Bert's Alerts—Feb. 2, 2018
In the Spotlight—Feb. 2, 2018
![College of Western Idaho at Captial High School](https://cwi.edu/sites/default/files/styles/spotlight/public/spotlight_ct/image/spotlight_31.jpg?itok=-XD67ZIb)
College of Western Idaho is at Captial High School today, Feb. 2, showcasing the College's various programs and educational opportunities leading to exciting careers and pathways of success. Shout out to Instruction and the Admissions team for coming together to make this happen!
President's Message
As we move into the conversion plan for IT services at CWI, under the direction of CIO Michael Chacon, my goal is to keep you apprised of changes and update you on our progress moving forward. The current Dynamic Campus Solutions (DCS) IT Director of Operations position, held by Josh Koenig, will be changing to Mike Johnson. Mike has joined the Dynamic Campus Solutions (DCS) team to provide oversight in daily IT operations and ensure continuity of service from DCS. Mike’s role, in conjunction with DCS, will be dedicated to managing the continuation of services. CWI will be reviewing a transition plan proposed by DCS to help guide the process. These actions are vital to ensuring the transition flows as seamlessly as possible. Mike may be reached at 801.661.1902 or by emailing mikejohnson2@cwi.edu.
In addition, three internal CWI IT positions have been approved for immediate posting: Director of Operations, Sr. ERP Administrator, and a Program Manager. These three key positions will create the foundation for a robust internal IT team, moving the college forward as necessary to meet the needs of our students, our staff and faculty, and support of our business processes. As these positions fill and help to form our new IT team, I will send out introductions to these new team members.
Thank you all for your support and participation as we navigate the conversion of IT services to the new model. I am excited for what is ahead, I realize there will be challenges and this change will come with hard work. I’m confident the outcome of our hard work and willingness to change will pay off, resulting in a better experience for our students. I want to thank each and every one of you for making student success our number one goal and for supporting the initiatives that make this possible.
I will do my best to keep you all updated and informed throughout this process. As you have questions, feel free to communicate with your supervisor or reach out to CIO, Michael Chacon at michaelchacon@cwi.edu.
News Highlights
Fusing Passion with Education
In January 1983, Lynne Wieland, bought a one-way ticket from New York to California to pursue a career in skiing.
“I don’t even know how my parents let me go,” she said. “When I look back, I think how scary and hard it must have been, but I did it because I knew that’s what I wanted to do, and I knew that was the right place for me.”
Attending college for a short time following graduation from high school, Wieland said she quickly realized it was not for her.
“I didn’t care. It wasn’t my thing. It was a struggle… the studies were difficult, and I didn’t want to be there,” she recalled. “All I wanted to do was ski.”
Wieland grew up skiing in her home state of Vermont and pursued a skiing career throughout her 20s. As a freestyle skier, she spent her amateur career competing all over the world winning numerous national and international titles. Her face made the cover of magazines, she was in local publications, highlighted on billboards and banners, and starred in Warren Miller and Greg Stump movies. Remembered most for her role in the ski movie, Hot Dog, Wieland said was making $1,000 a week as a 19-year-old.
“I worked hard at it. There was some natural talent, and I had some good opportunities,” she said. The 80s were kind of my time.”
In 1992, in her 30s and burnt out on skiing, Wieland said she found a desk job, started racing mountain bikes, and eventually landed herself in Boise, Idaho, raising a family.
During this time, the older of her two children, a son, was diagnosed at age three with Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation. At seven, he was diagnosed with Leukemia. His diagnosis resulted in Wieland’s involvement, and ultimate employment, with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She spent six years engaging in fundraising campaigns and events for the non-profit organization, during which she found passion and great success. In 2012, the program was unfortunately discontinued and Wieland was let go.
“I was devastated. I LOVED that job,” she said. “I still didn’t have my degree – that was always sort of out there. I figured if I was going to go back to school, now would be the time to do it.”
Following what she calls a “30-year break” between her freshman and sophomore year of college, Wieland said, “Somehow, some way, my butt landed in the right seat, in the right class.”
That class was a communication class at College of Western Idaho (CWI) taught by Michelle Bennett.
“Bennett just has this way about her. She believes in you… so much I started to believe in myself,” she said. “She cares about her students so deeply.”
Accrediting her success to support and understanding she received from instructors, like Bennett, Wieland said, “I learned what I needed to learn, and just kept moving forward celebrating little victories along the way.”
She spent two and a half years at CWI, graduating in 2014, and transferred to Boise State University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in Communication.
“I went to school a year before I figured out I wanted to major in Communication,” she said. “Once I had a goal it became real, and there was a light at the end of the tunnel.”
During her final semester at Boise State, in January 2016, Wieland’s passion for skiing found a way to fuse with her newly acquired education when she was asked to do some modeling for Bogus Basin Ski Resort. While heading up the ski hill on a chair lift for her photo shoot, Wieland ended up sitting next to Bogus Basin Manager, Brad Wilson, who immediately recognized her from the 80s.
“I asked him who writes content for their website,” she said. “THAT was the question that changed EVERYTHING!”
Wilson discussed his desire with Wieland to create a new position within the resort’s marketing department to handle social media, website, photography, media relations, and the daily snow report.
“I looked to my left and kind of raised my hand and said, ‘I think I want that job!’” she said. “The rest of the winter, I made it a point to showcase Bogus Basin on social media every time I went up skiing to show them what I could do.”
Bogus Basin experienced its best ski season in years during the winter of 2016. Wieland, a proud new graduate from Boise State and the resort’s new Marketing Assistant, got to be right in the middle of the action.
“Going back to school was scary and the journey was sometimes hard – just like jumping on a plane to pursue a skiing career at 19 was,” she said, “but I saw what I wanted, and I did what I had to do to make it happen. I earned my degree and paired it with experience and passion. Nothing can stop me now!”
Speech and Debate Team Celebrates Regional Victory
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Speech and Debate Team continued a strong competitive season with a Northwest Forensics Conference (NFC) Division III regional victory at Pacific University’s Scheller Invitational. The tournament, held in Forest Grove, Oregon, Jan. 26 – 28, 2018, consisted of two- and four-year schools from the region and served as the close of the NFC 2017 Season. CWI’s Speech and Debate Team was recognized as the top northwest two-year school across all qualifying NFC tournaments.
In addition to NFC season accolades, the team was recognized as both the top Division III school at the tournament and third in Division I team sweepstakes.
“Division I encompasses the four-year programs that travel to the most tournaments per season, meaning that CWI’s third-place victory is a significant accomplishment” said Jim Gatfield, Director of Forensics at the College.
CWI brought home 19 individual awards across both speech and debate events. In novice IPDA debate, Kevin Trombly and Izzy Stoddard advanced to the final round.
The team now looks forward to the Pi Kappa Delta National Comprehensive Tournament in Nashville, Tennessee, March 14 – 17, 2018.
SCHELLER INVITATIONAL RESULTS
Team Awards:
NFC Season Awards
1st Place, NFC Division III Overall Sweepstakes
Tournament Awards
Scheller Invitational Division III Champion
3rd place, Division I Sweepstakes
Individual Events:
Dramatic Interpretation
1st place Junior – Bryce Funkhauser
Informative Speaking
1st place Novice – Izzy Stoddard
Impromptu Speaking
Finalist Junior – Robert Herold
2nd place Novice – Izzy Stoddard
5th place Novice – Kevin Trombly
Persuasive Speaking
2nd place Novice – Kevin Trombly
Prose
4th place Junior – Adrianna Davis
3rd place Novice – Kian Brinkerhoff
Debate Events:
IPDA Debate
Junior Octofinalist – Robert Herold
Novice Champions (closed out finals) – Kevin Trombly and Izzy Stoddard
Novice Quarterfinalist – Alex Watt
Novice Quarterfinalist – Bryce Funkhauser
Novice Octofinalist – Jacob Retegan
IPDA Speaker Awards
1st place Novice – Kevin Trombly
4th place Novice – Izzy Stoddard
5th place Novice – Bryce Funkhauser
6th place Novice – Marley Dawson
7th place Novice – Tim Cornell
CWI Connections Project Keynote to Showcase Virtual Technology
College of Western Idaho is happy to announce Jennifer Lastra, Managing Director of 360 Immersive, as the keynote speaker for the 2018 Connections Project. Lastra will be offering incredible virtual reality demonstrations during the event and offer insight regarding her experience as an entrepreneur. Lastra's company, 360 Immersive, has been able to use virtual reality technology in applied fields such as fire training, emergency medical, workplace safety, and law enforcement. If you are interested in virtual reality or are looking for advice on how to be a successful entrepreneur, you do not want to miss this event!
Mark your calendars for this year's Connections Project, April 26, 2018, at the Nampa Campus Academic Building from 3-8 p.m.
Spring 2018 Transfer Fair
College of Western Idaho’s spring 2018 Transfer Fair is being held Tuesday, Feb. 27. This event is a great opportunity for students to discuss programs, majors, and transfer requirements with college and university representatives.
Join us at either of two campus locations during the following times:
- 9:30–11:30 a.m.
Ada County Campus Pintail Center (APIN)
Student Commons
1360 S. Eagle Flight Way
Boise, ID 83709
- 12:30– 2:30 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)
First-floor lobby
5500 E. Opportunity Drive
Nampa, ID 83697
For questions, please contact Brittney Hernandez brittneyhernandez@cwi.edu or Erica Compton ericacompton@cwi.edu in Student Advising and Success.
2018 ASCWI Elections
Elections for the Associated Students of College of Western Idaho (ASCWI) are open! Student leaders present and resolve concerns by student governance, seek out opportunities for improvement within the college, provide resources, and enhance student life and the community around us.
Open Positions:
- President
- Vice President
- Senator (12)
Contributions made by ASCWI to the development of school initiatives benefits students and the College. Being an officer in student government is a great opportunity to acquire communication, planning, and organizational skills which can be of benefit to you in future endeavors.
Students interested in running for office must submit an application by Feb. 9, 2018.
To review the election calendar or submit a candidate application, visit ASCWI’s election page.
CWI Anthropology Program Invites you to David Harrison
College of Western Idaho (CWI) students, staff, faculty, and the community are invited to attend a lecture by Swarthmore University Professor, David Harrison, Feb. 16, 2018, from 3 to 4 p.m. at Boise State University’s Special Event Center. Harrison is a linguist at the top of his field and a pioneer in endangered language preservation and revitalization among indigenous communities worldwide. His lecture, which is free and open to the public, will include highlights of his fieldwork. The event is a collaboration between the CWI Anthropology Program and the Anthropology and Linguistics Departments at Boise State. We hope you can join us!
Staff of the Month – January 2018
DeLynn Bute has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for January 2018. Bute is a Student Success Advisor at the College and assists students enrolled in the Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Drafting Technology, Machine Tool Technology, and Welding and Fabrication programs.
Bute began her career in 2008 as a customer service representative at Boise State University’s (BSU) Larry Selland College. In 2009, she transitioned to CWI with the Career Technical Education (CTE) programs in the role of a One Stop Specialist. She moved into an advisor position in 2010 primarily working with CTE students. Following the closure of the BSU office, Bute moved to the Ada County Campus Pintail Building worked as a general advisor to prospective and current CWI students.
An opportunity to return to her “roots” in CTE opened up in 2013. She transferred from general advising to a position as a Learning Community Coordinator for programs in Trades and Technology. Working within the CTE programs has allowed Bute to find her passion in advising. She says she is grateful for the opportunity to work with technical students and has found much joy and satisfaction in this role.
Bute received a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Idaho State University. She resides in the Nampa area with her daughter, son-in-law, and three awesome grandchildren. She loves being a grandma, mom, and college advisor.
Local Mileage Rate Increase
Effective Feb. 1, 2018, the Business Office will begin processing local mileage reimbursement forms with the updated 2018 optional standard mileage rate issued by the IRS. The rate will increase from $0.535 to $0.545 per mile and only applies to miles traveled beginning Jan. 1, 2018.
For those who still have mileage reimbursements to submit for 2017, please use the 2017 rate of $0.535 for calculating your reimbursement.
To access the updated local mileage form, please visit the Procurement Services section found on the Business Office page on myCWI under Travel Forms.
For more information on the 2018 optional standard mileage rate please visit: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/standard-mileage-rates-for-2018-up-from-rates-for-2017.
HR Updates
Employment Opportunities
The following positions at the College have been posted recently. Employees can access internal job postings by visiting cwinternal.silkroad.com or view all external listings on cwijobs.silkroad.com. Upon application submittal, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive an email, check your "Junk/Spam" folder, then email HR@cwi.edu to verify receipt of your application.
- Administrative Assistant I, Industry, Engineering, & Trades
- Director, IT Operations
- Accountant I, Business Office
- Teacher – English as a Second Language, Basic Skills Education
- Instructor, Automotive Technology
- ERP Architect, Information Technology
- Industry Teacher, Flagging
New Hires
Welcome to the following individuals who are new to the College. We are happy to have you here and look forward to working with you!
- Melody Mattison – Administrative Assistant I, Enrollment and Student Services
- Sara Feaster – Teacher, Basic Skills Education
- Jesus Zavala – Representative, One Stop Student Services
Note: This is the official communication newsletter for the College. Content is driven by contributions gathered from all areas of CWI. If you have news you would like to submit for this, please use a Marketing Help Desk ticket.