Bert's Alerts—Dec. 14, 2018
In the Spotlight
Thanks to generous contributions made by faculty and staff during Staff Senate’s recent Holiday Food Donation Drive, 39 students will receive a little help this holiday season. The students, nominated by faculty, will receive care packages full of holiday dinner essentials.
President's Message
With the holiday season in full swing, I would like to share my appreciation for all of your creative and hard work this past year. Your efforts are key to making College of Western Idaho (CWI) successful and empowering students with the education they need to thrive in our community.
We experienced tremendous success in 2018 as CWI’s Speech and Debate team won a sixth national title, and our award-winning Beta Sigma Pi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society continues to dominate the Rocky Mountain-Cascade Region as one of the top 100 chapters! Additionally, the College’s Business, Nursing, and Dual Credit programs received accreditation status.
Currently, the College is serving more than 31,000 students — ensuring they receive the skills and career training needed to be workforce ready.
CWI is the premier educational connection in the state for preparing academic transfer students, training workers, and meeting industry demands. With continued growth, we remain focused on the construction of a new Health Science Building. Your support will be crucial in this effort as we share stories of student success and impact in the community.
I wish you a joyous season and hope you have an opportunity to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones before we start a new semester in January.
Happy Holidays!
News Highlights
Students Donate to Local Shelter
Students Donate to Local Shelter
On Dec. 12, with a trunk full of school supplies in his Toyota Prius, Scott Straub, Assistant Professor at College or Western Idaho (CWI), arrived at Boise Rescue Mission Ministries City Light Home for Women and Children in Boise with a generous donation.
For the past three semesters, Straub’s Education students have collected school supplies to help families in need during the holiday season.
"I asked my Education students if they wanted to donate funds or supplies to something and they suggested City Light," said Straub. "We started collecting a bunch of supplies for their program including calculators, pens, pencils, and notebooks, really anything that a student might need in school."
The City Light shelter offers a safe haven of hope and love, providing emergency services such as meals, shelter, and clothing, as well as education, work-search assistance, mental health counseling, and addiction recovery.
This semester, the project was supplemented by a Thrivent Financial Action Team award, which Straub used to purchase calculators and other supplies that tend to be a bit more expensive.
"Scott excels at exposing students to the needs within our community and thinking beyond the classroom,” said Courtney Santillan, Dean of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. “Most people tend to donate food and clothing to shelters. Schools supplies are another essential, and we hope it gives these children one less thing to worry about. It clearly demonstrates how a small group can have a big impact in the community.”
Rookie Tournament Showcases Debate Skills
If you are an “Avengers” fan, like College of Western Idaho (CWI) student Jacob Marshall, you would have been in your element during the finals of the Rookie Debate Tournament on Friday, Dec. 7, at the Canyon County Center.
More than 80 students gathered for the event. COMM 112 Argumentation and Debate students competed against each other while judges from CWI’s Speech and Debate team, alumni, and former coaches critiqued their performance. The tournament is held every semester and showcases the skills students have developed.
While the final four competitors prepared for their debates, they anxiously worked with fellow students to digest as much information as they could about the “Avengers” movie franchise.
“That is one of the high-pressure aspects of speech and debate, learning to become an expert— or pretend to be an expert —after just 25 minutes of research. They get very good at finding sources they can use, so that’s one of the benefits of speech and debate,” said Associate Professor of Communication, Johnny Rowing.
Novice debaters did well during the Rookie Debate Tournament, including Marshall.
“I think it gives you a way to argue effectively – I like a good conversation, and the way the debate is formatted, it prevents it from devolving into a shouting match,” said Marshall.
The event also provides the CWI Speech and Debate team an opportunity to spot future talent for the College’s national champion team. “I was approached by a recruiter – they want me on the team,” commented Marshall with a smile.
Honor Society Among Top 100 Chapters
For the past three years, College of Western Idaho’s Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society chapter, Beta Sigma Pi, has seen extraordinary success at both the regional and international levels. The chapter continues to dominate the Rocky Mountain-Cascade Region as one of the top 100 chapters in PTK.
Each of the more than 1,300 chapters in PTK are charged with achieving five-star chapter status, a 48-point plan for achieving success and a pinnacle achievement for PTK chapters. This five-star chapter plan, which reflects the scholarly ideals of Phi Theta Kappa, serves as a blueprint for developing a strong chapter and for earning local, regional, and international recognition. Using the five-star chapter plan as a guide to success, chapters can enhance their working relationship with the college administration by becoming active on the campus and in the community. On an individual level, involvement in the program will educate chapter members in the importance of deadlines and organizational skills.
Beta Sigma Pi is putting final touches on a Hallmark Award submission for their Suicide Awareness project completed on campus for CWI students and staff, as well as their research and project on “Connection” for the local community. Completion and submission of these projects will solidify the chapter’s five-star status for the fourth year in a row.
Recently, members of Beta Sigma Pi officers and advisors met with President Glandon, who serves on the international presidential advisory board of PTK, to present him with their awards from the 2018 PTK Catalyst convention.
“As one of the top chapters in the region, our honor society is doing terrific work,” commented Glandon. “With nearly 1,000 members, they are primed to continue representing the College in a tradition of success.”
Chapter officers and advisors are looking forward to representing CWI at the 101st international convention, PTK Catalyst, in Orlando, Florida, in April. Chapter advisors, Dr. Yolonda Barnes and Dr. Liza Long, and Chapter President, Elizabeth Carter, have each submitted proposals to teach educational forums while attending.
Speech and Debate Finishes First at Mahaffey Memorial
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Speech and Debate team finished first among community colleges at The Roy (“Hap”) Mahaffey Memorial Collegiate Forensics Tournament., hosted at Linfield College Nov. 16-18. The second designated tournament for the Northwest Forensics Conference, the Mahaffey Memorial serves as a distinguished semester closer for the region. Thirteen CWI students competed at the tournament, bringing home a total of 21 speech and six debate awards. The team now prepares to compete in the spring, with the ultimate goal of Pi Kappa Delta Nationals in New York.
Mahaffey Memorial Tournament Results
Team Awards:
1st place overall – Division III
Speech Awards:
Junior After Dinner Speaking
2nd place – Alex Watt
3rd place – Josh Young
Junior Communication Analysis
1st place – Bryce Funkhauser
Open Duo
2nd place – Alex Watt and Bryce Funkhauser
Junior Dramatic Interpretation
1st place – Tim Cornell (Top Junior, broke to open)
3rd place – Logan Worthley
Open Dramatic Interpretation
2nd place – Tim Cornell
Open Extemporaneous
7th place – Robert Herold
Novice Impromptu
4th place – Josepha Sowanou
Junior Impromptu
4th place – Bryce Funkhauser
5th place – Sarah Darby
Open Impromptu
5th place – Robert Herold
Novice Inform
3rd place – Josh Young
Novice Persuade
3rd place – Josepha Elvire Sowanou
4th place – Chance Andrade
Open Persuade
2nd place – Robert Herold
Junior Poetry
4th place – Bryce Funkhauser
5th place – Sarah K. Darby
Novice Prose
4th place – Logan Worthley
5th place – Zac Maggard
Junior Prose
6th place – Sarah Darby
Debate Awards:
Junior IPDA
1st place speaker – Tim Cornell
Semifinalist – Tim Cornell
Novice IPDA
Octofinalist – Josh Young
Octofinalist – Daniel Blair
5th place speaker – Logan Worthley
6th place speaker – Josh Young
One Stop Holiday Hours
One Stop Student Services will be open reduced hours Dec. 17 – 28.
| Date | Time |
|---|---|
| Monday, Dec. 17 | 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. |
| Tuesday, Dec. 18 – Thursday, Dec. 20 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 22 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
| Monday, Dec. 24 – Tuesday, Dec. 25 | CLOSED |
| Wednesday, Dec. 26 – Thursday, Dec. 27 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. |
| Friday, Dec. 28 | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Visit One Stop Student Services online to view additional hours and locations.
Save the Date: 2019 Commencement
Mark your calendars to celebrate College of Western Idaho’s class of 2019 during the commencement ceremony on Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m. The event, hosted at Taco Bell Arena in Boise, will recognize degree and certificate graduates, as well as GED completers.
Visit /graduation to learn more!
Staff of the Month—November 2018
Aureliano Cervantes has been recognized as College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for November 2018. Cervantes, who has been with the College since 2009, began as a Groundskeeper and later moved into his current position as a Maintenance Craftsman.
Cervantes has outstanding work ethic and dedication in taking care of CWI’s Nampa Campus. One coworker noted, “He mows our fields day after day in the hottest part of the summer and is out shoveling snow first thing in the mornings when winter hits. In the hallways, he is always smiling on his way to fix something in the building. Everything he does is done with excellence and with a positive attitude.”
Married for 25 years, Cervantes has two sons and a daughter. His oldest son is a graduate of CWI’s Auto Body program, and his daughter is in the Nursing program. His youngest son is in high school. Cervantes enjoys restoring old cars to their former glory and is currently working on two trucks. He enjoys fishing in the Weiser area and the Owyhee Mountains.
Please join us in congratulating Aureliano on his accomplishment!
Faculty of Distinction—October 2018
Karen Brown has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for October 2018. Brown was raised in western Michigan and is an alumna of Kalamazoo College where she majored in Biology and Art History. After a period of time working at an outdoor education center, Brown went to Indiana University where she earned an MA and Ph.D. in Art History and African Studies. Her research in South Africa focused on historical Zulu clothing traditions and contemporary evangelical worship practices.
Brown has taught at various institutions in South Africa and Idaho and joined CWI as adjunct faculty in 2009, becoming a full-time faculty member in 2013. She has helped develop the College’s Studio Art and Liberal Art degrees and has served on a number of committees including Faculty Senate, the General Education Advisory Committee, and the Connections Project. Brown enjoys working at CWI because of faculty and staff collegiality, the diverse student body, and the College’s commitment to student success.
Beyond the classroom, Brown enjoys spending time with her husband and son. Her hobbies include traveling, birding, gardening, and textile arts.
Please join us in congratulating Karen on this honorable achievement!
King Named Interim Provost
John J. King, Ed.D. has been named Interim Provost for College of Western Idaho.
King comes to the College with nearly 30 years of experience working to improve educational opportunities for students. He joins this experience with a career as a business owner resulting in a very unique perspective of understanding the fiscal aspects of funding and operating an educational enterprise. His experience and expertise will help set a positive direction of value and advocacy for faculty as we continue to serve students.
“It is my honor to be named Interim Provost at the College of Western Idaho,” commented King. “I am excited and eager to join the CWI team and contribute to the growth of the College. I look forward to meeting all of you and working together to advance the mission of CWI and above all help both our students and stakeholders achieve success.”
King’s role as Interim Provost began the first week of December and will continue until the permanent Provost position is hired.
News and Notes from President’s Cabinet
Two notes of change coming out of President's Cabinet: Assistant Vice President for Economic Development and Workforce, Christi Rood, along with Assistant Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services, Patrick Tanner, will now report to Interim Provost, Dr. John King. This realigns the positions to where they previously resided prior to David Shellberg's retirement and is effective immediately.
Cybersecurity Awareness: Home Wi-Fi
Is your home Wi-Fi secure? Below are a few steps to take in order to secure your wireless home network.
Routinely update the firmware. Your router, if still supported, needs to be maintained with the latest security updates. Routers typically have IP addresses such as 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1. Since all devices and computers vary, the best way to find your router’s IP address is to refer to your owner’s manual. You can then access your router by entering the IP address in your web browser and checking for any available updates. It is recommended you do this every three to six months.
Create a unique username and strong password. Set up your router by creating a unique username and a strong password of at least eight characters. If you use the router right out of the box, the username and password are weak or the default is “admin” and “password”.
Change the Service Set Identifier (SSID). The SSID is the name of your Wi-Fi network. Using a manufacturer’s default SSID could pose a security risk to your home network. Attackers are prone to target those with the default name on the likelihood you did not make any changes to your router, see above. Why advertise that you may be providing free Wi-Fi and open yourself up for a security breach?
Replace your router. It is recommended you replace your router every few years, especially if it is no longer supported. An old router can leave your entire home network vulnerable to cyber threats.
Contact Mike Wilson at mikewilson@cwi.edu or 208.562.3193 with questions or for more information, and stay tuned for more tips and information on cybersecurity awareness in future issues of Bert’s Alerts.
