I try not to be actively deceptive in the Notes, but last month I told you there were two fox kits – there are 4. Forgive my oversight. And it is quite a cacophony now with the weird “screeching buzz” of yellow-headed blackbirds, the “geckering” of the Palouse foxes and the lovely clicks of chorus frogs. The season of loud.
As the academic year comes to a close, undergraduate and graduate students disperse to new adventures and a new cohort of veterinarians fledge the nest, I think about all that was accomplished and, of course, goal setting for the next year.
Our strategic plan is two years old. This past year we had goals under all four of our pillars: teaching and learning, research enterprise, college community and partnerships, and outreach and community engagement. One of my most favorite accomplishments this year was our success under the community engagement pillar. The goal was to “centralize existing programs under unified leadership to enhance visibility, streamline operations, and maximize community impact.” In short, to establish a hub for Outreach and Engagement. And we did that. We funded this venture, for now, with donor funds (thank you donors who give discretionary funds and funds that support outreach and human and animal wellbeing). As with all important projects, our Hub has already grown, advancing, for example, into pipeline and recruitment programs via more structured engagement with Upward Bound, 4H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). This work touches our working group surrounding the shortage of large animal veterinarians and our collaboration with Animal Sciences. The Hub nourishes our relationship with the Pullman/Moscow community in the form of public talks – like a recent talk held at a local brewery focused on recognizing pain in pets. It reaffirms and builds sustainability around flagship events like the Healthy People + Health Pets clinic in Spokane. It provides a point of contact for the myriad ways we are asked to engage, educate, assist and partner. And, as with everything, if there is someone focused on the mission, the mission happens.
Although it is outreach, I hope it also becomes a pathway in. Sometimes there is a disconnect between external stakeholders and the goings-on and decision-making in the college. Pathways in, through direct communication, can build trust and create much needed community champions. This will be good work for the coming academic year.
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Be safe, healthy, happy, and stay hopeful. As I said on my first day on the job, the future is bright.
Take care and Go Cougs!