April 2024

President McIff 

What a difference a year makes! I am so proud of what the Snow College team of faculty, staff, and students has accomplished. Reading through the news stories, seeing social media posts, and having conversations with you remind me of just how much we have collectively done since August! Students have excelled at national competitions, and employees have been recognized in their areas of expertise. We have strengthened our image with stakeholders, and countless students have been impacted by your good work. Thank you!

We started the year with a “Simply the Best” theme, and I am convinced more now than ever that Snow College is simply the best! I feel a positive momentum and hope you do, too. The next few weeks will be busy as we finish up all of the end-of-year activities, including commencement, which is our biggest celebration of the year. Seeing graduates walk across the stage is so rewarding, and I love visiting with students and their families after the ceremony. This really is our payday, and I hope you will join us on May 2-3.

Finance and Administrative Services

I would like to share some numbers with you:

• 95% of data breaches are due to human error
• 46% of all cyber breaches are done on companies with fewer than 1,000 employees
• 53% of users haven’t changed their passwords in the last 12 months
• 57% of users reported having a password written down on a sticky note
• 1 in 10 small businesses suffers a cyberattack each year

Information security is a big deal and with human error being the biggest risk, we all must play a role in the solution. Security training is required in order to learn the skills that will keep you, the institution, and our students’ data safe. Please consider how you treat data.

• Should this information be considered public, restricted, or confidential?
• Where am I storing this information?
• To whom am I sending information, and do I know what they are doing with it?
• Do I need to save these data, or can I delete them when I am done?
• Am I using the approved systems or am I conducting official business with non-approved applications (e.g., Gmail)?

Doing your required training and adhering to these best practices keeps us safe.

Technical Education and Industry Connections

Snow’s Construction Management recently competed at two major events. First, a national competition at the National Home Builders Show. The team was tasked with producing architectural drawings, estimate, schedule, SWPPP, safety, and project management plan for a complex high-end luxury home. Their presentation required a 112-page submission and a face-to-face presentation to the judges. The six-student team was recognized as Rookie of the Yearand placed 4th overall against major universities from across the nation.

Second, David Barker trained, practiced and rehearsed 5 teams (Architectural Drafting, Masonry, Cabinetmaking, Team Building, and Carpentry) to compete at the SkillsUSA Utah. Kyle Olsen placed 2nd in Architectural Drafting, and Becca William placed 4th in Masonry. In Cabinetmaking Brett Bundy took 2nd and Rance Christensen placed 4th. In the Team Build competition Hunter Christensen, Carter Bezzant, Jose Cisneros Jr. and Georigio Bernal, took 2nd. And Eli Beagley placed 1st in Carpentry and will be competing in June at SkillsUSA Nationals in Atlanta.

Congratulations to the students and thanks to Snow’s Construction Management faculty and Department Chair David Barker for raising Snow College to the top in these competitions. We are extremely excited for this success in Snow’s first representation in many years at SkillsUSA and a first at the National Home Builders Show. These students are coming away with thousands of dollars in scholarships and offers for internships and careers with major contractors throughout the west.

Enrollment Management

Spring is an exciting time, and the Center for Global Engagement was excited to bring back the International Food Festival! This tradition dates back over 20 years and had a temporary hiatus due to COVID. But on March 28th, the CGE welcomed almost 300 students, faculty, staff, and community back to the student center to sample dishes prepared by current students. Thank you to everyone that attended, and the many hands that helped it come together. We are so happy to have this tradition back and are already taking notes for next spring’s festival.

During spring break, Prof. English Brooks traveled with the Literature of the Outdoors class on a study abroad to Belize & Guatemala. Students could connect their class material to the ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization. The class group project was to create a "Bioregional Bestiary/Field Guide" based on the Maya Biosphere Reserve, English Brooks & Dr. Matthew Gowans led the student group through various archeological, conservation, cultural, and historical sites.

We also want to recognize the amazing things international students are doing each day to bring the world to Snow! From participating in leadership positions such as Resident Assistants, Student Body Advocates to Club Presidencies and the GRIT Center, you can find them succeeding across campus. Recently we had multiple students from around the world qualify to attend the National FBLA competition. One more example of how #globalsnow is putting Snow College on the map.

Alumni

Co-Op Open House

During the Co-op open house, we had the opportunity to meet with over 100 alumni, most of whom updated their contact information. It’s worth noting this doesn’t include the prospective students, kids, grandkids, community members, and students we interacted with daily during the three week event. Everyone seemed to be fond of the historic building and appreciated the fact that Snow College is returning to its first home. You probably saw many golf carts around campus giving tours. Our Alumni enjoyed reconnecting with Snow College.

Commencement and Alumni Cord Sales

I am pleased and grateful to announce that the class of 2024 has shown great philanthropic spirit by donating to the Alumni Scholarship Endowment through the Alumni Cord Sales. We are proud to have sold 120 cords so far, which means we are just $71.20 away from reaching our goal of $2,500. With two weeks to go, we are excited to surpass that goal. Thank you, Class of 2024, for your generosity and support!

Buy an Alumni Cord

Students at the Richfield campus recently put their views into action for a Political Science class led by adjunct professor and Sevier Valley Center Director Kevin Arrington. For a class project, the students suggested changing the name of a street connecting College Avenue to 400 West to Badger Way in Richfield. They believed that this alteration would help foster a sense of school spirit within the community. Presenting their idea to the Richfield City Council on Tuesday, March 26, the students were delighted when it was approved unanimously. This decision highlights the influence of student engagement and the impact that young individuals can have on their neighborhoods. The students' dedication to Snow College and their readiness to speak up for their views is truly inspiring. Badger Way will now stand as a lasting reminder of the students' classroom experience and their Badger pride.