Employee Appreciation Week
April 3 - April 7
Idaho State University is proud of our faculty and staff who assist, teach, and support our students, visitors, colleagues and community! To thank our amazing faculty and staff for their efforts as we celebrate Employee Appreciation Week at all campus locations! This celebration week includes a variety of activities and events focused around fun, honoring one another, and professional development opportunities for all.
- All current ISU Faculty and Staff may use the Pocatello Student Recreation Center during ISU Employee Appreciation Week, April 3-7, at no charge! Please bring your current Bengal ID to participate. To participate, print, fill out and bring these documents. Thanks Student Recreation Center!
- All current ISU faculty and staff may use the Pocatello ISU Wellness Center to access their GET-FIT Program classes during this week, at no charge! Please bring your current Bengal ID to participate. To learn more check out their GET-FIT Spring Schedule and GET FIT Class Descriptions. Thanks ISU Wellness Center!
STAFF COUNCIL LUNCHEON INFORMATION
- Pocatello and Meridian (Wednesday, April 5, 11:30-1 p.m.) See more details in the Wednesday, April 5 section.
- Idaho Falls (Thursday, April 6, 11:30 -1 p.m.) See more details in the Thursday, April 6 section.
- Alaska and Twin Falls will have separate luncheons and their campus will share the specific date and time.
This year is a mix of Zoom workshops and in-person events! Although it helps us to prepare for sessions when you register, we invite all to join us for any session by using the Zoom links below! Many workshops will recorded and shared in ISU Today at a later date, see details on each workshop to determine if it is being recorded.
Please coordinate with your supervisors and teams to plan your attendance in these activities to ensure offices can remain open to support student needs.
In honor of ISU Employee Appreciation Week, Lookout Credit Union is sponsoring a $500 professional development scholarship for one lucky employee! To enter you must be eligible for benefits as of March 31, 2023. Entries must be submitted by 5 pm Friday, March 31, 2023.
To enter, visit https://www.lookoutcu.com/about/scholarships.html.
Monday Events - April 3
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Event: Employee Appreciation Breakfast - Twin Falls
Location: Hepworth Higher Education Center, Room 144
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Workshop: Mindful Self-Compassion for Stress and Burnout
Presented by Jennifer Meisch, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Assistant Director, Clinical Coordinator, Counseling and Testing.
Mindfulness and Self-Compassion can be resources to help us cope with difficult feelings and situations that can lead to overwhelm, stress, and burnout. This presentation will include a brief overview of the benefits of Mindful Self-Compassion and will include practices foundational for cultivating mindfulness, self-compassion, and meaningful connections to ourselves and others. Experiential opportunities will allow for a felt sense of these practices.
Location - Pocatello Pond SUB Clearwater
Zoom: https://isu.zoom.us/j/84997398738
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
11:30 - 12:30 p.m.
Event: Twin Falls Ice Cream Social and Drawing
Location: Hepworth Higher Education Center, Room 144
Come enjoy some ice cream with your colleagues. There will be a drawing for 2 - $25 restaurant cards and a Fitbit!
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Activity: University-Wide Kahoot Trivia Contest!
Come play a live and interesting trivia game to test your knowledge on facts about the state of Idaho/U.S. History, pop culture, and ISU!
Register for this session using the Trivia button above!
Join us via Zoom with this link: Trivia Link
We will provide a Kahoot game code once you join us via Zoom.
For questions contact Clay Smith at claysmith2@isu.edu/282-2519.
2:30-3:30 p.m.
Event: Meridian Ice Cream Social and Drawing
Location: Room 681
Come enjoy some ice cream with your colleagues. There will be a drawing for 2 - $25 restaurant cards and a Fitbit!
Tuesday Events - April 4
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Workshop: Demystifying Human Resources (Zoom only session)
Presented by Katie Thomas, Interim AVP Human Resources
Join this session to get a behind the scenes look at how some of our ISU HR processes work. In this session, you'll also have a chance to talk with HR team members about your questions related to leave, time reporting, recruiting/hiring, CEC, and more!
Zoom: https://isu.zoom.us/j/81040870838
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Activity: Crossword Puzzle
Complete an ISU related crossword puzzle! We will send out the crossword at Noon and the first person to complete it correctly and send it to training@isu.edu will receive the traveling trophy! For questions, please contact Clay Smith at claysmith2@isu.edu/282-2519.
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Workshop - Idaho College Savings Program (Zoom only session)
Presented by Nick Thiros, CPA. IDEAL 529 Representative
Please join us for an overview of IDEAL – Idaho’s 529 College Savings program. Learn more about Idaho’s state tax deduction that is available for contributions to any IDEAL 529 account, how tax deferred growth can help you meet your college saving goals and the overall flexibility of using the plan for any accredited program in any state. We will also discuss how you can setup a direct deposit directly from your paycheck!
Zoom only: https://isu.zoom.us/j/83836931780
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
Wednesday Events - April 5
9:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Workshop: Emotional Intelligence and Social Emotional Learning
Presented by Cherisse Brown, Director of Successful Transition and Retention (START)
Emotions influence our thinking and are primary drivers of our behavior. Our ability to recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate our emotions enhances our competencies in leadership, professionalism, and learning. This workshop highlights the benefits of learning emotional intelligence skills and integrating them into social and emotional learning environments. These skills are essential for school, work, and life success!
Location: Pocatello Pond SUB Clearwater
Zoom: https://isu.zoom.us/j/85831207722
11:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Event: Pocatello Benefit Fair
Location: Pond Student Union Bengal Theater Lobby
ISU Vendors will be there to share their programs and answer questions.
11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Event: Employee Appreciation Luncheon - Pocatello and Meridian
Location: Pocatello Pond SUB Ballroom and Meridian 681 and 682
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Event: Idaho Falls Ice Cream Social and Drawing
Location: Bennion SUB Multipurpose Bistro
Come enjoy some ice cream with your colleagues! There will be a drawing for 2 - $25 gift cards!
Thursday Events - April 6
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Workshop: ISU AFLAC Benefits
Presented by Tracy Vanvleet and Carlie Clark, American Family Life Assurance Company
They will explain the available AFLAC benefits for ISU!
Zoom Only Session - https://isu.zoom.us/j/85408508910
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Event: Employee Appreciation Luncheon - Idaho Falls
Location: Bennion SUB Multipurpose Room Bistro
PERSI Ready, Set, Go Courses cover information for those who are at the beginning career, mid-career and nearing the end of their career as a state employee. There will be In-Person workshops in Meridian and Idaho Falls, with Pocatello In-Person and Zoom. Zoom is open to anyone unable to attend an In-Person session.
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Pocatello and Zoom Workshop: PERSI Ready! (Early Career Information)
Presented by Matthew Groves, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: POND SUB Clearwater
Zoom: https://isu.zoom.us/j/86866596151
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Pocatello and Zoom Workshop: PERSI Set! (Mid Career Information)
Presented by Matthew Groves, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: POND SUB Clearwater
Zoom: https://isu.zoom.us/j/86866596151
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Pocatello and Zoom Workshop: PERSI Go! (Late Career Information)
Presented by Matthew Groves, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: POND SUB Clearwater
Zoom: https://isu.zoom.us/j/86866596151
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
Meridian PERSI Ready, Set, Go!
2:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Meridian Workshop: PERSI Ready! (Early Career Information)
Presented by Maria Quitugua, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: Room 687
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Meridian Workshop: PERSI Set! (Mid Career Information)
Presented by Maria Quitugua, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: Room 687
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Meridian Workshop: PERSI Go! (Late Career Information)
Presented by Maria Quitugua, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: Room 687
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
Friday Events - April 7
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Idaho Falls Workshop: PERSI Ready! (Early Career Information)
Presented by Matthew Groves, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: CHE 309
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Idaho Falls Workshop: PERSI Set! (Mid Career Information)
Presented by Matthew Groves, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: CHE 309
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
11:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Idaho Falls Workshop: PERSI Go! (Late Career Information)
Presented by Matthew Groves, PERSI Training Specialist
Location: CHE 309
Register for this session using the workshop button above!
11:30 - 1:00 p.m.
Event: Pocatello Ice Cream Social and Drawing
Location: Pond Student Union Game Center
Come enjoy some ice cream with your colleagues. You are welcome to bowling or billiards. There will a drawing for 2 - $25 restaurant cards and 2 FitBits!
Thanks to the Student Union and Chartwells for making this event possible!
We hope everyone enjoyed the 2023 Employee Appreciation Week events!