Bert's Alerts—April 17, 2020

Congratulations to Laura Baldwin, Karlie Hugo, and Reagan Kulka, College of Western Idaho (CWI) students and members of Beta Sigma Pi, the College’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society, who were recently named as recipients of prestigious scholarships through PTK.

Chapter president, Laura Baldwin, was named a New Century Transfer Pathway Scholar. Her selection was based on the score she earned in the All-USA Academic Team competition, for which more than 2,000 applications were received. Laura was the top scoring student from Idaho.

Reagan Kulka was awarded a Golden Opportunity Scholarship. This is PTK’s first fee waiver designed to increase access to the benefits of membership by helping students pay for membership when they simply cannot afford it.

Karlie Hugo was named a New Century Workforce Pathway Scholar. This scholarship is the first of its kind to support students at associate degree-granting institutions on a national scale as they plan to enter the workforce upon the completion of a degree or certificate. The program is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Foundation and PTK Honor Society.

Congratulations on these amazing accomplishments!

Are you interested in a career in healthcare? College of Western Idaho (CWI) has a variety of healthcare programs available to prepare you for an exciting and rewarding career in this growing industry.

Applications for the Medical Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant, Surgical Technology, Dental Assisting, and Medical Administrative Support programs at CWI are now open for the Fall 2020 semester. Applications must be submitted by the deadline to One Stop Student Services. Visit individual program pages linked below for information and application instructions specific to each program.

Application deadlines have been extended to the following:

April 30 Deadline

• Medical Assistant
• Physical Therapist Assistant
• Surgical Technology 

July 27 Deadline

• Dental Assisting

Aug. 3 Deadline

• Medical Administrative Support

Virtual Healthcare Information Sessions

Careers in the healthcare field have some of the greatest need as our communities continue to grow. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 14 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 1.9 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups.”

Learn more about the healthcare programs available at CWI and career opportunities, as well as how to submit a competitive application, by participating in a Virtual Healthcare Information Session.

• April 27 @ 5:30 p.m.
• May 12 @ 2:30 p.m.
• May 18 @ 5:30 p.m.
• June 15 @ 5:30 p.m.
• June 16 @ 2:30 p.m.

Registration for continuing, new, and returning students for College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Summer 2020 semester began Monday, Feb. 24. Summer classes, which begin June 1, will be delivered fully online. 

Continuing & Returning Students

Course offerings can be viewed on myCWI. Students who have already registered for summer semester will be contacted with next steps regarding any course cancellations.

New Students

New to CWI? The Summer 2020 admission deadline is Friday, May 22. All new, degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students must apply to CWI prior to registering for classes. New, degree-seeking students must also participate in New Student Orientation. Visit Applying to CWI for a complete list of steps to get started. 

For students in need of financial assistance, additional financial aid opportunities are now available for students in these times of need. Contact Financial Aid at financialaid@cwi.edu to learn more. 

Students are encouraged to contact their Student Success Advisor with any questions or concerns. Registration for summer will be open through May 29, 2020.

Register for Summer 2020 Classes 

Read about summer 2020 semester classes moving online.

Mental well-being is more important now than ever as we are managing changes in our lives due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In a LIVE WITH 5 interview this week Jodi Hickenlooper, Interim Assistant Director of Counseling Services at College of Western Idaho, provided the following advice and tips for maintaining mental well-being, normalcy, and balance during these uncertain times.

“What we are looking at right now is kind of unique in most of our lifetimes,” she said. “We’re dealing with a ton of unknowns right now – how long we’re going to be at home, unknowns with our financial situation, with our families, our health. On top of that, we have all these devices giving us information 24/7.”

To overcome any anxiety, stress, or worry we may be feeling, Hickenlooper suggests taking the following steps:

• Develop a routine
• Have a dedicated workspace
• Practice self-care
• Plan time to disconnect from devices
• Stay socially connected despite physical distance
• Get out – take a walk, go for a drive, change up the scenery, get some sunshine and fresh air
• Share our emotions – this is a shared experience we are going through together

Counseling Services remains committed to helping students and has created several connection opportunities for those in need including:

• Mindful Minute
• Wellness Wednesday
• Virtual Counseling Sessions

For event dates and times for these events as well as additional virtual engagement opportunities, visit Student Affairs.

For additional information and resources or to make an appointment for a virtual counseling session, students are encouraged to visit Counseling Services online.

Watch the LIVE WITH 5 Interview

During a press conference on Wednesday, April 15, Gov. Brad Little announced that he is extending the stay-home order until April 30.

President Cabinet’s recent decision to continue remote work for faculty and staff until May 1 already aligns College of Western Idaho (CWI) with the governor’s amended order. 

The governor’s office continues to urge all residents to self-isolate and stay and work from home as much as possible unless you work for “essential businesses.” The Amended Statewide Stay-Home Order and a list of "essential businesses" and additional state guidelines are available at coronavirus.idaho.gov.

Spring term is in progress and while on-campus, in-person events are canceled, be sure to check the events calendar to participate in future virtual events. We will continue remote operations and provide service and instruction online. Keep in mind the semester was extended a week, ending on May 16. Summer term will begin June 1, also completely online and registration is currently open.

CWI’s website is a great place to find the latest news, as well as online learning information and resources and information related to CWI’s response to COVID-19. 

With the arrival of social distancing and self-quarantine to our daily conversations, the term “Zoom-bombing” should also be added to the list.

As many are working remotely, Zoom meetings have become an integral part of day-to-day life. In addition to nice window light and a quiet space, below are a few tips and tricks to ensure your next Zoom meeting is secure.

College of Western Idaho's Information Technology team strongly recommends instructors use the Waiting Room functionality to protect the classroom from external intrusions. Many instructors are also using the Waiting Room as an attendance verification tool.

The instructor (host) can customize the title, logo, and message that appears in the Waiting Room to direct students to the correct class. The host can also send personal or group messages to attendees in the Waiting Room. Participants are unable to rename themselves to prevent assuming someone else’s identity within Zoom. 

The College is moving toward two models of Zoom deployment. One will provide basic remote-meeting capabilities supporting CWI’s operational practices. The other explores the value of Zoom, in conjunction with Blackboard's Collaborate, for instructional delivery with students. Each of these requires different configuration and security models.

For additional information on providing a secure environment for your Zoom meetings, please review the attached PDF.