Bert's Alerts - April 15, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) long-awaited art mural project has been officially unveiled. In a public ceremony on Thursday, April 14, the cover was pulled to reveal the College’s first public piece of art. The event, which was attended by nearly 100 people, took place in the lobby of CWI’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education. Read the full story.
News Highlights
CWI Students Showcase Skills at State Competition
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will send 17 students to compete at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference following a strong showing at the organization’s state competition last weekend (April 7-8). CWI students earned 27 medals at the event; part of which was hosted at the College’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education in Nampa. Students qualify for nationals by earning a gold medal at the state conference.
CWI students earned gold in 10 different events. One of CWI’s first-place finishes came from the College’s seven-student Quiz Bowl team. CWI also earned three gold medals in both Power Equipment Technology and Welding Fabrication. The College claimed an event sweep in Precision Machining Technology capturing first, second, and third.
The 52nd SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference will be held June 20-24 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Celebrate Basalt Literary Magazine on April 29
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will celebrate the fourth issue of its student-run literary magazine, Basalt, with a launch party on Friday, April 29. The event will feature students reading their original fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Coffee and snacks will be available.
The free public event will take place:
Friday, April 29
7 p.m.
Hyde Perk Coffee
1507 N. 13th St., Boise
Copies of Basalt's fourth issue will be available for purchase.
Renee Watson - April 2016 Staff of the Month
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is happy to recognize Renee Watson as CWI’s Staff of the Month recipient for April.
Renee Watson has contributed to the CWI team as the Accounts Payable Coordinator beginning August 25, 2014. With 25 years of accounting experience in most areas of accounting and many years as a controller of numerous businesses, Renee is uniquely qualified to add value to our CWI family across many disciplines.
Watson is a good example of “Innovating for the 21st Century” and “Serving in an atmosphere of caring”. Her nomination notes “I have had the opportunity to work very closely with Renee since she joined CWI in Finance. She has totally helped improve the processes for approvals and making life so much easier on the admins. Her TAT has been exceptional. She is very responsive to emails and phone calls and just gets things moving and done. She gets back to you very timely on any questions. She has been a great representation for the new and improved Finance department. It has been such a refreshing change and has helped my desk run smoother and more efficiently. I know the other AA Admins feel the same way. Big kudos to her!!!” In addition, other notes made about her are: “Renee has always been helpful and responds in a timely manner with any purchasing questions I might have.”
Renee finds rich fulfillment in her family. She and her husband have eight children and their fifteenth grandchild is on its way! Renee is happiest when she is with her family, working in her garden or with her chickens and bees and spending time traveling the world with her husband. Her favorite thing to do, however, is to go fishing in Alaska!
Please join in congratulating Renee.
Honorable Mentions for Staff of the Month:
- Courtney B. Smith
- Pamela Johnston
Spring 2016 Fire Drill Results Available
CWI spring semester fire drills have been completed. These fire drills/evacuations are to prepare students, faculty, and staff for an organized evacuation in case of a fire or other emergency requiring evacuation.
Each campus evacuated quickly and efficiently utilizing the evacuation routes specific to their area. The building administrators and floor captains did an outstanding job of clearing their assigned areas and reporting to the centralized location in a calm and professional manner.
You can view the results for each location at the safety announcements menu, click here: Environmental Safety and Health
Thanks to everyone for your cooperation and participation in this process
Business of Healthcare Symposium
Over 250 seats were filled during the “Business of Healthcare” symposium that was presented in partnership by the Exercise and Health Science Department and the Entrepreneurs and Business Club at College of Western Idaho (CWI) on Friday, April 8.
“This was a great opportunity for our business students to see how hospitals, private practices, and insurance companies operate in the Treasure Valley,” said Shelly Moore, Chair of the Business Department.
The symposium brought together CEOs from St. Alphonsus and West Valley Medical Center, a Director from Regence Blue Shield of Idaho, specialists from Intermountain Healthcare and PT180, and a member of the board of Your Health Idaho (Idaho’s Health Exchange) and former general surgeon with Treasure Valley Hospital.
“It’s important for our healthcare students to understand how much they can gain from preventive care, physical therapy, and other opportunities to improve their health, as well as to see job opportunities in this field,” said Tim Curry, Faculty Member of the Exercise and Health Sciences Department at CWI.
Students attended several sessions where they discussed the challenges and impacts of healthcare delivery, insurance, and preventive care for businesses and their employees. The symposium follows last year’s “Business of Sports” symposium held by the Exercise and Health Science Department and supported by the Business Department.
Car Show Fundraiser is Back at CWI
The fourth-annual Skills on Wheels Car Show will return to College of Western Idaho (CWI), April 16. The event is a fundraiser to help send CWI students to the SkillsUSA national competition each summer. The car show will take over the Micron Center for Professional Technical Education in Nampa to showcase muscle cars, stock cars, eighteen wheelers, motorcycles, and more. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will include music and food. Admission is free.
Registration is currently open and entries are needed for all categories. Vendors are also invited to join the event. For registration and entry fee information, or to sign up for a booth visit cwiautoshow.com.
Inaugural CWI Connections Event Set for April
On Friday, April 29, College of Western Idaho (CWI) will celebrate student projects with the first CWI Connections Project event. The day will feature CWI students presenting research, class work, and projects from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. There will also be community dance performances, live music, food, and the Presidential Writing Awards Ceremony. Connections Project Awards will be given out at the end of the event.
Please support students and help choose the winners by participating in the judging process. Contact jenicadraney@cwi.edu with any questions or for more information about the event.
Business Office Trainings Last of Semester
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Business Office has completed the first round of its new Business Office 101 sessions and is preparing for the final trainings of the academic year. The Business Office would like to thank everyone that has attended a training so far and encourages employees to join one of the classes in April. The sessions are a great place to learn more about the presentation topics, as well as receive help or direction on related work needs.
Classes in April will be held at the Ada County Campus Pintail Center in room 1416:
Accounts Payable – April 20, 2:00-3:10 p.m., RSVP ReneeWatson@cwi.edu
Fixed Assets/Purchasing – April 20, 3:30 – 4:45 p.m., RSVP ShariDavis@cwi.edu
Accounting – April 27, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m., RSVP BrianSmith2@cwi.edu
The following information will be covered in each class:
Accounts Payable:
Presenter: Renee Watson
Topics: Travel and Events
Purchasing/Fixed Assets:
Presenter: Shari Davis
Topics: Purchase Order Processes – Initiating a Purchase Order, Purchasing Policies and Constraints, Signature and Bidding Requirements, and Purchase Order and Budget Management
Fixed Assets – Asset Acquisition Processes, Inventory Management, Disposal Options and Procedures, and Policy and Legal Constraints
Accounting:
Presenter: Brian D. Smith
Topics: General Ledger Structure, Chart of Accounts, myCWI, Gift/Prize/Award Form, Funds Transfer Form, Donations, Unrelated Business Income Tax, Invoicing, Cash Handling, Project Accounting, Accruals and Prepaids, and Financial Statement Review
The Business Office hopes everyone who has attended a training has enjoyed the classes and learned something valuable. Please email BusinessOffice@cwi.edu with any questions.
