ISU Resources Every Student Should Know About

Joanna Orban Copy Editor

Starting college is a scary experience. It’s hard to go from living with your parents to moving out and being on your own. In addition to the pressure of living in a new place, college courses are more difficult. They require more studying and more work than high school classes. Thankfully, ISU has a myriad of resources that all freshmen students should take advantage of to help with academic and other concerns.

Health Center

One of the hardest things about living away from home is not having access to the doctors you are familiar with. The Idaho State University Health Center offers free office visits for students. They can help with anything from common colds to flu shots. They also provide general check-ups and offer urgent care. In addition to these services, this office also works with the Bengal Pharmacy to provide pharmacy services. To make an appointment at the Health Center you can call them at 208-282-2330 or visit their website at https://www.isu.edu/healthcenter/ to make an appointment through the patient portal. The ISU Health Center is located across the street from the Pond Student Union Building.

Diversity Resource Center

The Diversity Resource Center has many services that work to promote an inclusive campus environment. Throughout the year, the Diversity Resource Center hosts many events such as the Brown Bag Series that bring together students to talk about diverse topics. The Diversity Resource Center also works closely with Cultural Student Organizations such as the African Student Association, the Chinese Student Association and the International Student Association. Also found in the Diversity Resource Center is the Office of Equity and Inclusion which works to eliminate prejudice, discrimination and marginalization. The Diversity Resource Center can be found on the first floor of the Rendezvous building. For more information regarding diversity at ISU visit https:// www.isu.edu/drc/.

Writing Center

Writing papers for college is a more intensive experience than writing them for high school. Professors often grade harder and the word count is usually higher. The writing center is a great resource to use especially if you need someone to proofread your papers. Additionally, the writing tutors can also explain the difference between the different citation styles. Using the writing center is free for students. Appointments can be online or in person. To make an appointment visit https://www.isu.edu/tutoring/writing-center/appointment/writing-appointment/. The writing center tutors can help with papers from all disciplines in addition to the standard English assignments. Math Center

In addition to the writing center ISU also has a math center. Math tutors can help with a variety of math classes. The primary goal of the math center is to help students understand the concepts they are learning in class. Prior to visiting the math center, the tutors advise that you try the problems on your own so you can come to the center with a specific list of questions you are struggling with. They also ask that you bring your class notes. Doing this will help the tutors see what specific concepts you are using in class. Both the writing center and the math center have PDF files listed on their websites of common questions and answers. You can visit the ISU Math Center website at https://www.isu.edu/tutoring/math-center/. Both the writing center and the math center are located on the third floor of the Rendezvous building.

Disability Services

The Office of Disability Services works with students and staff to ensure equal opportunities and equal access to everything ISU has to offer. This includes making sure buildings on campus are accessible for everyone who visits the campus. The Office of Disability Services follows guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA). Should students need alternative testing accommodations they would contact the Office of Disability Services as well as their instructor. The Office of Disability Services is found on the first floor of the Rendezvous building. More information about the office can be found at https:// www.isu.edu/disabilityservices/.

Benny’s Pantry

Another great resource found on the ISU campus is Benny’s Pantry. This food pantry is run by the Office of Student Affairs. One of the missions of the food pantry is to help alleviate food insecurity faced by ISU students. Doing so will allow the students to focus more on their academics. In order to access the pantry students must have their ISU ID card. The pantry can be visited two times a month. The first time you visit the pantry, you must sign an acceptance of free food waiver. No income information is required. Students can also volunteer at the pantry and donate food. Benny’s Pantry is located on the first floor of the PSUB. More information about volunteering or using the pantry can be found at https://www.isu.edu/pantry/.

The information provided includes information that may or may not be different due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Career Center

Another concern faced by many college students is trying to find a job. The ISU Career Center can help with finding an on-campus job as well as preparing to find a job after graduation. The career center also offers mock interviews. Some other services offered by the center include resume and cover letter reviews, career counseling, and job search assistance. The Career Center also oversees the Idaho State University Career Path Intern (CPI) program. This program gives students paid internships that will help in future careers. Another resource the career center oversees is a website called Handshake. This website has a list of both on-campus and off-campus jobs and makes it easy to apply so long as you upload your resume and other pertinent information. Throughout the school year, the Career Center hosts career fairs. More information about the career fairs and other resources can be found at https://www. isu.edu/career/. The career center is located on the fourth floor of the Museum building.

Counseling Services

With all of the new changes surrounding your first year of college, it is important to take care of your mental health. The ISU Counseling Services Office provides free counseling services to all students. The goal of Counseling Services is to help students meet specific mental health goals over the course of the semester. If there are times of high demand where the number of students requesting counseling services exceeds the available number of staff, students who are not at high risk will be placed on a waitlist and contacted when there is an opening. The Counseling Services Office also provides group counseling, biofeedback training, crisis intervention, and outreach and prevention programs. They are located on the third floor of Gravely Hall in the South Tower. Additional information regarding their services can be found at https://www.isu.edu/ctc/.

Veteran’s Student Services Center

The Veteran’s Student Services office is located on the third floor of the PSUB. The Veteran’s Student Services Center provides VA Vital Peer Mentoring, information about military education benefits, and noneducation resources through the Bannock County Veteran Services. Another resource found in this office is the Career Closet where student veterans can borrow clothes as they apply for jobs or as needed for other professional obligations. Another resource found in this office is Hero. Hero is the Veteran’s Student Service’s emotional support dog. Her services support both veteran and nonveteran students. Another resource found in this center is the Student Veterans of America organization. This student-run organization hosts several service projects and activities throughout the school year including the Chrome the Dome Fundraiser. More information on additional resources found in the center can be found at https://isu.edu/veterans/.

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