ACUI Region V Newsletter Edition 11

ACUI REGION V November 2016 - January 2017

NEWSLETTER

Fun in Flyover Country 1

ACUI Region V Newsletter | Edition 11

Hiya, Region V friends!

Anyone else feeling like they are in the eye of the hurricane? I’m sure that phrase is top of mind for me because I’ve had the Hamilton soundtrack on repeat all semester, but it accurately conveys how chaotic these last few months have been, not only here at Iowa State University, but across the United States. I’m sure that the coming semester is going to be another sprint through life, so for these few weeks of relative calm after students have gone home and family is starting to gather, I’m trying to find peace in routine and inspiration in connections.

Luckily, the articles in this edition of Fun in Flyover Country are arriving just at the time when I need them most. Our new fearless Region V leader, David Israels-Swenson, is encouraging us to embrace the change swirling all around us. We have a lovely student submission about Rachel Kraus’ first ACUI adventure that will transport you to the first time you came to an ACUI event and formed your own ACUI squad (IPDS 2014 tribe, of course I’m thinking of you here!). And Jeni Eltink continues to inspire us with a book list just in time for the upcoming break.

Take a moment from your mid-year budget plans and student schedule planning to flip through this edition of Fun in Flyover Country, and look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now.

- Kristin Erdman, Iowa State University, kerdman@iastate.edu

Upcoming Issues Edition 12, February - April Content Deadline: Jan 27 Publish Date: Feb 24 Edition 13, May - July Content Deadline: April 28 Publish Date: may 26 2 ACUI Region V Newsletter | Edition 11

Contents 4 Message from the Director 6 2016 Region V Conference Review 8 Student Involvement 10 Volunteer Opportunities 11 Awards 12 Educational Programs 14 Inclusivity 16 Upcoming Conferences 17 Regional Leadership Team 18 Region V Member Institutions

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LetterDAVIDfrom the Regional Director ISRAELS-SWENSON, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS Turn and Face the Change “Change is the law of life.

And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.”

– President John F. Kennedy

2016 has certainly been a year of change.

Like many of you, I have faced a number of significant changes in my professional role over the past year, including new responsibilities, new opportunities, and new challenges. Our campuses are experiencing many changes, such as new financial expectations, new student demographics, and new student needs. Our association is going through a transformation as well with a new branding initiative, and even as a country, we are on the verge of yet another change in leadership.

I think it is how we respond to the changes churning about us that says a lot about us as individuals, as professionals, and as a community.

I think it is how we respond to the changes churning about us that says a lot about us as individuals, as professionals, and as a community.

As I look at the change that swirls around me professionally, I have tried to embrace it for the new opportunities and growth that it presents.

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LetterDAVIDfrom the Regional Director ISRAELS-SWENSON, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA-MORRIS How do we challenge our students and our campuses to look at change as a growth opportunity?

How do we use this time to unite us rather than divide us?

While at times overwhelming, I find myself often pushed passed limits I believed I held, only to discover new strengths or greater insights into my beliefs. I find it helpful to remind myself to be open, to explore all possibilities, and to view problems from all sides.

When I think about how we as a professional community respond to the maelstrom of transformation surrounding us, I try to remain as positive as possible. How do we challenge our students and our campuses to look at change as a growth opportunity? How do we use this time to unite us rather than divide us? We are at a tumultuous point, but we must look ahead.

We must continue to educate our students, the

future leaders of this country. We must help them to keep looking forward and teach them a way to build bridges as a society using change as a tool rather than a weapon for division. I know that not everyone will be open to the ambiguity or challenges presented by these issues; but as the community builders on our campuses, it is our role to guide them through the uncertainty that comes along with growth.

I do not have all the answers and I do not know that any one individual does. I do believe that as long as we work together, leaning on and learning from each other, we will find solutions.

I know that change is hard, but I believe that nothing exceptional is easily attained.

David Israels-Swenson University of Minnesota-Morris dswenson@morris.umn.edu

We must help them to keep looking forward and teach them a way to build bridges as a society using change as a tool rather than a weapon for division.

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Thank you TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDED THE 2016 REGION V CONFERENCE! A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE 2016 Conference Planning Team, WHO WORKED DILIGENTLY TO PUT ON SUCH A SUCCESSFUL EVENT!      

Kyle Burke, Northeastern Illinois University Stephanie Benes, University of Nebraska – Lincoln Randi Beggs, Iowa State University Jackie Grinvalds, Northwestern University Jason Hancock, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Jon Shields, Creighton University Maggie Towle, University of Minnesota Twin Cities Brent Freeman, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Seth Dorhn, Iowa State University

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2016 REGION V CONFERENCE

BY THE NUMBERS

Attendance

Presentations

53

9

6

FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES

NEW PROFESSIONALS

UNDERGRADS INTERESTED IN CAREERS IN STUDENT AFFAIRS

HELLO

my name is

32

2 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

73 PROFESSIONALS 42 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS 12 GRADUATE STUDENTS 2 ONE-DAY PASSES 129 TOTAL ATTENDEES

EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS & PRESENTERS

ACUI Talks

REAL TALK, REAL ISSUES 1 MODERATOR

3 PANELISTS

Service 60 ACTIVITIES PACKS CREATED DURING THE SERVICE PROJECT

Scholarship Fundraising Total

$1,780

Conference Planning Team Preparation 14 14 1-HOUR PHONE MEETINGS

0

10 HOURS IN IN-PERSON MEETINGS

188 WORKED FROM 6:00AM - 10:30PM 12 PEOPLE

7

1,000

188 HOURS ACUI Region V Newsletter | Edition 11 OF MEETING TIME

CUMMULATIVE HOURS INTO THE CONFERENCE

Student Involvement RACHEL KRAUS, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH The 2016 Region V Conference in Lincoln, Neb., was one of the most beneficial and amazing things I have done in my life so far. Flying down to the conference from Duluth, Minn., I was a little nervous since I was the only student from my university; however, I was lucky enough to be able to go with the most amazing director ever, Jeni Eltink.

After successfully getting myself on a plane by myself for the very first time in my life, I arrived in Lincoln on Friday morning, and so my amazing adventure began. While waiting for the hotel shuttle to come pick me up from the airport, I began talking with some other professional staff from other universities (Northwestern, University of Michigan, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to be exact).

They were all so friendly, and I enjoyed listening to the inside stories they shared.

Once we got to the hotel, I met up with my director at the registration table, and she invited me out to lunch with her and two other professional staff from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. We sat down to eat and we talked for a while about our student unions and such, and I really enjoyed meeting them as well.

After lunch, we broke off into the Welcome Sessions. The Undergraduate and Graduate Welcome session was led by Jeni Eltink and

Kyle Burke. It was really exciting talking with new people from all over the Midwest area, and learning about where they worked in their student unions, and what school they came from. We played an icebreaker game called “Step in” where one person says something like “Step in if you are the only undergrad from your university at this conference,” and those who were the only undergrads from their university stepped into the center of the circle. This game helped people to see others with whom they have some things in common, so they can start a conversation later on. It was really fun to see all the things I had in common with other students!

After the Welcome Session, we went to listen to the keynote speaker of the conference, and this is where I met the people who made my whole conference experience ten times greater.

I started talking with a girl named Annie who was from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and we talked about all sorts of things, from where we were from to what we do on campus.

We decided to stick together and chose the educational sessions we were going to attend the next two days at the conference together.

After the keynote speaker, we met up with some other students from University of WisconsinSteven’s Point and University of WisconsinWhitewater. We chatted while we walked, and we all quickly became friends.

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om. We played an Icebreaker game called “Step in” where one person says something like “Step in if ou are the only undergrad from your University at this conference” and if there were any undergrads who were the only ones from their University they would step into the center of the circle. It is a game to et people to see other people who have some things in common with them so they can start a onversation with someone later on. It was really fun to see all the things I had in common with other udents!

RACHEL KRAUS, UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DULUTH After the Welcome session we went to listen to the Keynote speaker of the conference, and this is where I met the people who made my whole conference experience ten times greater. I started talking with a girl who was from the University of Nebraska Lincoln, her name was Annie, and we talked about ll sorts of things from where we were from to what we do on campus. We decided on sticking together nd chose educational sessions we were goingwetoate attend the next twowent daystoatthe thenighttime conference together.

Wethe attended educational sessions together, together, and we events After thetogether.

KeynoteIt was speaker mettoup with some otherpeople. students from UW Steven’s Point and UW reallywe great meet such amazing Whitewater their names were Michael, Travis, and Eli. We chatted while we walked and we all quickly ecame In friends. educational sessions, I met other students from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, more We attended educational sessions together, westudents ate together, we went to the night time events students from University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, from University of Wisconsin-Madison, ogether,and it was reallyofgreat to meet such amazing thefrom waylistening I met other students in and University Wisconsin-Platteville as well!people.

I learnedAlong so much to other students ducational session staff frommember’s the U ofstories.

M Twin Cities, more students from UW Whitewater, students from UW professional It was a really eye-opening experience.

Madison, and UW Platteville as well! I learned so much from listening to other students and professional aff’s stories it wasquote a really experience.

My favorite quote from the whole came My favorite fromeye the opening whole weekend came from a Northwestern professional staff weekend member. She om a Northwestern professional staff said made “I learn my scars, not my wounds.”

It said “I teach from my scars, not mymember, wounds.”she It really mefrom stop and think about what I take away eally made and think what I take the events life, and from me the stop events in my life,about and the things thataway have from happened to me in andmy around me. the things that appen to me and around me. I am so thankful for this opportunity to go to the ACUI Region 5 onference Nebraska.

I met people haveRegion kept inVtouch with, inand will continue to keep in I amin soLincoln, thankful for this opportunity to go tothat theIACUI conference Lincoln, Neb. I met ouch with for athat very longkept time.

I learned about howto student are run, people I have in touch with, more and will continue keep inunions touch with, for aand veryhow longstudent time. mployees help their unions.

I learned about more financially smart, how to manage I learned more student about how student unions are run, being and how student employees helpand their student my stress in healthier ways.

I am so beyond grateful for the people I met, and to have been given the unions. I learned about being financially smart, and how to manage my stress in healthier ways. I am pportunity to attend suchfor anthe amazing so beyond grateful peopleconference.

I met, and to have been given the opportunity to attend such an

Student Involvement

amazing conference.

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Volunteer Opportunity RHONDA LAYLO, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

College Unions Poetry Slam Invitations (CUPSI) University of Illinois at Chicago | Chicago, IL | April 12-15, 2017 Each year, ACUI produces the College Unions Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI) offering an opportunity for campuses with new or existing Poetry Slam programs to compete for top honors and to share their artistry and voices. Everyone is enriched by sharing poetry, embracing the value of inclusivity, and supporting a program in which “Everyone’s voice is welcome.”

The 2017 CUPSI will be hosted in Region V by the University of Illinois at Chicago. Volunteers are needed to help make this program successful. Volunteers can fill positions such as registration attendant, bout manager, host/mc, scorekeeper, timer, judge, or on-deck help (you can do it all!).

For more information, check out the CUPSI website or contact Rhonda Laylo, Region V volunteer coordinator and 2017 CUPSI host coordinator, at rlaylo2@uic.edu.

Already know you’re ready to help? Fill out the volunteer form at https://acuiforms.wufoo.com/forms/zo0k0oz0la3elr/.

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Volunteering

RHONDA LAYLO, UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO

Need a hand?

Everyone could always use an extra pair of hands. Do you have an upcoming event or program that may need a few helping hands? Perhaps you need a couple small group facilitators, or a topical presenter for a student leadership conference, whatever you need there may be folks in Region V that can help fulfill those positions. Send your volunteer request information to Region V Volunteer Coordinator Rhonda Laylo at rlaylo2@uic.edu and we can help get your program connected to volunteers throughout the region.

“Igniting Innovation” Award Reminder In an effort to further recognize and promote the important aspect of programming in the college union, ACUI Region V has launched a new award. The “Igniting Innovation” Award for College Union Programming is presented quarterly to an institution, group, or individual for executing an outstanding program, event, or activity that fosters the enhancement of the campus community.

The award is based on student involvement, creativity, and the success of the program.

Nomination materials must include the online nomination form as well as a summary of the program, addressing title and description of the program (including intended programmatic outcomes). Other supporting documents that may be submitted include: program budget and identified funding sources; evidence of achievement of goals through program evaluations; and supporting documentation of program including, but not limited to: photos, videos, marketing samples, etc. that directly support the program.To be considered, the program must have taken place within the past academic year.

Please submit your nominations today at acui.org/region/V. 11 ACUI Region V Newsletter | Edition 11

Staff Swap Program

CATHY PASSANANTI, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY-EDWARDSVILLE Are you in a funk because your regional conference is over and it’s not yet time for Philly? If the answer is yes, then I have the solution! Participate in the staff swap initiative. Find an institution that has a similar department and a couple common dates, send your staff there for a day, and then entertain the other staff at your home institution. Work in the trenches together. Learn how they operate their department and then share your best practices.

This initiative is cost-effective and can be supported by Region V.

Swap Perks

You are in control! You pick the institution, you pick the dates, and you select the staff members who participate.

Swap Challenges

This can be a little challenging to coordinate.

You are in luck – the Region V educational coordinator will gladly take the reigns to arrange the swap. Just let me know you are interested!

Interested in participating in a swap? Email me at cpassan@siue.edu! Let me know a little bit about your department and its goals. Then I will work to coordinate a swap.

Spring Drive-Arounds

CATHY PASSANANTI, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY-EDWARDSVILLE Our region is wide-spread and far-reaching, but full of so much to celebrate. Do you have a student center or student union you would like to showcase? Do you have a desire to get out of the office for a day and check out other institutions? A spring drive in is just the ticket!

We are looking for institutions interested in showcasing their student centers. If you might be interested, please contact Cathy Passananti at cpassan@siue.edu.

If you are interested in touring student centers and bringing back inspiration to your institution, let Cathy Passananti know at cpassan@siue.edu.

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ELEVATE YOUR DINING EXPERIENCE A’VIANDS IS PROUD TO SPONSOR THE 2016 ACUI REGION V CONFERENCE!

www.aviands.com

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Inclusivity

Jeni Eltink, University of Minnesota-Duluth

Working With Diverse Millennial Students: The Importance of Intersectionality and Intentionality the ways that students with diverse identities do and do not identify with the characteristics of the Millennial generation (those born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s). Attention is devoted to African American students, Asian American students, Latina/o students, Native American students, LGBTQ students, and bi- and multiracial students. In each section, the chapter Summertime: the perfect time to read a book and authors provide their research findings and also talk about it with your friends. Or in my case, with make suggestions for college and university staff and faculty who work with students with each of my colleagues who are my fellow department these identities. The chapters are full of thoughtdirectors in the Division of Student Life at the provoking findings, and I found myself scribbling University of Minnesota-Duluth (UMD). One down ideas and interpretations for my work at year we all read Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. Another year it was Brene UMD and with ACUI. Brown’s blockbuster Daring Greatly: How the One of the most fascinating aspects of the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way book is how it seeks to balance the idea of We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. generational cohorts (growing up in the same During the last break, in a year marked by college time period, with the same significant events and students across the country engaging in activism collective history) with the idea of intersectional around issues of diversity and representation, we chose Diverse Millennial Students in College: Implications for Faculty and Student Affairs.

The book’s 15 chapters cover research about We’re almost done with this semester, but the national conversations about inclusivity and equity make me reflect on a great discussion I had in July and the ways in which that discussion has affected my work over the past four months.

A good book and a good conversation can have lasting impacts.

Every Millennial student has grown up in an era of pervasive technology: mobile phones, social networks, laptops and tablet computers, internet access; however, some students are less likely than others to have access to these resources.

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Inclusivity

Jeni Eltink, University of Minnesota Duluth identity (every person is composed of multiple identities, each of which impacts how the others are experienced). Sure, every Millennial student has grown up in an era of pervasive technology: mobile phones, social networks, laptops and tablet computers, internet access; however, some students are less likely than others to have access to these resources. Not every Millennial student has a smart phone and high-speed internet and not every Millennial student is “fluent� in the digital world. For every characteristic of the Millennial generation, we find that race, ethnicity, family status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, and many other factors affect how students experience that characteristic.

So how do we understand what our Millennial students have experienced and what is important to them? We need to start by taking the time to get to know them and to hear them tell their stories.

Rather than seeing them as a homogenous group, we need to understand them as individuals. As educators our challenge is to recognize how our students identify, what those identities mean to them, and how we can best support them in their academic and co-curricular success.

Beyond individual student support, we also need to examine our departmental, divisional, and campus climates. We need to look at our policies, programs, processes, facilities, structures, and cultures with a critical eye to see what assumptions we make about who are students are and what services and support we provide. What assumptions do we make based on our own generational cohorts and our own identities? How do we make our student unions as inclusive as possible?

And of course we must not forget that the next generation of students -- Generation Z -- is starting college. Although their generational cohort characteristics will be different from Millennials, the best practices outlined here (understanding individual students’ identities, being aware of intersectionality within the generational cohort, being intentional in how we support students) will certainly help us be successful with this newest generation of our students.

Are you interested in learning more about the books mentioned in this article? Read on!

Brown, B. (2012). Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead. New York: Gotham Books.

Heath, C. & Heath, D. (2010). Switch: How to Change Things When Change is Hard. New York: Broadway Books.

Bonner, F. A., Marbley, A.F., & Howard-Hamilton, M.F. (Eds.). (2011) Diverse Millennial Students in College: Implications for Faculty and Student Affairs. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.

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Upcoming Conferences Put these upcoming conferences on your calendar and get ready to get inspired by your ACUI colleagues!

2017 Annual Conference Philadelphia March 19-23, 2017 “Critical Conversations� Diversity Conference Memorial Union, North Dakota State University April 10-12, 2017 2017 Region V Conference University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Oct. 27-28, 2017

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Regional Leadership Team Regional Director

Volunteer Coordinator

Web/Social Media Coordinator

David Israels-Swenson University of Minnesota–Morris dswenson@morris.umn.edu (Oct. 17, 2016-December, 31, 2018)

Rhonda Laylo University of Illinois - Chicago rlaylo2@uic.edu (Oct. 17, 2016 - Oct. 29, 2018)

David Lemon University of St. Thomas lemon@stthomas.edu (Oct. 17, 2016-Oct.20, 2017)

Student Involvement Coordinator

Membership Coordinator

Educational Programs Coordinator

Kyle Burke Northeastern Illinois University KE-Burke@neiu.edu (Oct. 17, 2016-December, 31, 2018)

Jason Hancock University of Minnesota - Twin Cities hanco005@umn.edu (Oct. 17, 2016—Oct. 29, 2018)

Cathy Passananti Southern Illinois University —Edwardsville cpassan@siue.edu (Nov. 8, 2015—Dec. 31, 2017)

Business Manager

Awards & Scholarships Coordinator

George Micalone Iowa State University micalone@iastate.edu (Nov. 8, 2015—Dec. 31, 2017)

Allen Womble University of Illinois - Chicago awomble@uic.edu (Oct. 17, 2016—Oct. 29, 2018)

2017 Regional Conference Coordinator

Online Learning Coordinator

Seth Dohrn Iowa State University sdohrn@iastate.edu (Nov. 8, 2015—Dec. 31, 2017)

Lisa Watkins Uni. of Illinois @ Urbana-Champaign watkinsl@illinois.edu (Oct. 17, 2016—Oct. 29, 2018)

2018 Regional Conference Coordinator

Communications Coordinator

Paul Wraalstad North Dakota State University paul.wraalstad@ndsu.edu (Oct. 17, 2016—Oct. 29, 2018)

Kristin Erdman Iowa State University kerdman@iastate.edu (Nov. 8, 2015—Dec. 31, 2017)

Inclusivity Coordinator Jeni Eltink University of Minnesota-Duluth jeltink@d.umn.edu (Jan.1, 2014—Dec. 31, 2017)*

Corporate Partnerships Coordinator Rex Tolliver University of Illinois–Chicago jrex@uic.edu (Dec. 21, 2015—Nov. 30, 2017) *Second Term

Connect With ACUI Region V /ACUIRegionV

@ACUIRegionV

acui.org/region/v/

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MEMBER INSTITUTION MAP

42.

1.

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MEMBER INSTITUTION LIST ILLINOIS 1a. DePaul University 1b. Elmhurst College 1c. Northeastern Illinois University 1d. Northwestern University 1e. University of Illinois-Chicago 1f. University of Chicago 2. Illinois College 3. Illinois State University 4. University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign 5. Millikin University 6. University of Illinois-Springfield 7. Southeastern Illinois College 8. Southern Illinois University-Carbondale 9. Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville 10. Northern Illinois University 11a. Western Illinois University 11b. Knox College

IOWA 12. Iowa State University 13. Simpson College 14. University of Iowa 15. University of Northern Iowa

MINNESOTA 16. Bemidji State University 17. University of Minnesota-Morris 18. Minnesota State University-Moorhead 19. University of Minnesota-Duluth 20. St. Cloud State University 21. Minnesota State University-Mankato 22a. Hamline University 22b. Macalester College 22c. Normandale Community College 22d. St. Catherine University 22e. St. Olaf College 22f. University of St. Thomas 22g. University of Minnesota-Twin Cities

NEBRASKA 23. Midland University 24. University of Nebraska-Lincoln 25a. Creighton University 25b. University of Nebraska-Omaha

SOUTH DAKOTA 26. Mount Marty College 27. South Dakota School of Mines and Technology 28. South Dakota State University 29. University of South Dakota

NORTH DAKOTA 30. North Dakota State University 31. University of North Dakota

WISCONSIN 32. University of Wisconsin-River Falls 33. University of Wisconsin-Stout 34. University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire 35. University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point 36. University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh 37a. University of Wisconsin-Green Bay 37b. University of Wisconsin-Parkside 37c. St. Norbert University 38. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse 39. University of Wisconsin-Platteville 40a. University of Wisconsin-Madison 40b. Madison Area Technical College 41. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater 42a. Carroll University 42b. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 42c. Marquette University

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