Bert's Alerts—April 30, 2021
News Highlights
Congratulations, 2021 Graduates!
In acknowledgement of our 2021 graduates, College of Western Idaho will live stream its 12th commencement ceremony Friday, May 14, beginning at 6 p.m. on CWI's Live Events page, Facebook page and YouTube channel! Plan to celebrate with us in recognition of this year’s degree and certificate and Workforce Development apprenticeship graduates.
Graduates are invited to participate in the live-streamed ceremony by submitting a photo and quote for their personalized slide. Each graduate will receive an email from noreply@marchingorder.com on behalf of the CWI’s Registrar’s Office with directions for submissions which are due April 27. Phonetic pronunciation submissions are due April 20. Regalia is available to purchase online through the Bookstore.
In addition to the ceremony, CWI is hosting a Grad Fest. This curbside, pick-up event for graduates will be held Thursday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Nampa Campus Academic Building.
Graduates are encouraged to check their student email account, the CWI newsroom, the College’s social media channels, and the Graduation webpage regularly for announcements and up-to-date information. Please email registrar@cwi.edu with any questions.
Congratulations to all our 2021 graduates! You made it!
Grad Fest 2021
Congratulations, 2021 graduates! You made it! Gather your family and friends, decorate your car, and plan to join us for this year’s Grad Fest, Thursday, May 13, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)! This drive-by celebration will be complete with music, balloons, confetti, and an exclusive Grad Fest gift bag full of CWI swag and alumni keepsakes – all to celebrate YOU!
Register
Graduates planning to attend are asked to register for the event by May 11. The first 200 graduates to attend will receive a diploma cover in addition to a gift bag. Grad Fest gift bags and diploma covers will not be sent to graduates not in attendance.
Attend
Graduates can attend Grad Fest any time between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. the day of the event. Enter the NCAB parking lot at the intersection of Idaho Center Blvd. and Birch Lane. Please remain in your vehicle, and follow signs to the Grad Fest area upon your arrival.
We cannot wait to honk, wave, cheer, and celebrate you and all you have accomplished!
Contact Chad Trisler, Dean of Students, at dos@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
Support Students through Employee Giving
With this year's open enrollment period for benefit-eligible employees upon us, the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation would like to remind faculty and staff about the opportunity we all have to support students through employee giving. For those who already give, we thank you for your support.
Whether you choose to give to Greatest Needs, CWI Foundation scholarships, the SCORE Big Scholarship, Wishing Well Fund, a specific program, or want to create a scholarship of your own – your donations directly support student success opening doors to opportunities and the future.
Since 2011, employee giving has raised more than $195,000 in support of students and programs at the College. So far this academic year, employee giving contributions reached nearly $13,000. Now is the perfect time to review your current giving status and payroll deductions. Not only are your donations tax deductible, they are an investment in the people, programs, and ideas that strengthen our community.
“I give to the CWI Foundation because I believe investing in my fellow Southwestern Idahoans’ higher education is the best way to positively impact our community and the future”, said Justin Vance, Dean School of Arts and Humanities.
“College should be attainable for everyone,” added Stacy Hardy, Web Developer in Communications and Marketing. "Employee giving provides an easy way to give back while joining funds from other employees to create scholarship opportunities for our students.”
Contact the CWI Foundation at 208.562.3100 or foundation@cwi.edu to learn more about employee giving opportunities.
The Bridges to Baccalaureate Program Enters its Final Year
The Southwestern Bridges to Baccalaureate program (SWID B2B) is entering the fifth and final year of NIH support for our students. Four cohorts of Bridges Fellows have successfully transferred to Boise State University, engaged in the Summer Research Experience, and established themselves as serious scholars among the undergraduate research community at BSU.
There is still an opportunity for you to become a Bridges Fellowship award winner! We are currently accepting applications for the fifth and final cohort of students to be awarded Fellowships in this grant cycle. Visit our website to view a short video on the program or click here for more information and to apply.
Students must meet certain eligibility requirements and be transferring to Boise State as a full-time student for the fall 2022 academic term. If you have questions about the program, pre-requisite coursework at CWI, or your eligibility, please reach out to Dr. Steve Lysne (stevelysne@cwi.edu) or Prof. Holly Paquette (hollypaquette@cwi.edu).
Take charge of your future! Apply to the SWID B2B program today or get involved with any of the opportunities available to CWI students found in the Math & Science Hub on Blackboard. If you do not have access to the Math & Science Hub and would like to be added, contact Prof. Dusty Perkins (dustyperkins@cwi.edu).
Go Otters!
Visiting Artist Series Welcomes The Disbelievable Domain of Zee
Join College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Artist Series for a thrilling modern adaptation of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz as they welcome Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s Idaho Theater for Youth, Saturday, May 1, for a recorded performance of The Disbelievable Domain of Zee followed by a live Q & A session all are sure to enjoy!
To participate, plan to watch Idaho Theater for Youth’s recorded performance of The Disbelievable Domain of Zee at any time prior to the Q & A session on May 1. The performance is 45 minutes in length and will be closed captioned.
Watch The Disbelievable Domain of Zee
Following your viewing of the performance, join The Disbelievable Domain of Zee’s creative team and cast members for a Q & A session. The session will begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 1, and will be interpreted in American Sign Language. Enrich your experience with The Disbelievable Domain of Zee Viewing Guide linked below.
Zoom Link: The Disbelievable Domain of Zee Q & A Session
CWI’s Visiting Artist Series is made possible through a grant from Idaho Commission on the Arts, which is supported by National Endowment for the Arts. Visiting Artist Series workshops, featuring visual and performing artists, are free and open to the entire CWI community.
Contact Brenda Fisher at brendafisher@cwi.edu to learn more or with questions.
We Otter Get Moving Virtual Fun Run and Walk
As we prepare to wrap up the last 21-day challenge of the academic year, the Employee Wellness Challenge series has one more opportunity for you to push yourself and be a part of the CWI community! The We Otter Get Moving Virtual Fun Run and Walk brings together what we have learned from each 21-day challenge to celebrate all we have accomplished.
Participation is easy!
- Sign up by Wednesday, May 19
- Choose your distance – 5k or 10k
- Complete your run or walk any time on Saturday, May 22
- Use an app or device to track your 5k or 10k distance and time
- Submit your participation by Tuesday, May 25, including a picture of the device showing the completion of your run or walk including distance and time. If you do not have a smartphone or watch to track your distance and time, see the We Otter Get Moving site on myCWI for alternative options.
Participants who submit their participation showing completion of their run or walk will be entered to win a variety of prizes. The first 50 employees who submit their participation on May 22 will receive a free CWI t-shirt with the new CWI branding! Want to get your family involved? Submit a picture of your family completing the event together and be entered to win a fun activity pack from the Discovery Center.
More details, instructions, and training resources can be found on the We Otter Get Moving site on myCWI.
Staff Senate Nominations Open Through May 5
Are you interested in playing a part in staff governance at College of Western Idaho (CWI)? Do you know a colleague who would do great in this role? If so, please consider nominating yourself and/or a colleague to serve on Staff Senate. Staff Senate nominations for 2021-2022 will be open Wednesday, April 28, through Wednesday, May 5, 2021. Three officer and eight senator positions are up for election.
The CWI Staff Association consists of all part-time and full-time benefited, non-faculty employees serving at a director level or below. Staff Senate is made up of three officers and 10 senators. Each elected senator must have been employed at the College for at least one year prior to beginning their term. Newly-elected officers and senators will serve for two years – June 1, 2021 through May 31, 2023.
Open Positions:
- President
- Vice President
- Secretary/Treasurer
- Four (4) Staff Senators – Instruction and Enrollment and Student Services
- Two (2) Staff Senators – Operations (IT, Facilities, Institutional Research)
- Two (2) Staff Senators – Business Office, Human Resources, College Relations
Nomination Process:
- Nominations open Wednesday, April 28, and close Wednesday, May 5.
- If you are interested in serving or would like to nominate a colleague for Staff Senate, please email staffsenate@cwi.edu.
- In your email, indicate which seat you are interested in or nominating a colleague for.
- Participation in Staff Senate requires supervisor approval. Approval will be verified prior to placing names on the ballot.
Contact Staff Senate at staffsenate@cwi.edu to learn more or with questions.
Open Enrollment Open Through May 14
Open enrollment for medical, dental, and flexible spending accounts (FSA) will be held April 26 through May 14, 2021, for all benefit-eligible College of Western Idaho (CWI) employees. The new plan year begins July 1, 2021.
Open enrollment is your chance to:
- Enroll or re-enroll in the FSA program for the 2022 fiscal year – FSA plans do not automatically renew year-to-year.
- Change your medical plan type (PPO, Traditional, High Deductible).
- Add dependents to dental care coverage.
- Switch premium deductions from post-tax to pre-tax or vice-versa.
- As a reminder, dependents can be added or removed from medical coverage at any point during the year.
Open enrollment forms:
- Forms will be available Monday, April 26, on the Human Resources Employee Resources site on myCWI.
- Forms can be signed electronically.
- Open enrollment forms are due Friday, May 14, at 5 p.m., and will be accepted via email or in-person at the Human Resources office located at the Nampa Campus Administration Building.
- Exceptions will not be made for those who miss the May 14 deadline.
Have a quick question about your benefits?
During the open enrollment period, Human Resources will be holding drop-in Q&A forums via Zoom for those with questions about open enrollment and/or CWI’s benefits.
Save the date!
Learn more about the benefits available to you by attending CWI's Virtual Benefit Fair, April 23 – May 13. At the virtual benefits fair you can access updated plan and rate information for the new plan year, view informative videos, attend webinars, review FAQs, and access open enrollment forms.
Contact Human Resources at HRBenefits@cwi.edu with questions.
