Bert's Alerts—Aug. 16, 2019
In the Spotlight
Student Success Advisors, Nikki Houston and Emily Akins (pictured left), on their way to help students during the College’s New Student Orientation sessions Tuesday, Aug. 13. The orientation sessions, the last of 49 held in preparation for fall semester, welcomed nearly 200 new students to campus to complete advising, register for classes, and learn more about CWI.
10-Year Celebration
Don't miss out on the 10-year celebration as we share stories of amazing students, talented faculty, and quality programs!
News Highlights
2019 College Address
CWI Year In Review 2018 - 2019
The sound of cowbells and maracas filled the Nampa Civic Center, as College of Western Idaho (CWI) faculty and staff gathered to celebrate and kick off the 2019-2020 academic year at the annual Fall Address.
The address began with a welcome from CWI Board of Trustee Chairperson, Skip Smyser, followed by President Bert Glandon presenting the new governance structure and strategic planning, which included the new institutional priorities.
A highlight for the day is employee awards and recognition. Years of service awards were presented to faculty and staff; thirty-seven individuals were recognized for five years of service to the College, and one hundred and thirty individuals received recognition for 10 years of service. Staff of the Month and Faculty of Distinction awardees from the past year were additionally highlighted. Congratulations to Laura Bagley, Staff of the Year for 2019, and Jana McCurdy, the 2019 Faculty of Distinction!
Following the presentation of awards, a highlight video, celebrating the success of faculty, staff, and students during the past year, showcased the College’s impact in the community. Additional recognition of the year’s accomplishments were then presented by Provost Denise Aberle-Cannata. The address wrapped up with a Q&A session with members of President’s Cabinet.
"I was impressed to see the number of faculty and staff at CWI so committed to improving student outcomes," said Brian Cuttlers, Manager of Institutional Research and Effectiveness.
Thank you to all who attended this year’s address, and best of luck to all as we launch another amazing academic year and another ten years of student success!
New Buildings Arrive at Nampa Campus
Don’t be surprised if you see a 27,000-pound section of building flying through the air, north of the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), as a crew from Pacific Mobile Structures wraps up the installation of three new buildings on Friday, Aug. 16.
Facilities Planning and Management, Enrollment Student Services, and faculty offices supporting Math and Science will use the structures for office space. Each building provides 3,600 square feet, for a total of 10,800 square feet of office space for the College of Western Idaho (CWI).
Moving office space into these buildings will provide an additional classroom in NCAB, as well as needed science preparation space on the second floor. The current student life space at NCAB will be converted into a student lounge and meeting space, to facilitate student engagement and club meeting space. CWI's Facilities Planning and Management team worked on the project from its inception, selecting the design and finishes used in the structures to ensure they are efficient and aesthetically pleasing.
“It is exciting to see new space occurring for the first time on the Nampa campus," said Craig Brown, Executive Vice President of Operations. "Although we elected to use a modular construction format for these buildings, we were very intentional in their location and design to ensure they fit in architecturally and can serve the campus community for years to come."
Faculty and staff are anticipated to move into the buildings after Thanksgiving.
Farm to Fork Dinner
Get a taste of the Treasure Valley and College of Western Idaho (CWI) during the Farm to Fork Dinner hosted by CWI agriculture faculty and students. Proceeds from the five-course meal will support CWI’s campus garden, which provides students access to fresh produce and supports their agriculture coursework.
The garden was created in the spring of 2018, from a Wishing Well award by the CWI Foundation.
“When I found out that 40 percent of CWI students experience food insecurity, I wanted to take action,” said Andrea Schumaker, Department Chair of Physical and Agricultural Sciences, who worked on the team to start the garden. “My passion is to feed people and to better educate people on where their food comes from.”
Guests will experience a true farm to fork dinner from produce grown in the garden, within eyeshot of the dinner table, and delicious Wagyu beef from locally-owned Coats Cattle Company. Other partners include McCall Brewing Company, Stella’s Ice Cream, Koenig Distillery, Williamson Orchards and Vineyards, and The Tower Grill. All proceeds will go back to the garden to purchase plants for coming years, repair irrigation, purchase tools, and amend the soil.
SOLD OUT
Farm to Fork Dinner
Friday, Sept. 13, 2019
7 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, 2nd Floor Atrium
$75 a ticket
2019-2020 Student Clubs and Organizations
The application and renewal period for student clubs and organizations at College of Western Idaho (CWI) is now open for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Student Engagement and Success is proud to announce training for student clubs and organizations is now available online, in Blackboard. This online platform will allow student officers and club advisors continual access to club resource information in addition to the ability to complete annual training assessments without disrupting their class or work schedules!
2019 Faculty of Distinction
Congratulations to Jana McCurdy, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for 2019. McCurdy, Instructor and Experiential Learning Coordinator for Psychology, has been with the College since 2010.
McCurdy, CWI’s Faculty of Distinction for March 2019, is recognized for the curiosity, humility, and critical thinking she models in promoting life-long learning. She is a fantastic faculty member who has not only excelled at teaching, but has been a leader on campus with her work on the Liberal Arts committee. In that role, she helped to coordinate the highly-successful college read program for the 2018-2019 academic year.
“I am so blessed to have the opportunity to help students pursue their life and career goals,” she said. “What a wonderful privilege it is to see them achieve the goals they have set for themselves! I love working with extraordinary faculty and staff who support one another and genuinely care about our community.”
2019 Staff of the Year
Congratulations to Laura Bagley, College of Western Idaho’s Staff of the Year for 2019. Bagley currently serves as an Administrative Assistant for Workforce Development and has been with the College since 2013.
Bagley, a 2015 CWI graduate and the College’s Staff of the Month for February 2019, was recognized for her excellence in always going above and beyond; her innovation in helping to discover new ways to facilitate assessments and customized training; her honest, forthright, and caring communication style; and her professional and respectful interactions with staff and students.
“I am honored to be CWI’s Staff of the Year,” she said. “This award is a reflection of the team effort of our Workforce Development staff and directors. It is very satisfying to assist students in bettering themselves. I am especially proud of our apprenticeship students – many of whom work full-time to support their families while going to school. Being a part of something bigger than just one person is what I am most proud of in my position at CWI. Go be mighty!”
