Shelbie Harris
Staff Writer
Emissaries at Idaho State University are focused on improving retention rates by targeting first year students and the intimidating factors associated with transitioning into the college lifestyle.
Before the development of ISU’s “First Year Experience” program there was a strong emphasis on the annual orientation program held at the beginning of each fall semester. The goal for this new expansion is designed to reinforce the orientation process by creating an environment that enriches campus involvement and fortifies new bonds between incoming freshman and current ISU students.
By focusing primarily on academic success, social involvements, as well as leadership development, emissaries at ISU hope to provide a better experience to first year students.
“Emissaries are a great resource for first year students. They can connect them with other resources on campus and answer any first year questions they may have,” said student retention coordinator Kim Valenta.
“[Emissaries] are really important within the first few weeks of class. Sometimes it’s just connecting with [students] and letting them know about our tutoring resources that we have. Maybe there is counseling that’s needed later in the semester, just all of the sorts of things first year students encounter,” Valenta said.
The program is set up with 12 individuals divided up into six teams with two individuals assigned to each college or division.
Emissaries focus primarily on the college they are assigned to but will also be in communication with many first year students of other colleges.
Each month emissaries invite first year students out to events to try and increase participation on campus.
There are weekly and monthly newsletters distributed to first year students highlighting tips for their first year and event listings both socially and academically orientated.
“Basically we try to establish contact between first year students. We are trying to increase retention rates within ISU, by making those bonds with our first year students so that they feel more valued, said College of Technology Emissary Maja Basevic.
Increasing the rate at which students are retained at ISU not only benefits the university but the student-body as well.
“Like any university, retention is huge for ISU and it’s one of our main focuses. Having students start with [ISU] and then get through to completion of their degree is highly emphasized,” Valenta said.
Recently the emissaries assisted with the homecoming bingo event hosted by the student activities board.
Future events include volunteering to help and support central academic advising at the Majors and Minors Fair Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Pond Student Union Building, and volunteering to help and support the LEAD Center in Red Cross Blood Drive in November.
For students interested in becoming an emissary the application process is handled through the student success center and opens up early every spring semester.
Now in its second year, the Emissary Program has been successful in providing a means for first year students, emissary students, and other students the opportunity to formulate lasting positive relationships.
“I get to influence people in a positive way; I get to make their lives better by reaching out to them when others might not. [The Emissary Program] is important because of retention rate and more importantly we want the students to feel valued, which they are,” said Basevic.
