incredibly nervous as I made my way from my bus stop to the North Quadrangle residence at the University of Michigan. It had only been a few weeks since I first heard about IPDS and now here I was, in the middle of Ann Arbor – all alone. Fortunately for me, the alone part did not last for long. As I checked in, I began to meet a variety of peers and colleagues from all over. My nerves were calming. Many of these individuals were new to their positions and the field as well. Almost instantly, I started to feel a sense of camaraderie with many of these individuals.

The first evening we had a welcome picnic in the garden outside of the Michigan League. Uncertainty and nervous pauses filled the conversations an hour earlier, but now it was different. The air hummed with excited conversation and the energy of new connections being forged at every table. Conversations shifted from being social to exploring the nature of our work and the excitement of working in college unions. As my nerves calmed, I could not wait to start learning more with and from my new colleagues and friends.

For the following four days, through breakout sessions, workshops, and small group discussions we learned a great deal about ACUI and the role of the college union, assessment, marketing, supervision, legal issues & risk management, as well as budgeting. We heard from a recent University of Michigan graduate about what the union meant to him and how it affected his life and shaped his goals. We heard from panels of past and present union administrators who shared experiences from their inspiring tenures. We had the opportunity to participate in speed sharing sessions where we learned about the latest and greatest innovations from each other’s campuses. Capping

off each day, we had a chance to socialize, whether in our residence or out in the Ann Arbor community. No matter where we were or what we were doing, we were learning: learning more about each other, learning more about our work, and even learning more about ourselves.

I came away from IPDS with a greater understanding and appreciation for the role that college unions play in the higher education system. I feel more equipped to do my job. I have gained new resources and tools that will allow me to explore new areas that complement and enhance the work I am doing. I walked away from IPDS with a new cohort of colleagues all over the country who I can seek out as a sounding board, or just a listening ear. I truly feel that I left IPDS a better, more engaged, and more prepared professional.

I would encourage any newer professionals in Region V, or anywhere for that matter, to consider IPDS. You will learn so much about ACUI and our profession while building a strong professional network with great people from all over the country. The program really focuses on helping new professionals to garner the resources and skills necessary to advance in their careers. I would

also encourage individuals to apply for and take advantage of the Region V scholarship that covers the cost of registration for IPDS. The scholarship is very easy to complete and the value that you get from attending IPDS is truly immeasurable. I am so thankful to the region for supporting me through the scholarship and know that I will pay it forward through increased involvement and volunteering with ACUI.


I-LEAD Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville

Featured Scholarship Recipient: Justin Vickery, UW-Whitewater

My experience at I-LEAD® far surpasses other professional development experiences. Through I-LEAD® I was able to learn more about my leadership style by identifying my strengths and weaknesses and testing them. In addition, I was able to come develop my values, personal mission, and my three areas of focus after I-LEAD®. My most memorable moment was the community service project day. I have never seen more than 100 people come together to create such a difference. The positive attitude that everyone had about achieving our duties for that day was outstanding. This experience inspired me to commit to community service and to inspire my student union to commit to community service as well.

I will not forget my small group the Bear Grylls. This group had some of the greatest people I know and their words of encouragement and kindness inspires me to become a better leader. It is a great feeling to know that I will have a great network of friends and leaders from I-LEAD® that I will be able connect with for years to come. Lastly, I would like to thank the facilitator team Brian Magee, Missy Burgess, Josh Peters-McBride, and Daniel Gray for doing a phenomenal job with putting this institute together. Their leadership and enthusiasm is truly what made I-LEAD® a successful program. I-LEAD® will forever have had a significant impact on my life.

I am forever grateful for the opportunity to attend I-LEAD® and I will be an advocate for this institute for years to come. #Smurficutas #BearGrylls #ILEAD14

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One part of making our student unions more inclusive is being willing to change. We might decide to try something new, or to find a new twist on an existing program or process. One sticking point for many student union employees is, “Change to what?” It can be hard to know what ideas or options are out there and what might be best suited for your facility. Never fear, The Exchange is here.

The Exchange is ACUI’s “online resource collections for college union and student activities professionals.” It’s crowdsourcing at its finest: ACUI members share presentations, videos, websites, documents, and discussions. You can explore thousands of resources, finding new and creative ways to make your union more inclusive: there are more than 225 resources that are specifically tagged as diversity-related, plus many more that can spark ideas for inclusion more generally. Here are a few ways to get started with diversity and inclusion resources on The Exchange.

If you’ve never explored The Exchange, don’t be intimidated. It’s easy to get started, and there is an instructional video on the front page of The Exchange that explains how to explore and search (and, when you’re ready, how to contribute documents from your institution). You can explore via the ACUI core competencies, by resource type, or in one of more than 30 topic areas. For every list of resources, you can sort by Most Viewed, Most Relevant, Recently Added, or by Title.

One of ACUI’s core competencies is Intercultural Proficiency. If you start browsing with that core competency, you’ll find information broken down by the four skill sets in Intercultural Proficiency: Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity, Communication Among Cultures, Cultural Symbols and Artifacts, and Global Knowledge. There are resources here for every area of the student union, not just student activities or programming. As an example, operations staff will find helpful ideas in “Symbols and Artifacts” on creating spaces that are culturally welcoming and reflect their institution’s values. There are resources that provide information for staff in retail operations, facility operations, customer service, programming/activities, event management, administration, and more.

The Exchange: Resources for Inclusivity AwesomenessJeni Eltink, Region V Inclusivity Coordinator

The ACUI Exchangewww.acui.org/exchange

Recently Added Resources:

- Exploring Differences, Celebrating Similarities: Unions in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the United States

- Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow: Best Practices in Snow Removal

- Advising Student Organizations Legally

- Digital Identity: Using Social Media to Foster Student Engagement

- We Can’t All Be Leaders

- Homeless Visitors & Unsupervised Children

You can also browse resources in 33 different topic areas, including Cultural/Diversity Programs. But don’t limit yourself to that topic when looking for resources to promote inclusion in the student union. Start by pulling up all of the resources in your topic of interest, then use the search bar to refine your results based on keywords such as “diversity,” “culture,” or “community.” Be sure to check the box to search within results if you want to refine only within your chosen topic area.

If you prefer to cut right to the chase, you can use the search feature in The Exchange rather than browsing by core competency or topic area. Using the search box lets you quickly access specific search terms. Searching “inclusion” brings up a list of 62 resources including PowerPoint presentations, forum discussions, documents, and websites.

Another helpful feature of The Exchange is the “related resources” list. When you hover your mouse over a resource, a window pops up with more information. Clicking on the title of the resource will show

you a description, the tags on the resource (e.g., “self-knowledge” or “training”), and a link to the full resource. On the right side of the page there is a “related resources” list that can quickly expand your search.

There is always room for creativity and innovation in our work in college unions. If you’re great at coming up with new ideas, forge ahead! But if you’re feeling stuck or can’t come up with ways to boost inclusion in the work that you do, don’t try to re-invent the wheel and don’t give up. Let The Exchange fill you with ideas for inclusive action.

Community of Practice Highlight: TechnologyCommunity Leader: Jennifer Keegin

The Technology Community of Practice builds a network of professionals passionate about integrating current and emerging technology into the core practices of the college union as well as advancing skills, knowledge, and behaviors in the core competency of technology. The top areas to be focused on this year are: Digital Media (apps/app development, online training), Presenting (use of presenting software), Gadgets (tablets), and Union Services (room layout software).

The community has a digital magazine of collected articles from community members and several Google+ chats will be scheduled to discuss monthly themes. Use of our Forum will increase this year to start conversations about technology on everyone’s campuses, and besides joining the community officially via the ACUI website, you can also follow along with community discussions using the Twitter hashtag #ACUItech. Flipbook magazine: flip.it/WrlHY



ACUI Region V ConferenceINSPIRING VISION

Hosted by Northern Illinois UniversityNov. 14-16

Early Bird Registration Deadline: Oct. 3

ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 2

Documents

Transcript of ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 2