Timeline of Events

The timeline of events allows readers a reference as the story progresses. Management insights provided by President Scott Green are included at the end of every chapter to summarize key takeaways, and “Smart Collaborations” are woven throughout to provide in‐depth examples of how the University of Idaho community and stakeholders partnered to achieve milestones for the institution. Scott also shares “Scott's Third Rail” content, which takes a deeper dive into essential concepts faced in higher education, including lawsuits, athletics, politics, and accreditation.

Fall 2018

• Scott receives texts from Chandra Zenner Ford and Clint Marshall about applying to become the U of I president.
• Scott applies for the U of I president position.

March 2019

• SBOE unanimously approves the U of I to commence with the bidding and construction phase for new arena contingent on project approval by the SBOE executive director and new U of I president when named.

April 2019

• The U of I officially announces Scott as its 19th president; Scott begins a non‐paid consultantship contract with the U of I.

June 2019

• The U of I celebrates the groundbreaking for ICCU Arena.
• Scott travels from Long Island to Moscow to begin his new job as president; a large social media following tracks his progress via Scott's posts with Joe Vandal.

July 2019

• Scott officially starts as the U of I president.
• Scott meets with campus executives to discuss the financial crisis and tasks them with targets for cutting the FY20 budget.
• Scott begins his goal of visiting every College of Agricultural and Life Sciences extension office and research center located in 42 of Idaho's 44 counties.

October 2019

• Scott establishes the Financial Model Working Group to produce a whitepaper and suggest a new, sustainable financial model.

January 2020

• Scott establishes the R1‐2026 Research Initiative Working Group to move the university toward R1 Carnegie Classification.
• Scott and Provost John Wiencek host an All‐Staff Town Hall Meeting outlining optional retirement, voluntary separation, and other separation options to reduce headcount, along with potential furloughs.
• Administration holds first meeting/discussions as it pertains to COVID‐19, international students, and support response.

February 2020

• The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival brings a potential COVID‐19 exposure.

March 2020

• The U of I employees present Scott with their $22 million in cuts for FY21.
• Matt Freeman (SBOE) reaches out to the U of I, BSU, ISU, and LCSC to take a coordinated approach to COVID‐19 preparedness and protocols; institutions agree to meet as a COVID‐19 group with representatives from around the state.
• SBOE hosts the Presidents Leadership Council with all eight presidents from Idaho's higher education public institutions; Idaho Governor Brad Little attends and emphasizes each needs a COVID‐19 plan for the remainder of the spring 2020 semester.
• Scott meets in Boise with other Big Sky Conference university presidents, and in a split vote, the Conference cancels the rest of the Big Sky basketball tournament.
• Scott and Provost Wiencek email faculty, staff, and students that the SBOE supports indefinite online/remote instruction; all events planned with more than 100 attendees are also canceled, including UIdaho Bound recruiting events and spring commencements.
• Scott adopts FSH 6990 COVID‐19 Virus Emergency Response.
• Scott sends an email asking all employees who can work from home starting the end of day on March 25, effectively closing the university.
• Governor Little officially declares a 21‐day statewide stay‐at‐home order; state educational systems are deemed essential, but Little reiterates that employees who can work at home do so.
• Scott appoints Torrey Lawrence as interim provost.
• Matt Freeman (SBOE) announces the first tranche of CARES Act funding for students to cover expenses related to the disruption of campus operations due to coronavirus.

April 2020

• Latah County reports the first COVID‐19 cases, with three U of I students and one resident testing positive.
• The R1‐2026 Research Initiative Working Group presents its white‐paper to Scott.

May 2020

• Toni Broyles, Kara Besst, and Kane Francetich begin officially planning to establish a CLIA‐approved COVID‐19 testing lab at Gritman Medical Center in collaboration with the U of I.
• Scott commissions the Online Education Working Group.

June 2020

• The U of I records a small operating surplus for FY20.
• Gritman Medical Center begins coordinating lab setup with the U of I.
• The U of I encourages all employees to return to standard work locations for the first time since March 25.
• Gritman staff conduct the first COVID‐19 swabbing/testing trial run on the U of I campus.
• Scott receives a petition signed by 250 faculty members stating their position regarding in‐person education during COVID‐19 as ethically troubling and pedagogically challenging.

August 2020

• The U of I Marketing and Creative Services deploys the “We're Closer Than You Think” campaign to increase recruitment and enrollment, taking advantage of California's decision to stay closed and online during the fall 2020 semester; Marketing and Creative Services uses techniques to appeal to a tech‐savvy demographic.
• Scott receives a letter and petition from the community of Moscow and the Palouse (also sent to Change.org) with 1552 signatures asking the U of I to go entirely online.
• The U of I/Gritman CLIA‐approved COVID‐19 testing lab produces its first two batches of testing results.
• The Online Education Working Group finalizes its whitepaper draft with Scott.
• The U of I offers live, in‐class learning with a Hyflex model; all students are required to receive a COVID‐19 test to attend in‐person classes.
• The university opens its infirmary in Targhee Hall.

September 2020

• The U of I campus closes and cancels all events for one week due to smoke from regional forest fires creating poor air quality and clogging HVAC filters.

October 2020

• US News & World Report names the U of I the best value of any public university in the West and third nationally, behind the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina.

November 2020

• The U of I chooses to go entirely online with classes and finals after Thanksgiving break to ensure safety for the remainder of the semester.

December 2020

• Torrey Lawrence is named Provost for the U of I.
• Gritman begins front‐line worker COVID‐19 vaccinations.
• The U of I and Plenary Americas USA Ltd., Sacyr Infrastructure USA LLC, and McKinstry finalize the steam plant P3 transaction, which results in the single largest financial transaction in the institution's history; a $225 million up‐front payment allowed for an endowment that generates over $6 million annually to invest in strategic growth.

January 2021

• All U of I Moscow‐based students must show proof of COVID‐19 testing or exemption by this date to attend in‐person classes (Hyflex) for the spring 2021 semester.

February 2021

• Idaho announces COVID‐19 vaccines are available for those over the age of 65.
• The U of I Vandal football spring season opens at the Kibbie Dome against Eastern Washington University.

March 2021

• Idaho announces COVID‐19 vaccines are available to those over the age of 35.
• Vandal Hybrid Budget Model presented to campus to begin implementation for FY22.

April 2021

• Idaho announces those over the age of 16 are eligible for the COVID‐19 vaccine.
• Idaho Legislature votes to cut $500,000 from the U of I FY22 budget to address indoctrination allegations from the Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF).

May 2021

• Six in‐person commencement ceremonies take place at the Kibbie Dome for both 2020 and 2021 graduates.
• Scott allocates $3 million of P3 funds to the R1‐2026 research initiative and $2 million to student success and scholarship initiatives.
• Scott awards the Pandemic Response Teams from the U of I and Gritman the newly designed President's Medallion.

June 2021

• For FY21, the university attains its second annual financial surplus in a row.

July 2021

• All employees who have not returned to their pre‐COVID‐19 workspace or without an ongoing approved flex place agreement are expected to return to their university‐provided workspace.
• The Idaho Center for Plant and Soil Health in Parma, ID, hosts its groundbreaking ceremonies.
• Scott hires Ken Udas as Vice Provost for Digital Learning Initiatives to advance student success initiatives...