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Henry J. Eyring to serve as new BYU-Idaho president Henry J. Eyring was announced as the new president of BYU-Idaho on February 7 during a university devotional given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. He replaces Clark G. Gilbert, who will lead the newly created BYU-Pathway Worldwide, which will administer online programs for CES. Eyring has worked at BYU-Idaho for the past 11 years as an associate academic vice president over Online Learning, advancement vice president, and academic vice president. At a news conference on February 9, Eyring shared his feelings about working in this new capacity.
“It is a blessing to stand on the shoulders of giants,” Eyring said. “There will be new things to come, I am sure; but so much has been established that the innovations will always be occurring as an extension of what has been done. I will be grateful to be a great extender.” For Eyring, BYU-Idaho has always been a special place. His father, President Henry B. Eyring, who serves as First Counselor in the First Presidency for the Church, served as president of BYU-Idaho from 1971-1977. During the news conference, Eyring recalled some
of his memories as a child in Rexburg. “In many respects this place is unchanged in its spirit, its mission, and its commitment to serving students,” Eyring said. Eyring also expressed gratitude for the situation BYU-Idaho is in now compared to the one his father inherited. “We are in a position where our challenge is not one of shrinkage but of growth,” Eyring said. “We have been growing rapidly and are at a point demographically in the Church where we will continue to grow. Our great challenge will not be cutting budgets and finding ways to fill classrooms, but whether or not the classroom is big enough.” Eyring noted that while some change is unavoidable, there are many traditions and practices that will remain the same. “I have fond memories of being here and associating with students during family home evenings, which is a tradition we will continue,” Eyring said. Previous to his work at BYU-Idaho, Eyring worked as a strategy consultant at Monitor Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and as MBA Director at BYU in Provo. Eyring has served in various callings CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IN THIS ISSUE UPDATE ON PATHWAY TRANSITION.........3 APOSTLE DEDICATES THREE NE W CAMPUS BUILDINGS..................................4 STUDENTS WIN SUPPLY CHAIN COMPE TITION............................................6 Top: President Henry J. Eyring and his wife Kelly speak at a news conference held Feb 9. Eyring will become the 17th President of BYU-Idaho at the start of the Spring 2017 Semester. Bottom: President Henry J. Eyring speaks at the Feb 7 devotional where Elder Dallin H. Oaks announced Eyring would become the next president of BYU-Idaho.
STUDENTS ADVOCATE FOR FAMILY VALUES AT UN............................................7
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President’s Update:
Continual changes on a steady, upward course
By President Clark G. Gilbert
As we all have come to know, if there is anything constant at BYU-Idaho, it is change. In fact, President Henry B. Eyring foresaw this in the creation of BYU-Idaho. In his 2001 talk, “A Steady, Upward Course,” President Eyring mentioned the word “change” 44 separate times. Thankfully, ongoing changes here are part of the steady, upward course that is guided by prophets. I know the Lord leads us, and I am grateful to work side by side with faithful employees who are dedicated to supporting the mission of the university. On April 10, Henry J. Eyring will officially become the next president of BYU-Idaho. I extend warm wishes to him and his wife, Kelly. Christine and I are excited for them in their future roles. We know they will be a great blessing to this university and the students who come here. The Eyrings are dear, personal friends. Henry and I have worked together over the span of three decades. Henry has helped counsel me in moving the university forward over the last two years. He truly has a unique understanding of BYU-Idaho and has been prepared to lead this great university at this time and season. The students, faculty, and staff will love working with Henry in his new capacity because he loves this university so much. He understands the very essence of the mission and spirit of BYU-Idaho. I know that with the support of our wonderful employees, he will be instrumental in taking the university where the Lord wants it to be. We are pleased that BYU-Idaho and BYU-Pathway Worldwide will work very closely together. As Henry puts it, “BYU-Idaho will be like the home ward, while BYU-Pathway Worldwide will be like the missionary out in the field.” We hope this relationship will bless both institutions. There are clear reasons why BYU-Pathway Worldwide grew from this campus. 2
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BYU-Idaho was born of sacrifice. That foundation has allowed remarkable things to happen, including the creation of Pathway in 2009 which now is a miracle in the lives of thousands of Church members around the globe.
Worldwide will become, we depart with mixed emotions because our hearts are with our many friends in this community. This is an amazing place to work and associate with great colleagues and raise a family.
There is a pioneering and innovative spirit in Rexburg that we hope to carry with us as BYU-Pathway Worldwide continues to grow. That spirit includes a willingness to go to the frontier, to act in modesty and
When we received the call to return to Rexburg in 2015, we were given the charge to teach the importance of the family and to involve our family in the work of the university. We have taken that stewardship not as casual counsel, but as something we sought deeply to accomplish through personal prayer and spiritual direction.
“It is my sincere hope that students and employees know how much I love Christine and my children. Families truly are central to the Lord’s plan and can succeed as the source of all happiness ” —CLARK G. GILBER T, PRESIDENT
frugality, and to seek prophetic direction. The pioneer’s heart lives in Rexburg. Although Christine and I are excited for the promise of what BYU-Pathway
More than anything else I have done while here, it is my sincere hope that students and employees know how much I love Christine and my children. Families truly are central to the Lord’s plan and can succeed as the source of all happiness. Our family loves BYU-Idaho, and we hope there will be enough of Rexburg in us when we leave. This is a special place, and those who work here are truly working to help build the kingdom of God. &
President Gilbert has compared those leaving Rexburg to join BYU-Pathway Worldwide in Salt Lake City to the early pioneers that came to settle Rexburg. (Painting by J. Leo Fairbanks)
BYU-Pathway Worldwide transition update BYU-Pathway Worldwide headquarters will begin moving to Salt Lake City over the summer, but it will remain closely aligned with BYU-Idaho for the foreseeable future. President Gilbert said BYU-Pathway hopes to maintain the characteristics learned through BYU-Idaho’s history, which includes maintaining the Pioneer’s Heart. “It is important that we not get ahead of the Brethren and that we allow them to provide us direction, especially during this foundational period of BYU-Pathway,” Gilbert said. “We are being counseled to stay close to BYU-Idaho so that we keep the spirit that got us to where we are: modesty, frugality, and a desire to seek prophetic direction. We are also being counseled to stay close to BYU-Idaho in order to help BYU-Idaho preserve its focus on everyday students and continue to innovate in the areas of curriculum, student success, and retention.”
Given this counsel, BYU-Pathway has process later this year. President Gilbert decided to initially send only a “vanguard” will continue to work very closely company down to Salt Lake City this with President Eyring and President’s summer, and then wait to move the rest of Executive Group through the transition. its employees in the summer of 2018. The initial group will include about one third “Obviously, there is still much to work of the Pathway employees in Rexburg, through, but I have a great feeling about including President Gilbert, JD Griffith, this in my heart,” Gilbert said. “In fact, it as well as the field operations team and feels like the steady, upward course we a few other individuals. Those staying in have seen so often right here at “Winter Quarters”—to carry the analogy— BYU-Idaho. I believe this is right for include Jon Linford, the curriculum BYU-Pathway, for BYU-Idaho, and for team, the communications team, Student the Church.” & Support, Pathway and Online Advising, the Online Dean of Students, and the nearly 150 student employees who Follow @byuidaho for live support Pathway. devotional tweets, online BYU-Pathway Worldwide will continue to operate within the 2017 BYU-Idaho budget through the end of the year. The newly created organization will propose its own 2018 budget to the Board through the normal CES budget and planning
Continued: President Eyring in the Church, including as a fulltime missionary in the Japan Nagoya Mission, bishop, president of the Tokyo Japan North Mission, and president of the Rexburg Idaho YSA 6th Stake. Eyring earned a bachelor’s degree in Geology, a Master of Business Administration, and a Juris Doctorate from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Eyring brings a unique perspective to the executive office with experience
as son of a former president, multiple administrative roles, and the father of three BYU-Idaho graduates. “It will be a matter of a steady, upward course,” Eyring said. “As important as it will be to keep unchanged the things that have been so well established, it will be equally important to meet the change that inevitably is coming at the institution and its students.” &
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Elder Neil L. Andersen dedicates campus facilities As BYU-Idaho student enrollment continues to grow, the recently dedicated facilities will accommodate more students with hands-on experience and greater resources to further their careers. The Science and Technology Center, along with the Agricultural Science Center and the Central Energy Facility were designed to do exactly that. At the dedication ceremony held on February 14, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught from Doctrine and Covenants 64, sharing with students and faculty members that if they are willing to be obedient, they will see the difference that small acts can make. “Just by small and simple things, great things come to pass,” Andersen said. “A little bit of encouragement here. A little bit of teaching there, insightful principles here. A little bit more dedicated study by a student. A little more kindness to one another bring about wonderful things.”
Students have already started to realize the difference these new facilities will make by increasing the quality of their educational experience and spiritual growth. “I love the STC,” said Matthew Bloomfield, an electrical engineering major. “This is a place where I not only grow academically, but it’s a place where I can grow spiritually.” In his dedicatory prayer, Andersen blessed the facilities to further testimonies and provide a spirit of light to all who
“I love the STC. This is a place where I not only grow academically, but it’s a place where I can grow spiritually.”
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“I hope that the students who come here will recognize it,” Romney said. “All these things are set up so that light becomes a constant reminder of the life of this building.” As the university continues to focus on providing students with a high-value education, Romney has hopes that students will enjoy the blessings Andersen mentioned in his dedicatory prayer. “I really hope that they’ll enjoy the experience of being here and feeling the spirit in this building,” Romney said. &
—MAT THE W BLOOMFIELD, STUDENT
Top: Elder Andersen expresses his love to students and faculty at the dedication. Bottom: Elder Andersen shakes hands with students at the Science and Technology Center.
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utilize them. Faculty member, Ben Romney of the Department of Applied Plant Science department agreed with Andersen’s reference to light and hopes the students will feel the same way about the new facilities.
President Gilbert, Elder Andersen, Wayne Clark, and Jeff Morrin take a tour of the Central Energy Facility.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER The STC serves students in the Departments of Computer Information Technology, Animal and Food Science, Applied Plant Science, and Computer Science, and Electrical Engineering. The building is 106,008 square feet Contains 51 faculty offices, 23 classrooms, 18 lab spaces, and 33 miles of electrical wire The most energy efficient building on campus, the STC has 26 skylights Able to accomodate up to 16 YSA wards
AGRICULTUR AL SCIENCE CENTER Acquired by the university in 1978, the 140 acre Agricultural Science Center is located five miles west of Rexburg. 13 new facilities were built from 2015-2017 The remodel of the indoor arena & classroom building accommodates better academic offerings and functionality Six structures were not changed during the reconstruction project
CENTR AL ENERGY FACILIT Y The new Central Energy Facility replaced an older, less-efficient, coal-powered heating plant. Provides heat to 2.5 million square feet of space on campus Gas turbine has the capacity to power 75-80% of campus facilities The Heat Recover Steam Generator creates 20,000 pounds of steam per hour
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BYU-Idaho students win supply chain competition BYU-Idaho is known for its focus on real-world preparation, offering students a high-value education in many ways. Business management majors Christopher Black, Jake Booher, Nathan Mackie and Zach Snow felt what it’s like to experience this first hand. On February 25-27, these students attended the Weber State Intercollegiate Supply Chain Competition as the second BYU-Idaho group to participate, and the first group to win first place. Booher says the competition tested their knowledge in problem-solving and team building in order to come up with the best solution for the Salt Lake City supply chain company, O.C. Tanner. “We had 24 hours to compile the case, read the case, digest it, and come up with a presentation,” Booher said. “We then presented in front of a board of cooperate judges.”
to apply their best skills and learn great lessons to apply to their future endeavors. “I think we really took a lot of people by surprise at the level that we were able to perform,” Booher said. “I don’t say that to boast of ourselves, but it’s really just a humbling experience for us. To show that what’s going on up here is really inspired, that the teachers really give us the time of day, and it helped us to prepare for the workforce and compete with these other schools.” As members of the Business Management Supply Chain Society, they understood that coming from a small group would be a challenge, but Black says their preparation helped them to push themselves and accomplish hard things. “One of the things that I learned the most from this experience is the importance
of breaking out of my comfort zone,” Black said. “I didn’t just make three really good friends, but I really built confidence in myself and what I can do. And I really built confidence in the program here at BYU-Idaho, knowing that the education I am getting is sufficient and that it’s going to be able to help me succeed in the future.” The team walked away with the first place trophy, after competition against ten other university supply chain programs all over the U.S., including Brigham Young University. Faculty mentor Mick Ward says he wasn’t surprised they won. “It was a big achievement for these young men and they deserve the award,” Ward said. &
To prepare for the competition, Mackie says they were given case studies to analyze in the classroom, and participated in team building exercises to help them learn how to strategize effectively. “One thing I learned was how important it is to work with a team,” Mackie said. “I think why we did well and why we got first was because we worked so well as a team.” They faced challenges along the way, but together Booher says they were able
From left to right: Mick Ward, Zach Snow, Jake Booher, Chris Black, and Nathan Mackie.
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Students advocate for family values at United Nations A group of BYU-Idaho students have teamed up with United Families International to influence policy makers and world leaders to support and fight for traditional family values at the United Nations’ Commission on the Status of Women. While preparing for their presentations and discussion at the conference, students said they realized they need to become disciple leaders and advocates for truth and the family. Elizabeth Warner, a marriage and family studies student, said she changed her major after feeling strong direction from God to study marriage and family with an emphasis in advocacy and policy. The opportunity to advocate at the UN stood out to her from the moment she heard about it. “It was kind of that same feeling you get when something stands out to you in a scripture and just sticks, that’s the kind of feeling I had,” Warner said. “I knew it would be something that would be a very good experience for me, an opportunity to promote the family, to promote light and truth in a secular place where we really need help.” Allie Gillespie, also a marriage and family studies student, said her experience at BYU-Idaho has given her the confidence she needs to present
to such an esteemed group of leaders. “The start of being a disciple leader is gaining knowledge,” Gillespie said. “You spend your time studying and you learn from others too. Then you can go out and share and promote the light and truth.” Without much expereince in advocacy, Gillespie said she is grateful and a little bit surprised she is able to participate at the UN commission. “I believe everyone can be an advocate and use their skills to be a disciple leader,” Gillespie said. Colin Haueter, another marriage and family studies student going to the commission, said his time as a missionary, working as an aid in the Idaho State Legislature, and studying how policy impacts families, has prepared him for the UN trip and a life of advocacy after. “Brother Rarick’s child and family advocacy class was just incredible and has helped me so much,” Haueter said. “I learned to be able to articulate my thoughts more clearly when it comes to controversial issues, which has helped prepare me so much.” Haueter said he has learned and practiced teaching about the importance of the family to a non-religious audience. He said this will help him keep his viewpoints valid in other’s eyes
while still teaching an eternal truth. “The family is divine, it’s of God, but its purpose isn’t solely religious,” Haueter said. “Yes, it’s the unit of exaltation, but it’s also the best way to be happy and I want people to have their best shot at happiness.” As a member of the Church, Warner says it’s a challenge to teach such a basic truth without using her usual gospel vocabulary. “It takes a different skill set to be able to share light and truth with others without using religious terms, without having the affiliation of the Church,” Warner said. “It is different from what we have done before having been missionaries.” Warner said she has also spiritually prepared to be a greater influence to others she comes in contact with at the UN. “We are going into a place where a lot of people have views that are against God’s plan, that are opposed to women staying at home with their children, that are for women being able to choose to have an abortion,” Warner said. “To be spiritually prepared, I have been trying to go to the temple regularly and study in the scriptures diligently, all the regular things we should be doing so that we can bolster ourselves.” The students all said that being spiritually prepared will help them know what to say in the right moment and lead them to those who can make the greatest impact on families across the globe. “Hopefully people that are there who are just going along with the crowd will have opportunities to get out of that line of thought,” Haueter said. “That’s one of the things I am most excited about, being able to be an influence at a personal level as well as a national and an international level.” & Do you have an idea for a story for the next News & Notes? Email: newsdesk@byui.edu
From left to right: Tim Rarick, Elizabeth Warner, Emma Zuniga, Kadee Taylor, Miriam Blaser, Allie Gillespie, Collin Hauter, Cole Ratcliffe, Andy Gongora, and Madison Busenbark. M A R C H 2 017
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Education students receive grant from NASA Institute Students gather at BYU-Idaho from all over the world to receive a highvalue education where they can gain meaningful experience both inside and outside the classroom. This semester, five students pursuing degrees in education received a grant from the NASA Minority University Research and Education Project, giving them the chance to participate in a fiveday workshop conference at the NASA Center in Moffett Field, California. This will be the first time a group from BYU-Idaho will attend the conference. Danny Gutierrez, a senior majoring in elementary education with a science endorsement, will be among the five who participate. “I’m so excited! The opportunity to work with NASA educators and have this experience and professional development is really great,” Gutierrez said. “I plan to go in with a desire to learn and an open view to do everything they ask of me.”
More than 500 students from around the country will participate in the conference taking place this summer. Attendees will participate in student-centered classroom activities, workshops, and seminars that will focus on stem research instruction.
“I went through an undergraduate program in education, and I never had opportunities like this.” Haderlie said. “It makes me realize the huge impact this can have on inspiring teachers and students. It’s exciting to see this kind of opportunity be available to students because they might not be able to do something like this again.” Other education majors joining Haderlie and Gutierrez this summer include Natalie Macbeth, Sophia Davis, Ashlee Arnold, and Grace John. Gutierrez said teaching experiences like this are what he’s appreciated most during his time here.
Ehren Haderlie, a faculty member in the Department of Biology, will be joining the students at the conference. He shared his feelings about the positive opportunities this will provide them now and in the future.
“I’ve been given the best opportunities when professors seek for insightful education,” Gutierrez said. “Where it’s not so much about lecturing and textbooks. When they make it meaningful and practical, we are engaged and explore and do more beyond the lessons. I’m just so excited for this.” &
Seven ways to join in National Nutrition Month March is observed as National Nutrition Month. Which is great inspiration for starting your second “Living Healthy” wellness challenge for the year. Here are seven ways to integrate more nutritional foods into your diet. 1. Stock your freezer with frozen 4. Try to have one day a week where all of vegetables to steam or stir-fry for a quick, your meals are meatless. and cost efficient, side dish. 5. Start your day with fruit. Make a habit of adding fruit to your morning oatmeal, 2. For workplace eating, keep single-serve packages of crackers, fruit, peanut butter, cereal, yogurt or toaster waffle. soup, or tuna in your desk for a quick lunch. 6. Avoid sugary sweets and make fruit your dessert. Slice a banana lengthwise and top with a scoop of low-fat frozen 3. Add grated, shredded or chopped vegetables such as zucchini, yogurt. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of spinach and carrots to lasagna, meat loaf, chopped nuts. mashed potatoes, and pasta sauce and rice dishes.
7. Keep cut vegetables handy for mid-afternoon snacks, side dishes, lunch box additions or a quick nibble while waiting for dinner. Some good examples would be bell peppers, baby carrots, celery, broccoli, or cucumbers.
*Information provided by Human Resources
News & Notes: A monthly publication of University Relations ADVISOR
Brett Crandall
DESIGNER
Dain Knudson 8
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WRITERS
Dain Knudson Spencer Williams Erin McMahon
PHOTOGRAPHERS Michael Lewis Ryan Chase Emily Gottfredson Lana Strathearn