Women's Center

History:

In March 2001, in order to create a more inclusive Women's History Month celebration, the Women's Center created a newspaper publication that worked to recognize Women Making History throughout Idaho. We asked people in the community and at BSU to submit nominations that highlighted the stories of women around us who were working hard to make a difference in our communities. We printed over 28,000 copies of this 20-page newspaper that featured 37 women in Idaho who were making history. These copies were inserted into the Boise Weekly and The Arbiter. Each woman was then recognized at a special reception that included their guests and all the student writers. Over 100 people attended our first annual celebration. For the last three years, The Idaho Statesman has distributed this Boise State publication and we have recognized more than 130 women.

Description:

This project is an excellent opportunity for students interested in enhancing their writing and interviewing skills. Writers are expected to conduct interviews based on the nomination forms that are received in the Women's Center. In general, each writer seeking internship credit is asked to interview and write the stories of 4 women.

Process:

• Nominations will be sought throughtout the year, with final nominations due at the end of September. Interview assignments of nominees will be made to each student intern beginning early October. All articles are due in their final form no later than December 10.
• Submit an application on line and interview with the Women's Center Coordinator or Editor.
• Attend all mandatory training workshops in September and October.
• Meet with the Editor of the newspaper to receive assignments and review priorities in writing each "biography."
• Contact academic department for approval to receive credit.
• Call and arrange a time to interview each nominee assigned.
• Interviews should take about 2 to 3 hours each.
• Using the nomination form and interview notes, write a short biography of the nominee that features her accomplishments and a story to creatively demonstrate how she is making history.
• Submit each story for editing, allowing enough time for re-writes prior to the deadline.
• Women's Center Coordinator or the Editor will submit an evaluation of your performance to the academic department so students receive credit.

Qualifications:

• Solid writing skills; submit writing samples at interview
• Creativity
• Interviewing skills and strong verbal skills
• Background/interest in women's issues
• 2.5 minimum G.P.A.
• Ability to work autonomously
• Prefer students in Junior standing or above

Benefits:

• Gain practical experience in interviewing techniques and story telling.
• Meet very interesting people and network with leaders in the community.
• Add to your professional writing portfolio (student's name will appear in a by-line).
• Contribute to a publication that will be distributed statewide.
• Exercise your creativity in writing.

Credit:

Internship credit is currently available through two academic departments. Students interested in receiving credit should contact the Women's Center at 426-4259 and the appropriate department contact. If you would like to get academic credit from a department not listed here, simply contact the appropriate internship coordinator and get approval through him or her.

English - Roger Munger (x4211)
Communication - Rick Moore (x3562)

Description:

The primary purpose of the Mentor Program for Returning Women Students is to provide support and information to new women students returning to college after an interruption in their formal education. Mentors are valuable campus leaders who can help create a welcoming environment for new students in efforts to ease their transition and increase the likelihood of retaining them. This experience can help mentors (experienced students) build skills relevant to careers in social work, counseling, and education. Training will focus on team building, resource information, peer counseling, basic knowledge of crisis intervention, and problem solving.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as role models to new students. Personalize the Boise State experience, creating a sense of belonging for new students.
• Guide new students through Boise State systems and provide good resource/referral information to them.
• Participate in training and in-service sessions offered throughout the semester.

Expectations:

• Meet with site supervisor throughout the semester.
• Meet with the new student weekly.
• Participate in 4 in-service workshops/training during the semester.
• Serve as a resource/referral agent to help new students with questions about navigating in the university system.
• Provide basic emotional support and connection for new students.

Qualifications:

• Personal experience as a returning woman student (a student who has had an interruption in her formal education): preferred. Attendance at BSU for 2-3 semesters and familiarity with the BSU community and its resources.
• A minimum BSU GPA of 2.5

Credit:

Internship credit is currently available through several academic departments. Students interested in receiving credit should contact Melissa Wintrow, Women's Center Coordinator at 426-4259 and the appropriate department contact.

Sociology - Michael Blain (x1346)
Gender Studies - Lisa McClain (x1985)
Social Science - Michael Blain (x1346)
Criminal Justice - Bob Marsh (x3451)
English - Roger Munger (x4211)
Communication - Rick Moore (x3562)
Psychology - Tedd McDonald (x3601)

The amount of credit received for an internship is determined by the number of hours "worked" per week. These hours include time spent in training, meeting with the graduate supervisor, meeting with each student, and attending any in-service training.

Hours:

50 contact hours for every credit hour earned

Description:

The producer of the Women's Center newsletter is responsible for creating a six to eight page newsletter once a month. The formation of each newsletter will require the student to research assigned topics and to conduct personal interviews. The content of newsletter articles and information will focus on current needs and issues of women. The newsletter's target audience is the students, faculty, and staff of Boise State University as well as prospective students. The producer will spend time with the Women's Center coordinator developing concepts for each month's theme.

Expectations:

The student can expect to spend approximately 50 hours each month developing the newsletter. These hours include time required for research, interviews, and writing. Additional hours will be spent meeting with the Women's Center Coordinator for editing, assignments, and approval of selected topics. General knowledge of space and layout can only assist in the conceptualization of the newsletter, but actual layout experience is not required.

Qualifications:

• Solid writing skills
• Creativity
• Interviewing skills
• Background/interest in women's issues
• 2.5 minimum G.P.A.
• Sophomore class status or above
• Ability to work autonomously

Preferred:

• Sound computer skills
• Experience with page layout software
• Experience exporting documents to PDF format
• Broad understanding of newsletter creation
• Previous page layout experience
• Photography skills using digital camera and downloading/scanning photos for use in publications

Credit:

The English department has endorsed this project and will offer internship credit with proper approval. Students interested in this position should first contact the Women's Center Coordinator. Afterwards, students will arrange for credit with Dr. Roger Munger, English department internship coordinator.

Hours:

150 contact hours are needed to earn 3 academic credits