February & March 2016
Newsletter
Welcome to the new Region VII Newsletter!
I am very excited to show off what will be the start of a new format for our regional communication. It has been a long time coming but we have been up to some amazing things in the past year. From an amazing group of students representing Region VII at I-LEAD 速 to an amazing time in New Orleans, Region VII is having an amazing year! If you are interested in contributing to what will be a bi-monthly newsletter, you can join the episodic volunteers of the new Communications Team. For more information, please visit http://www.acui.org/Regions/Region_VII/Volunteer_ and_Awards/24293/
-Vinny Jackson
Community Service: All-Conference HandsOn
The annual conference in New Orleans offered all attending delegates the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities to give back to the local community. Region VII showed up in full force on Monday, March 21 to have some fun while volunteering! Building giant Scrabble boards with tiles, painting pictures to brighten the walls for children, constructing dirt flower bombs for community gardening were some of the opportunities.
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Greetings from the Regional Director Mike Patterson, SUNY–New Paltz
Hello, Region VII!
It was great seeing those of you that could join us in New Orleans at the annual conference. For those that were unable to join us, here is a quick review of our time in NOLA. We kicked off the first day of the conference with a regional meeting with more than 100 attendees. The Regional Leadership Team provided many updates to their respective areas and I reviewed the 2015 Region VII End of Year Summary. Some of our key goals for this year are to increase student engagement; identify needs of our HBCU, two-year, and specialty campuses; increase online education opportunities; and explore the development of international engagement at the regional level. We will also be hosting our third regional conference at the University of Pittsburgh Nov. 10–12, 2016. The Conference Planning Team was excited to announce that “Navigating the Current” will be the theme this November. You can now submit your education sessions The Conference Planning Team online for consideration at this regional was excited to announce that conference! We con- “Navigating the Current” will be cluded the regional meeting with a live the theme this November. survey where we asked for quick responses on five specific questions. We are compiling this instantaneous data now. Also during the conference, we had more than Four I-LEAD® scholarships and one 120 of Region VII participants join us for an dinner at Tomas Bistro. Instead of scholarship for a professional to attend a amazing the “Battle of the Regions” of conferences past, premier ACUI program. we participated in “Building of the Regions” focusing on member engagement and networking of participants throughout the conference by encouraging participation of volunteerism, service, and support of conference programs. We did finish second place in the Poetry Slam and finished third in the overall Building of the Regions Challenge. Congrats to Region VI for the win! April 22 is an important day for everyone! First, it is the deadline for four I-LEAD® scholarships and one scholarship for a professional to attend a premier ACUI program. Apply online via the regional website! April 22 is also the deadline for Regional Director applicants. I will conclude my time as Regional Director this November and we will transition to our next leader.
-Mike Patterson Regional Newsletter Vol. 1 3
This year, Region VII will be offering four scholarships to the Institute for Leadership Education and Development (I-LEAD®). I-LEAD® is ACUI’s premier student program, designed to emphasize the key concept areas of leadership, community development, and change. The program offers an opportunity for college students to focus on personal growth and other issues facing our world. This year’s Institute will be hosted July 24–29 at the University of Puget Sound. Scholarship includes registration, meals, lodging, and institute materials. Travel and/or transportation are not included in the scholarship. Questions may be directed to Region VII Awards and Scholarships Coordinator Yakima Melton, yakima.melton@rutgers.edu. Scholarship applications are due April 22. Encourage your students to apply for this phenomenal opportunity! It is an amazing experience but you don’t have to take my word for it...
“I-LEAD® is an experience that is driven by personal exploration, and leadership development. When it’s over you not only leave with a cumulative leadership experience, but with a family for life as well.” -Erik Johnson The College at Brockport I-LEAD® Scholarship Recipient 2015
“I-LEAD® was unlike any other leadership opportunity I have participated in. At I-LEAD® you are given the chance to meet new, inspirational student and professional leaders from around the country. You are given the insights to explore yourself and your personal dimensions of leadership in your own life. I-LEAD® is truly the ultimate leadership experience.” -Megan Henry Temple University I-LEAD® Scholarship Recipient 2015
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“I-LEAD® was a life-changing experience that connected me with other peers from all over this country. I am very grateful for all of the friendships I have formed and for everything I have learned. With one week at I-LEAD®, I have grown more as a leader than I have in my entire time at college.” -Christian Villatoro Rutgers University I-LEAD® Scholarship Recipient 2015
Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh
In the first week of March, the Conference Planning Team met for the first time in Pittsburgh to begin work planning our regional conference. The site visit included building tours, team builders, brainstorming, and goal setting. The team is energized and ready to work hard to plan a conference that will make Region VII proud. The University of Pittsburgh is a place of historic beauty. You’re going to love how we’re planning creatively to showcase the William Pitt Union and the O’Hara Student Center. Hostesses Allie Chornick and Chris Chergi extended us a warm welcome, treating the team to the best of Pittsburgh via food (Pierogis! Chipped Ham! Kielbasa!) and site-seeing at the Monongahela Incline. The CPT is excited for you to visit campus on Nov. 11–13, 2016! Stay tuned for more updates in future newsletters. -Adriane Reilly 2016 Regional Conference Coordinator
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Region VII Dinner at Tomas Bistro March 21, 2016 755 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA ACUI Region VII 6
Photo provided by Hayden Greene, Manhattan College
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Institutional Member Spotlight
In January 2016 the University of the District of Columbia opened the doors to the new Student Center. The Student Center is the centerpiece of a ten-year camps-wide renovation on the Van Ness campus. At 86,500 square feet, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum targeted building combines 76,000 square feet of new building and 10,500 square feet of addition and infill construction. The building contains a fitness center, student lounge, ballroom, conference rooms, student organizations suites and a dining area.
Region VII needs you!
Whether you are new to ACUI or a lifelong member, we have new volunteer opportunities in our region. With an episodic volunteer position, the time commitment varies but is based around your interests and availability. Here are the current options to start your involvement today! • Awards & Scholarship Selection Team will be called upon in mid-October and May to review nominations and submissions for various regional award and scholarship opportunities. (Ongoing application process) • Communications Team works with the communication coordinator or web and social media coordinator to develop and create content for newsletters, visual communication pieces, and photography at ACUI Region VII functions. (Ongoing application process) • Educational Program Team takes on delegated tasks necessary to the successful execution of Region VII educational programming and will also have opportunities to work with the inclusivity and online learning coordinators if they require assistance in their education programming. (Ongoing application process) • Regional Conference Educational Session Review Team will be called upon in late July through September to review educational sessions submitted for Region VII’s regional conference. (Applications due by June 17) Join us in June for the next edition of the Region VII Newsletter!
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