Bert's Alerts—Jan. 26, 2018
CWI in the News
The Spokesman-Review: CWI enrollment continues to soar, now up to nearly 30K students
Idaho Ed News: Community Colleges Pitch for Funding, Discuss Dual Credit Boom
Channel 6: Study highlights College of Western Idaho's economic impact
President's Message
College of Western Idaho (CWI) and Dynamic Campus Solutions (DCS) collaborated 4 years ago forming a partnership to provide Information Technology (IT) services for the campus community. The contract defining this partnership will conclude at the end of July, 2018. The notification to complete the current contract includes working with DCS to immediately begin a six month transition plan for CWI to bring IT services in-house. This decision is in support of our current Strategic Plan and moves the college in the direction of internal IT services gaining direct control over our enterprise systems and support.
Current DCS personnel will remain in place through the transition to maintain continuity of existing projects and support. The new plan also includes the option to work with the DCS team for additional support on initiatives, projects, or on an as-need basis after the current contract concludes. Our CWI User Services department will continue providing technical assistance and excellent customer service in-person and through the help desk.
A key component to the transition plan is to continue the current IT governance structure. I want to stress the importance of this structure and reiterate that the Enterprise Technical Advisory Committee (ETAC), Academic Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC), and Information Technical Executive Council (ITEC) will all remain in place. This structure provides the forum for every area to have a voice and ensures technical representation on projects will continue. It is crucial that everyone continues to actively participate in these groups. All current and new projects, as well as visibility into the annual work plan will continue to be directed through these committees.
Following the vision of the Strategic Plan, IT is adapting to current and future needs. Under the direction of Michael Chacon, CWI’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO), we continue to keep CWI equipped to advance student success and fully support IT needs. The talent and expertise of our current technology team will act as a terrific launching pad toward this new vision. As IT adapts and evolves to the changes, additional resources will be added to better meet the needs of CWI’s growing community. I fully believe with this new direction, CWI will not only be able to maintain, but will elevate and support campus IT needs and student success to a whole new level.
As you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to reach out to your immediate supervisor. In addition, on-going communication will be generated as we work through this transition. I want to thank you for your collaboration and willingness to adapt as we continue to evaluate all operational functions and take the necessary steps to progress towards our future vision for CWI.
News Highlights
Malepeai-Rhodes Named Accreditation Liaison Officer
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to announce, effective immediately, Alexis Malepeai-Rhodes, CWI’s Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness, will assume the role of Accreditation Liaison Officer for the College.
Malepeai-Rhodes brings a tremendous skill set to this role, with six years of direct accreditation experience. Prior to CWI, she served as the Director of Institutional Effectiveness at Hazard Community and Technical College (HCTC) in Hazard, Kentucky, which falls under the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Her responsibilities included comprehensive college strategic planning and assessment. She led HCTC in an effort to create comprehensive institutional planning and assessment processes, attended the annual SACSCOC conference, and served as the institutional lead in the development of HCTC’s Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), a focused plan to improve student learning.
2017 Employee Survey Results
Results of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) 2017 Employee Engagement Survey are in! Sixty-nine percent of employees participated in this year’s survey. Thank you to all who took time to provide valuable feedback on ways we can improve the culture employee engagement at the College. Review the results on the Human Resources site on myCWI or by clicking here.
Work has begun across the College to analyze results, address areas of improvement, and recommend next steps. The President’s Cabinet and Executive Team are working to develop an action plan for effective communication to employees, while each Executive Team member is addressing areas of opportunity and creating action plans among employees within their individual departments. Action plans will be completed by Jan. 31, 2018. Implementation of the action plans will then begin with the goal of improvement in these areas on the 2019 employee survey.
Thank you, again, for your participation! Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
New Summer Registration Date
College of Western Idaho is excited to announce a new date to register for Summer 2018 semester classes. Registration for continuing, new, and returning students will now begin on Feb. 26.
This earlier registration date will allow students additional time to plan their class schedules around summer plans and to work with Financial Aid to develop payment plans. Learn more about the summer classes in the CWI Catalog.
Priority registration for Fall 2018 semester will begin on April 9 with open registration beginning April 16, 2018, as outlined in the 2017-18 Academic Calendar.
Accounting Students Prepare for Tax Season
College of Western Idaho (CWI) students from Assistant Professor, Joe Welker’s, ACCT 251 class welcomed guest lecturer, Randy Tilley, to campus on Monday, Jan. 22. Tilley, the division administrator of the Audit Division for the Idaho State Tax Commission, lectured on important changes to the Idaho tax code for the 2017 tax filing season. Additionally, he discussed frequently made mistakes and ways to avoid pitfalls on the Idaho tax return. Tilley got a good laugh out of the group when he reminded everyone that reading the instructions was the best way to be successful during tax season!
The lecture was especially valuable as students from the class will also participate in the College’s annual Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program this semester. Beginning Jan. 29, students will be filing individual income taxes at no charge for fellow students and the community.
Services are available on the following dates and times through the 2017 tax season:
Mondays: 1-3 p.m. / Nampa Campus Academic Building, Room 201
Wednesdays: 4-6 p.m. / Ada County Campus Pintail Building, Room 1205
Over the past six years, CWI students have helped individuals save hundreds of thousands of dollars in preparation fees! Those with an annual income of $54,000 or less qualify for this free service. All are encouraged to stop by for tax assistance from one of our highly-skilled preparers!
2018 Connections Project Submissions
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Connections Project event was a success last spring, with over 175 participants and attendees! Among these individuals, 86 percent reported the event made them feel more connected to the College, the community, and the world. Eighty-seven percent said they learned something new, and 90 percent felt inspired by the event.
Your contributions were essential to this success, and the time has come to begin submitting work to be showcased during the event. Whether you are interested in participating again, or are participating for the first time, we invite you to submit your work between now and Friday, March 23.
Submissions of work either already completed or in-progress can be made by faculty, staff, students, and community members through the Connections Project webpage. Past submissions have included artwork, presentations, posters, club tables, demonstrations, panel discussion, and workshops.
Student submissions are eligible for Connection Excellence Awards. Winners of this award will not only be honored during the awards ceremony that day, but will also receive a $100 prize!
Judging categories include:
- The Juried Art Show
- Projects that Connect
- Projects that Educate
- Projects that Inspire
- Collaborative Projects (submissions with 3+ authors, prizes in this category will vary)
Make sure to save the date for this year’s Connections Project event April 26, 2018, from 3 to 8 p.m.! The event, which is open to the public, will be held at the Nampa Campus Academic Building.
Email connections@cwi.edu with questions or ideas, or visit the Connections Project online to learn more!
Student Leadership Excelling in the Classroom
Students in leadership positions at College of Western Idaho are exhibiting excellence in the classroom! Students involved in the College’s 27 active student clubs and organizations averaged a Fall 2017 semester grade point average (GPA) of 3.17. The Associated Students of College of Western Idaho (ASCWI) also had a great semester with their average GPA weighing in at a 3.4!
Congratulations on a job well done!
BPA Club Hosts High School Competition
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Business Professionals of America (BPA) Club hosted the District 5 High School Competition on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. More than 200 high school students from 13 local high schools gathered at the Nampa Campus Academic Building to compete and qualify for the state competition. The event helped raise funds for qualifying CWI students to travel to the 2018 BPA National Leadership Conference May 9-13 in Dallas, Texas. Last spring, 21 CWI students qualified for the national competition in Orlando, Florida.
All-star Alumni—Jordie Ferro
Meet College of Western Idaho (CWI) alumna, Jordie Ferro. Jordie graduated from CWI in 2014 with an associate degree in Exercise and Health Science. This past May, she received her bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) and is currently completing an internship through the University in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Following her internship, Jordie plans to take the RD exam to become a registered dietician. She says she would love to come back to the Treasure Valley to work as a clinical dietician.
“Long term, I’d love to be a community dietician and work to motivate and improve the health of the community,” Ferro said.
Are you a CWI graduate or know an all-star alum? We want to hear from you! Please contact Communications and Marketing Department at 208.562.2222 or communication@cwi.edu.
#mightyCWI Moments
Are you following CWI on social media? If not, here is a taste of what you are missing!
- Facebook: Do you like chess? According to the CWI Facebook page, the third floor of NCAB is the place to be on Wednesdays at 10 a.m.! Also, did you know Jan. 25 is Global Belly Laugh Day?
- Instagram: Shout out to Michelle Mahoney’s COMM 101 class for sending us a video of speed meeting during their first night of class! The video, shared on CWI’s Instagram on Jan. 17, has already made quite the impression. The post has been seen 708 times making it our top post for impressions over the past two years!
- Twitter: Maia Kelly (@MathIsHard314) used #mightyCWI to share about placing in CWI’s employee coloring contest!
- Businesses in the community are watching—Idaho Power, CapEd Credit Union, Boise State University, Idaho Department of Labor, Rekluse Motor Sports, and Next Steps Idaho have liked, tagged, and shared some of our recent posts!
Join the #mightyCWI movement by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Contribute to the conversation by sharing and liking CWI posts, or using the #mightyCWI hashtag and tagging CWI in your posts and tweets! CWI staff and faculty are involved in so many awesome things! This is a great way to share the CWI story!
For questions about CWI social media, please contact Ashley Smith or Jessica Argyle at communications@cwi.edu. Let’s keep the momentum going!
