What do Oprah Winfrey and our very own Vice President for Student Services at EOU, Xavier Romano, have in common? They were both part of TRiO Programs during their educational journey. These two individuals are among many TRiO alums who were able to use the support provided by Federal TRiO Programs to make their educational dreams a reality, despite the various hurdles they faced at the outset. "TRiO was my touchstone during my undergraduate years. It was the one place where I could be myself, relax and not worry about what others thought of me or my place at the University. With time I would check in less often but then the Director would quite literally track me down to check-in with me. Oddly our conversations were less about my academics and more about life and adjusting to a place so far away—both in distance and in culture. Little did I know how important this "reaching out" would mean to me. Strange that in hindsight when I think about when I had lost confidence, felt alone or simply lost that I would always return to my base at TRiO. TRiO made a difference then as it will now," said Romano.

Continued Page 2

TRiO—Accelerating Holistic Student Success

BROUGHT TO

YOU BY THE EOU

CAREER CENTER

INLOW 109

(541) 962-3711

Fall 2015 Eastern Oregon University

Mountaineer Family

Network

Special Points of

Interest:

EOU Launches TRiO

Mountaineers on the

Move

Changing the Conversation: Diversity,

Inclusion and Equity

When Michael Williams began building his TRiO team, he knew that finding the right staff was his most important move as he re-launched the program. Williams had to look no further than EOU’s own Jessalyn Smith. “As a first-generation student, she understands some of the struggles TRiO students face,” said Williams. Smith brings a passion for student success, student learning and teaching to the TRiO team. She has cultivated

her passion for students on the court as an assistant coach for the Mountaineers Volleyball team that topped its 25-6 season record with a conference title and berth into the NAIA Conference Championship pool. Smith is a 2015 graduate of EOU and is set to complete her MBA the Summer of 2016.

Justin Chin Director of Career Services

(541) 962-3090 jchin@eou.edu

From Volleyball Court to Classroom: Jessalyn Smith Joins TRiO

TRiO Launches 1-2

Smith Joins TriO 1

To Your Health 2

Mountaineers on

the Move

3

Changing the

Conversation

3

Calendar of

Events

4

Eastern Oregon University is now part of this nation-wide network of support programs that have a long history of success. TRiO began in the late 1960’s with just three programs (hence the name TRiO), and has since multiplied into a total of seven programs that each serve a slightly different underrepresented population. What all these programs have in common is a mission to support historically underrepresented students in education attain their goals of college graduation or even graduate school. The U.S. Department of Education has recently awarded a five-year grant for $2.2 million to the Eastern Oregon University TRiO Student Support Services Program, set to serve 160 students each year. The TRiO program design encourages and supports eligible students through a structured program that includes personalized services such as tutoring, supportive guidance and counseling, academic advising, college success workshops, university field trips, technology and financial literacy. This type of holistic student support has shown success in increasing the retention and graduation rates of participants. Michael Williams, Director of Student Support Services stated, “As a TRiO alum, I know what this program is capable of doing. We are much more than a program for helping students who are struggling academically; we are a program that gives students support in a way that few other programs can, with an approach that takes into account the whole student. One thing we know is that education is the road to independence, and in that effort, TRiO programs are the most successful federal initiatives to help our students become the best that they can.”

The EOU TRiO SSS Program has hit the ground running and is currently serving students and accepting applications for new participants on a rolling basis. All students who believe they may benefit from these support systems are encouraged to apply. To be considered for SSS, a student must be a U.S. citizen, national, or meet the residence requirements for federal student aid and be enrolled or accepted for enrollment at EOU. Students must also meet one of the following requirements:

(neither parent has a baccalaureate degree).

For more information about the program or how to apply, please visit www. eou.edu/sss.

Naomi Tuinstra

Advising Specialist Student Support Services/TRiO (541) 962-3077

ntuinstra@eou.edu

TRiO—Accelerating Holistic Student Success

Page 2 Mountaineer Family Network

Staff and providers at the EOU Student Health Center wish to extend a welcome to campus and our program. The Student Health Center offers a wide variety of health services to students. The mission of the Student Health Center is to support academic pursuits by fostering physical and psychological wellness and by promoting healthy lifestyles among EOU students. The clinic is staffed by Office Manager Carol Grubbe and Office Specialist Melanie Grubbe and providers Vicki Hill Brown, Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) and Ginny Elder FNP,, Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. FNPs are licensed to treat common acute and chronic problems, to write prescriptions and order diagnostic tests. The clinic also offers immunizations, such as Hepatitis B, tetanus and MMR. The Nurse Practitioners provide

health education, physical examinations for sports or travel, female annual PAP exams and STD checks for both males and females. The clinic maintains a small formulary of prescription and over the counter medications at low cost, as well as contraceptive supplies. The cost for most services is covered through student fees paid each term with the exception of some medications, immunizations and labs. ——————————————————————

Ginny Elder Clinical Director EOU Student Health

(541) 962-3524

shc@eou.edu

To Your Health: Connecting with Student Health Center

“We are a program that gives students support in a way that few other programs can, with an approach that takes into account the whole student…we know that education is the road to independence”—Michael Williams TRiO Director

Page 3 Mountaineers on the Move: Brittany Hargrove

EOU Communications Senior and National Millennial Community Member Brittany Hargrove finshed her capstone project by hosting native Oregonian and national radio personality Lars Larson on campus in early May. “As a media arts and communication student and an avid political aficionado, I cannot wait to hear what he has to say,” Hargrove added. “Conservative, liberal, or independent, everyone in the audience will surely take something away from Lars’ speech.” Over the past year, Brittany has also played an integral role in the creation and launch of EOU’s chapter of the National Millennial Group. EOU is one of the original five universities from across the nation to participate in the group. The EOU Millennial Community engages in career development activities, including conference calls with top executives from the entertainment, marketing and public relations industries. Along with participating in weekly Executive Calls, Brittany and the EOU Millennial Community, Career Services Department and the College of Business recently hosted Bill Imada, founder, Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of the IW Group to engage students and present “Changing the Conversation” to an audience of students, faculty, alumni and area employers.

Justin Chin Director of Career Services

Inlow Hall 109 (541) 962-3090 jchin@eou.edu

Changing the Conversation: Diversity, Inclusion and Equity

In its effort to reach a wider and more diverse student population, Gina Galaviz-Yap, Director of Admissions and Donald Wolff, Interim Associate Provost, have reinvigorated their efforts to make a presence for EOU along the I-5 Corridor. Galaviz-Yap recently hired Coty Lovelady to serve as EOU’s Admission Counselor in the Portland-Metro area. “Coty has played a key role in developing our presence with the Portland-market. He is energetic and all students feel welcomed by him.” Along with developing a ‘west-side’ presence, Galaviz-Yap has continued to foster and develop an ‘east-side’ focus by developing and launching Bienvenidos, a dual language outreach program targeting high school Spanish speaking families in rural eastern Oregon. To help support Admissions’ charge to recruit underserved and diverse student populations, Donald Wolff has also worked to support EOU’s non-traditional and online students by further developing regional centers across the state. “Many of our online students are non-traditional—30 and older with career experiences and families. We strive to give all of our students a connection to the campus,” added Wolff. This work reflects shifting paradigms for four-year universities not only in demographics, and a new focus on retention, completion and success. With a focus on retention, completion and success, EOU recently launched a credit-recovery pilot program. Susan Whitelock recruited two other EOU faculty and staff members to teach three on-campus weekend courses in which

students who were at-risk of failing enrolled to recover credits and stay in satisfactory academic standing. “We want to give our students a sense of belonging, hope and support” stated Whitelock. EOU students with support and mentorship of faculty and staff have been at the forefront of changing the conversations whether it is inviting Walidah Imarisha to campus to present, the International Student Association’s Intercultural Dinner & Show, hosting Lars Larson, the College of Education’s Center for Culturally Responsive Practices or Janet Camp, Coordinator International Student Services, connecting her advisees to elementary, middle and high school students in La Grande. Na Meng, MBA candidate from Xi’an, China, has shared her mastery of Chinese ceremonies to EOU’s and La Grande’s community. Tea culture originates from China and is important for my culture. I hope that by sharing the ceremony with students, La Grande will become more interested in my country and its culture,” said Meng. Academic, personal and career success is dependent upon how we learn to navigate, engage and communicate in a changing world. EOU’s students, faculty and staff are empowering each other with the skills and arena to change the course of the university and region.

Justin Chin Director of Career Services

(541) 962-3090 jchin@eou.edu

Mountaineer Family Network

The Mountaineer Family Network is designated to help parents and other family members be informed

about matters of importance to EOU students and their families. If you have any questions, please contract us at the Mountaineer Family Network:

Phone Number: 541-962-3672 or 800-452-8639 Email: mfngroup@eou.edu Mailing Address: Eastern Oregon University One University Boulevard

Inlow Hall 109 La Grande, OR 97850

For other news and events check out www.eou.edu/news/

Summer

Edition “My

Summer

Job” Gearing-Up

for the Fall Basecamp

Abroad