Bert's Alerts—Aug. 28, 2020
In the Spotlight
The College's One Stop Student Services team at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center didn't waste any time throwing on their new #mightyCWI masks! Way to #maskup. Faculty and staff will be receiving their own mask in the coming weeks. Cheers to all for making it through the first week of fall semester! #stillmighty
News Highlights
CWI Introduces COVID-19 Contact Tracing
As part of our commitment to our students, employees, and the community, College of Western Idaho (CWI) will now be conducting contact tracing as part of the College’s Be Safe, Be Mighty effort.
Acting on the advice and expertise provided by our local health districts and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), contact tracing is crucial to limiting the spread of COVID-19. In the event an individual visiting the CWI campus tests positive for COVID-19, contact tracing will allow the College to accurately report where a person has physically been, with whom they have come in contact with, and then advise those affected persons in a timely manner.
As members of the CWI community, we each have a role to play. Consent to be contacted and have the various places where we may have physically been on campus reported is key to the success of this process. All CWI students and employees are being asked and encouraged to opt-in to this service by completing a contact tracing release form. Information gathered as part of this effort will remain secure and confidential.
Visit Be Safe, Be Mighty to read further details about the College’s contact tracing efforts as well as review and complete a contract tracing release form.
Weeks of Welcome – Fall 2020 Semester
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to welcome students back to campus for the start of another academic year! In celebration of the new semester, Student Affairs has a number of events planned you won’t want to miss including an online meet and greet, watch parties, trivia, Wellness Wednesdays, and games.
As we head into week two of the semester, all are invited to take a break and reenergize with snacks, balloons, and ice cream trucks during the week of Aug. 31.
Planning to be on campus? Make sure to grab a free Be Safe, Be Mighty kit provided to all students when classes begin which includes a bottle of hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, and a reusable mask. Kits will be available at the entrance to most campus buildings where classes are held, at any security desk, or at Student Affairs in Willow Building C at the Nampa Campus.
FedEx Donates Truck to College
FedEx Freight made a big delivery to College of Western Idaho (CWI) on Aug. 18 when they handed over the keys to a Kenworth semi-truck.
CWI’s Heavy Duty Truck Technician program was the lucky recipient of the delivery just in time for fall semester. The truck is perfect for the program and student training needs, and the 2009 Kenworth has the specific EPA appropriate emissions controls which will help students learn theory, diagnosis, troubleshooting, and repair of exhaust after-treatment systems.
“When industry partners donate $30,000 to $50,000 vehicles, it shows a strong connection between industry and education and provides a partnership that will be sustainable for our students in the future,” said Alex Beal, Department Chair for Diesel Technology.
Mike Canfield, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor for FedEx Freight, delivered the truck. He has been a member of the program's Technical Advisory Committee for more than five years and has been active in both discussion and action items to get students on the path to a career in the industry. Canfield worked with CWI's Foundation team to complete the donation.
“It’s great we can help CWI students get the training they need with equipment they will be encountering in the field,” said Canfield.
The truck has 850,000 miles, which provides unique opportunities to disassemble, inspect, and assemble used components with "real world" wear, providing valuable hands-on training not found on mockup truck training aids or new vehicles. Additionally, the vehicle has Eaton VORAD radar for collision avoidance and other items unique to delivery vehicles that are well suited to our space requirements and tooling.
The Heavy Duty Truck Technician program has concentrated on developing a "real truck" systems-based training environment. Industry partners have been very active in promoting and donating to develop this program and over the last seven years, the College has received five trucks.
“Our students leave the program with solid, real-world, entry-level technician skills that are immediately transferable to their employers,” said Rocky Church, Instructor in the Heavy Duty Truck Technician program.
Trades Program Orientations Now Available Online
For first-year HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing apprentice students enrolled in hybrid courses at College of Western Idaho (CWI), orientation sessions have traditionally been held face-to-face. As an in-person event is not feasible at this time due to COVID-19, Workforce Development has developed apprenticeship program orientations for students for the Fall 2020 semester.
Utilizing a combination of links, videos, and narratives, the online orientation modules will provide students with guidance for accessing their email and coursework through Blackboard, contacting the Help Desk for assistance with technology, One Stop Student Services, and tips and tricks for online learning. Upon completion of the orientation, students in both the hybrid and online apprentice programs will have all the information needed in order to be successful in the four-year programs. It is anticipated the new, online orientation platform will provide a good head start for a projected 700+ first-year apprentices.
"Having this online forum for new apprentices is key to getting them started off on the right foot to be successful,” said Marc Swinney, Director of Business, Manufacturing, and IT programs. “Also having the resource online gives an apprentice something they can return to anytime for questions ranging from CWI support services to checking grades to tips from past students."
To learn more about CWI’s HVAC, Electrical, and Plumbing apprentice programs, visit the Workforce Development page online or email wd@cwi.edu.
September Wellness Challenge: Walk into Fall
Sign up to participate in September’s Employee Wellness Challenge, Walk into Fall, by Tuesday, Sept. 1! As a participant of this challenge, your goal will be to walk as much as possible for 21 days, Sept. 1 – 21.
Visit the Culture and Employee Engagement Committee site on myCWI for all the details including:
- how to sign up
- participation requirements
- tracking resources
- submission information
- valuable tips, information, and facts about walking
Submit your participation by Wednesday, Sept. 30, for your chance to win some awesome prizes!
CWI Board of Trustees Election
College of Western Idaho (CWI) welcomes all interested parties who would like to serve as a duly-elected member of the five-person Board of Trustees.
Trustees must reside within their zone but are elected by the entire district to which is comprised of Ada and Canyon Counties. The trustee position is non-partisan and represents the entire CWI district for a four-year term. The last day for filing declarations of candidacy is Sept. 1, for the election on Nov. 3. If you are interested in filing a candidacy, visit our website for more information.
Watch the 2020 Virtual College Address
To kick off the 2020-2021 academic year, College of Western Idaho faculty, staff, leadership, and trustees gathered via Zoom, Wednesday, Aug. 19, for the annual College Address. The event was presented virtually for the first time in the College’s history!
For any who may have missed it, the 2020 Virtual College Address can now be viewed in its entirety online.
