What's Happening in CoSE

Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar poses for a photo in the Nuclear Engineering Lab on ISU's Pocatello campus.

Nuclear Engineering Professor to Serve as Fulbright Specialist in the Philippines

An Idaho State University professor has been selected to help get a country’s nuclear energy aspirations off the ground.

Recently, Mary Lou Dunzik-Gougar, professor of nuclear engineering and associate dean of ISU’s College of Science and Engineering, was selected to serve as a Fulbright Specialist in the Philippines. Over the summer, Dunzik-Gougar will spend six weeks helping the Commission on Higher Education and Batangas State University “craft a roadmap that connects education, research, and policy to support the responsible adoption of nuclear technologies” and “guide the integration of nuclear-related programs within Philippine higher education institutions, ensuring global alignment, safety, and sustainability.”

Civil engineering students Amit Koirala and Arpan Adhikari recently represented ISU at the ASCE SEI Structures Congress 2026 in Boston, where they connected with students and professionals from across the country while exploring the latest in structural engineering.

Amit Koirala and Arpan Ahikari pose for a photo at the Structures Congress.

Spring 2026 Course Evaluation Results Now Available

The course evaluation results for Spring 2026 are now available in Watermark. Evaluations were conducted for 4,318 courses with an overall response rate of 58.61 percent.

Faculty can view and download their evaluation results directly from Watermark. To access your evaluations:

Log in to Canvas and from the main menu on the left, click on Account.
From the Navigation menu, click on Settings, then Course Evaluations.
You should now see your Watermark Course Evaluations & Surveys dashboard. From the Project List in the middle of the dashboard, click the name of the term you wish to view. This will give you access to the reports for each course that was evaluated.
Under the Report column, click on the Download Report button and select the type of report. You will be prompted to select the download location.

REMINDERS:

Faculty Invited to Take Biomedical Research Survey

The Office for Research invites faculty conducting biomedical/health research or interested in conducting such research to participate in a brief online survey to assess the biomedical research environment at ISU.

This project is led by Kristin Van De Griend and Michele Brumley. The objective of Biomedical Research Investing in Growth and ISU Talent (BRING-IT) is to develop an institution-wide, data-informed action plan that will guide improvements in biomedical research capacity at ISU.

This survey will take approximately 20 minutes or less.

RSVP for the CoSE Back to School BBQ

Please let us know if you can join us for a fun summer barbecue on Thursday, Aug 20, at 4:30 p.m. at Centennial Park, South Grant Avenue and Idaho Street.

This is a family-friendly event with kids' activities, outdoor games and great food!

Bengal Bio Open House Planned for May 23

Now’s your chance to get a behind-the-scenes look at some of the research happening in Idaho State University’s Department of Biological Sciences.

On Saturday, May 23, from noon to 4 p.m. in the Gale Life Science Building, 660 Memorial Drive, ISU faculty and students will host the Bengal Bio Open House. Open to the public and all ages, the event will showcase the labs and work being done by faculty and students. There will also be hands-on activities, presentations by student clubs, financial aid information, and more.

While registration is not required, attendees who register by May 18 will receive a welcome gift.

If you have any questions about the Bengal Bio Open House, contact Kasey Wozniak at woznkase@isu.edu.

NIGMS Research Funding Opportunities Webinar Scheduled for May 28

The University of Utah Graduate School and the Office for Postdoctoral Affairs, as well as other universities and national labs across Utah, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and Nevada, are co-hosting a virtual National Institute of General Medical Sciences grant-writing workshop via Zoom.

The webinar will be on Thursday, May 28, from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. RSVPs are required.

CLIE Seeks Proposals for Fall 2026 Workshops

The Center for Learning and Instructional Excellence is seeking proposals from all faculty, clinical faculty, and adjunct faculty interested in sharing their interests, expertise, and teaching insights through our upcoming programs.

Faculty Lecture Series ($200 stipend) - “One Thing Everyone Should Know About…” Share a big idea, theory, book, or finding from your discipline or research that everyone should know. Target audience: faculty, staff, students, and community members.
Master Teacher Series ($200 stipend) - Present an innovative or effective teaching strategy others can adapt for their own courses. Target audience: faculty and graduate teaching assistants.
Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs, $600 stipend) - Lead a semester-long discussion group focused on a shared teaching and learning theme - such as student engagement, technology, or a book club.

All Faculty Lecture Series and Master Teacher Series presentations are scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. and will be hosted in Rendezvous 129. Faculty Learning Communities schedule meetings based on the group’s availability.

The deadline for submissions is June 1.

Faculty Drop-in Hours with Dean Widmann

Dean Widmann invites faculty to a drop-in hour on the third Thursday of each month, from 1 to 2 p.m., in Room 121 of the Physical Science Complex. The next will be held on Thursday, June 18.

This optional opportunity gives faculty a chance to chat with the Dean about projects, ask questions, share successes, and provide input regarding the future of the College.

Dean's Excellence Fund Accepting Requests from Students

The College of Science and Engineering Dean's Excellence Fund is intended to support students in their journey through ISU. The Dean's Office is particularly interested in providing financial assistance to students who might not be able to enroll in or complete the semester because of short-term financial hardships. Students seeking such support should be in good academic standing.

If you know of a student who is in need of short-term support, please have them complete this form.

CoSE Chairs and Directors Meeting Minutes

From Around ISU

Idaho State University to Host 2026 Idaho Indian Education Summit

Idaho State University, in partnership with Idaho Department of Education and the Idaho Indian Education Committee, will host the 2026 Idaho Indian Education Summit on June 11 and 12, on the ISU campus in Pocatello.

The annual summit brings together K–12 educators, higher education professionals, Tribal leaders, administrators, students, and community advocates from across Idaho and neighboring regions to strengthen educational opportunities and outcomes for Native students while honoring the histories, cultures, and contributions of Idaho’s five federally recognized Tribes.

ISU Alum's Company, Survival Garden Seeds, Named Pacific Northwest Region Rural Small Business of the Year

An Idaho State University alum’s latest enterprise has taken home one of the top small business honors in the region.

Recently, the U.S. Small Business Administration crowned Survival Garden Seeds the 2026 Pacific Northwest Region Rural Small Business of the Year at a ceremony in Boise, Idaho. The award recognizes a business located in a rural community in Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska that demonstrates exceptional performance and growth. Companies are evaluated on their support for the local workforce, financial performance, commitment to the community, and staying power.

Live Orchestra, Community Cast Bring “Dear Evan Hansen” to ISU Stage

Idaho State University’s Farm Bureau Summer Community Theatre will present the Tony Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen June 12, 13, 15, and 18 - 20 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bistline Theatre at the Stephens Performing Arts Center.

Featuring a live orchestra and a cast of ISU students and community performers, Dear Evan Hansen explores themes of connection, belonging and the ways people long to be truly seen.

Dates to Remember

May 25	Memorial Day holiday (Monday - no classes)
June 1	Early-4 final grading opens
June 15	Early-6 final grading opens
June 15	Middle-4 and Late-8 courses start
June 16	Early-4 final grading closes at 4:00 pm
June 19	Juneteenth Holiday (Friday – no classes)
June 29	Early-8 and Middle-4 final grading opens
June 29	Late-6 courses start
June 30	Early-6 final grading closes at 4:00pm

Upcoming Events in the College of Science and Engineering

For a complete list of CoSE events, check out the College Event Calendar. Updates can also be found on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Bluesky, and Instagram. To add events to the calendar, please contact the Administrative Assistants in your department. The university-wide calendar of events is available here.

Help Us Share Your Accomplishments!

Our College’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students achieve many notable research and professional accomplishments. In addition, our departments regularly have newsworthy advancements. We want to make sure those stories are shared publicly. Here are a few ways you can provide a news tip to help get the word out:

Use this Story Submission Form to send your news tip to the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Send an email to Logan McDougall (loganmcdougall@isu.edu) with a brief description of the news to be shared.

You are always welcome to create a draft story, submit it via the Story Submission Form, or send it to Logan. The Office of Marketing and Communications and Logan will coordinate to get the story finalized and distributed to the media outlets/platforms that best tell the story.

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