February 2024
Institutional Update
President McIff
February is a month of fondness and affection. I have loved seeing the Valentine's activities, gifts, treats, and decorations around campus! I want to express my appreciation to each of you and invite you to help us share an extra dose of Snow College love over the next few months. Thousands will attend state basketball tournaments on our Richfield Campus, and many alumni have indicated they will return to campus as they visit Manti for a historic open house. Both campuses will celebrate graduates in early May, and we will welcome their families and guests. Additionally, articles and stories promoting Snow College are being posted online where you can share and respond positively to all of the good that is happening here.
These are just a few of the upcoming opportunities to put our collective best foot forward and help everyone see what makes Snow College so special. The special sauce is your innovation, dedication, hard work, and genuine concern for our students. I feel confident that all of us will help our guests have a personalized experience while on campus. When that happens, we all benefit – we share our passion for our work and the mission of Snow, and others are more likely to tell friends and family about their positive interactions with the Badger family.
I love what we do here. There is no better work in which we could be involved. Look for a legislative update coming soon!
Stacee
Finance and Administrative Services
The Finance and Administrative Services team continues plugging away. In a rare update, there isn’t really anything new to touch on. Instead, I’d like to highlight a few groups that are often behind the scenes, but absolutely critical to our success as a college. We have many dedicated teams and I wish I could highlight them all, but there’s a word count limit to these updates.
Our Campus Safety crew is top-notch. Most of us don’t have jobs where we must take a phone call in the middle of the night and be on campus within 15 minutes. Not only is this crew here during the day, they are often here at night. When you see someone from our police force, please thank them for their dedication and commitment to us and our students.
Secondly, the Campus Services crew also deserves to be called out and thanked. This crew of dedicated employees and many students are working around the clock to keep walkways clear, buildings clean, offices and classrooms warm (or cool), and our grounds looking great (even during the dead months of winter). Please thank this crew when you see them.
Lastly, thank you to all of you who have updated your computer security. This is a critical step in keeping the college and our data safe. Please thank the IT team when you see them for their tireless work in making sure those blinking lights stay blinking!
We have the best teams here at Snow!
Technical Education and Industry Connections
Automotive Technology is a foundational program at Richfield having been in existence since the 1970’s. The program is a “bumper to bumper” training and certification program that is accredited with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE). Automotive Technology draws students from all of the high schools in Snow’s Six-County service area, as well as from other parts of Utah and even out of state.
Automotive Technology is vital to our economy and our way of life. Students earn certificates of proficiency and completion in Automotive Technology which are stackable into an A.A.S. in Automotive Technology. Students have hands-on experience in courses covering engines, brakes, suspension/steering, transmissions/drive trains, electrical/electronic systems, fuel/emissions systems, and heating/air-conditioning. Students complete the program with the skills needed to pass the Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) exams becoming a licensed automotive technician. Students who complete the program are getting jobs with businesses throughout Central Utah along the Wasatch front and Southwestern Utah. It is not uncommon to have a student start at $25 to $30 dollars per hour with full benefits at many of these businesses. A shout-out and thank you to our Transportation Department chair Brent Reese and instructor Justin Morgan for their years of building and running the program.
External Affairs
Alumni
The Alumni Office is looking for new Members for the Alumni Council. You can visit our website for more information.
Advancement
Our efforts have been focused on working at the Capitol during the current legislative session. We have been working hard with legislators to get our funding priorities on their prioritized lists coming out of the Higher Ed Appropriations Subcommittee and the Infrastructure and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee. All 3 of our RFAs (Social Science Building, Land Bank Request and Rural Scholarship Inititative) made their priorities list so now they go to the Executive Appropriations Committee who make the final decisions on funding.
Other good news in Advancement is that Hannah Ostraff is our new Administrative Assistant in Advancement. She is doing a great job and learning very quickly. We are glad to have her.
Campus Store
Those of us at the Campus Store are excited to have the students back from the Winter break. It is always exciting to welcome new and returning students back. We have been busy helping students with textbooks and other things they need to be successful. Our new textbook provider has been great to work with both on our end and for the students. It is conference and trade show season, and we are excited to bring in new products and ideas for the fall semester. Swag trends, course materials, and electronics are constantly changing, which brings excitement to the campus store.
We are gearing up for commencement and are taking orders from graduates for caps and gowns. There are posters and flyers around campus with the QR code for ordering. We look forward to every new change of season in the lives of the students at Snow and feel fortunate to share these times with them.
Housing
In Housing and Residence Life, we're entering one of our busy seasons! The Fall 2024 housing application (for both campuses) opened a few weeks ago and the summer 2024 housing application (also for both campuses) will open on March 1st. Currently, we already have about 100 students with completed applications for the fall semester (putting us right on par with previous years' application numbers). Keep sending students our way to apply for housing!
It's also student leader selection season! The 24-25 Resident Director and Resident Assistant applications are now open! We're seeking diligent, organized, fun-loving, and responsible students to join our 24-25 leadership team. If you know a student or two (or three) who fits that description, please encourage them to apply! (RA positions are available on both campuses). Check out our website for position and application details.
Announcements aside, let's do lunch sometime! We'd love to chat, get to know you better, and learn how housing can collaborate with your area more.
Enrollment Management
January 2024 marked a pivotal moment in time for both the Registrar's Office and Snow College.
- With Marcelle Nordfelt at the helm, CourseLeaf CLSS went live for academic scheduling. CLSS allows appointed Scheduling Units to apply their class additions, modifications, and cancellations while also enforcing campus scheduling policy.
- With the talented Jef Jones - Application Programmer extraordinaire, the Registrar's Office soft launched the new FERPA portal. This portal places Snow College in full compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. It simplifies the complexities of FERPA for all parties, including students, student delegates, staff, and faculty.
- The DegreeWorks Student Education Planner plugin was officially implemented. This tool allows students and advisors to effectively develop and track graduation plans.
These implementations have been a time-intensive labor of love and have a broad-scope impact across the entire campus.
Employees of the Semester
Ken Fontaine
Ken has over ten years of experience with Snow College. He loves the college, its people, and its mission.
Ken is always finding new processes to improve practices. He is the first one to volunteer to help in other departments, and takes me to go visit other departments to ensure needs are being met. He makes sure his people are trained and have the tools they need to be successful.
Ken is always happy to drop what he doing and help wherever he is needed. Ken is an upbeat leader and employee. He’s always looking for ways to improve both his own job performance and that of the employees who report to him. Snow is beter for him being here!
Shawn Lindow
Shawn is one of the wisest people on campus and is always very friendly to everyone. He is compassionate and concerned about everyone's wellbeing. He is always willing to help anyone that needs it, and with all his experience, he's able to give great insights and feedback. Shawn is continually seeking to assist the Registrar and others in Student Affairs with Banner and other systems. He is a big- picture person that looks out for the needs of the whole college.
Shawn is willing to learn and willing to share his knowledge. When problems arise, he is not afraid of going into the details to find a solution and to share that solution with others. Not only is he willing to solve problems and share the solutions, but he does so with energy and joy. He is willing to help others understand what is happening and makes sure that they are aware of its impacts. He always has a smile and wants to ensure that any situation is handled with care and efficiency.
Becky Callister
Becky has truly elevated the CTE Director position at Snow. From leading a nationwide advisory committee program to opening the Delta Training Center to connecting with businesses like never before, Becky has demonstrated the ability to build incredible partnerships in every area she touches. Becky has also worked with high school partners to connect students with Snow, particularly students who may not see themselves as college-bound. She researches best practices, reaches out to experts, and is not afraid to do hard things and break new ground.
I think anyone who knows Becky would share right away that she is enthusiastic about her job! She has a natural desire to help others and to make colleagues want to be part of the team. Becky's enthusiasm is contagious, and others on the economic development team join in her enthusiasm. I have seen her around stakeholders from outside of the college, and she is so positive and such a light. Anyone can see that she is excited about what she is doing.
Lynda Nilsson
Lynda was tasked with taking on the newly-assigned student Mail Services for the Richfield campus. She was quick to learn a new tracking system and coordinate with our Mail Services partners in Ephraim. She pleasantly greets students and goes the extra mile to ensure their packages are delivered quickly and safely. Additionally, her scheduling and event planning assignments require that she coordinate with multiple departments, community organizers, and agencies to ensure quality experiences for all that visit campus. She does all of this with kindness and a pleasant attitude.
One of Lynda's greatest strengths is her sincere interest in students. She has an exceptional ability to connect with both current and prospective students, making them feel heard, valued, and supported, especially those that may be overlooked by others. She goes the extra mile to ensure that every student interaction is positive and impactful, contributing to a supportive and fun educational environment.
Who's New?
We welcome the following individuals to the Snow College Team:
| Robert Pike | Maintenance Worker, Ephraim Campus |
| Marcea Vesco | Part-Time Cosmetology Materials Handler, Richfield Campus |
| Julia Waterman | Adjunct Physical Education |
| Kyle Hunt | Part-Time EMS instructor, Richfield Campus |
| Ken Hansen | HR Employee Relations Specialist |
| Janette Wagner | Assistant Director/Custom Fit Field Representative |
Staff Report
Professional development, unity, and play continue to be a priority for Staff Association officers. More than 100 staffers attended an early February workshop about the importance of play and how to incorporate it into our daily work and relationships with our colleagues.
We put the lesson into practice during Valentine’s week with a potluck, bingo, and/or roller skating at both campus locations. We also honored Employees of the Semester at that time. Learn about each recipient in the Employee of the Semester section of the newsletter.
At our Staff Association board meeting, we invited staff and faculty to join us on Ephraim’s West Campus to meet our staff and faculty colleagues and tour the departments located there. President Stacee McIff also joined us to share institutional updates before we broke for tours and appetizers.
Representing all part-time and full-time staff, see our event dates, committee membership, and more. “Together we can do Snow much!”
Richfield Update
Seeking Snow College presenters for this year’s Utah Rural Schools Association (URSA) Summer Conference being hosted in Richfield.
URSA is gearing up for its highly anticipated 2024 Summer Conference, set to take place from July 15th to July 17th. With planning meetings having kicked off in January, this event promises to be a remarkable gathering for educators across the state. Richfield has been chosen as the host city, and an estimated 800 educators from various grade levels and education administration are expected to attend.
The conference aims to provide valuable professional development opportunities for attendees. Through hands-on workshops and breakout sessions, participants will gain insights and interventions with strategies to enhance student outcomes. Key themes of the conference include strengthening mental and behavioral health supports, improving student support, exploring effective grading practices, sharing literacy best practices, and enhancing the guaranteed curriculum at each school. Additionally, the conference will emphasize the importance of developing a culture of investment in education.
URSA's 2024 Summer Conference promises to be an invaluable event, bringing together a diverse group of educators dedicated to improving education in rural Utah and a great opportunity to share how Snow College is a great partner and place for their students.
Presenter applications will be accepted from January 22, 2024, through March 31, 2024.
