Bert's Alerts—Feb. 26, 2021
In the Spotlight
CWI’s Unmanned Aerial Systems program celebrated Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month® this week by flying drones at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. CTE Month® is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value of CTE and the achievements and accomplishments of CTE programs across the country.
News Highlights
Schoenherr Chosen as Leadership of National Honor Society
During the 2020 national convention of the American Psychological Association (APA) last fall, College of Western Idaho (CWI) Associate Professor, Heather Schoenherr, was appointed as the Rocky Mountain Regional Vice President on the Psi Beta National Council.
Psi Beta is the national honor society in psychology for community colleges and is a member of the Association of College Honor Societies (ACHS). Psi Beta is an affiliate of the APA and the American Psychological Society (APS). The Psi Beta mission is to professionally develop outstanding psychology students at two-year colleges through promotion and recognition of excellence in scholarship, leadership, research, and community service.
As Psi Beta’s Rocky Mountain Regional Vice President, Schoenherr is excited for the opportunity this role provides to bring a community college voice to associations both regionally and nationally.
“It is essential faculty at two-year institutions are part of the conversation regarding the development of curriculum and outcomes for psychology majors,” said Schoenherr. “Psi Beta is a great way for students to network with other students and professionals interested in psychology while creating a pathway for them to transfer to four-year institutions and the workforce successfully.”
To date, Schoenherr’s work has included helping to develop a peer-reviewed journal to recognize research community college students’ conduct and an award for emerging researchers.
“I am passionate about engaging students outside of the classroom through research and professional development,” she said. “I know the power connection has to transform students both intellectually and interpersonally. Our chapter at CWI focuses on collaboration with other clubs and institutions, engagement with professionals in the field, and various service activities and research activities, including our latest research project exploring appreciation and well-being.”
"Psi Beta created a space for me to explore exciting research on a national level,” said CWI graduate, Charity Watson. “Because of Psi Beta, I got to present research with my team at the Idaho Psychological Association conference, an enriching experience that landed us a first place prize for our poster presentation. Working with my talented peers alongside our brilliant and inspiring faculty mentor, Heather Schoenherr, has instilled a passion for research that continues to edify me in my work as a research assistant for Boise State University."
Psychology students interested in learning more about CWI’s Psi Beta chapter are encouraged to contact Schoenherr at heatherschoenherr@cwi.edu.
Student Nurses Association Thrives Despite Curve Balls
Members of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Student Nurses Association (SNA) have persisted through the curve balls of a global pandemic continuing their dedication to fostering the professional development of Professional Nursing students and giving back to the community.
Transitioning their meetings to an online format, the group meets regularly via Zoom to learn from leaders in the nursing industry as well as explore opportunities available to them following graduation. Guest speakers have included hiring managers, cancer care nurses, a traveling nurse, recruiters, and a diabetic educator.
“I love having the guest speakers attend our SNA meetings," said SNA member and first-year CWI student, Jordan Schwartz. “It is so nice to get different perspectives from those currently working in the field as well as from recruiters regarding what to expect as a new nurse!”
“Second-year SNA officers put our brains together to bring in contacts that could assist in teaching topics we know we struggled with in our first year as students,” said SNA Project Chair, Lizzie Glafke. “Our goal was to have guest speakers join us who could provide perspective and context to complex topics and to show how versatile and exciting the world of nursing can be.”
This year, in partnership with Family Advocates in Boise, SNA is gathering backpacks full of supplies for children in foster care. At the beginning of Fall 2020 semester, each member of the group was challenged to grab a backpack and add items, such as personal toiletries, books, and socks, to the backpack each month with the goal of delivering their filled backpacks to Family Advocates this April.
“We wanted to reach out to those in need while also maintaining responsible social distancing practices,” said Glafke. “Individually filling backpacks with items for these children was the perfect solution. As a former child in the foster care system, it warms my heart to see SNA taking a huge interest in ensuring we provide as many children as possible with the opportunity to feel loved and cared for.”
Individuals interested in contributing to SNA’s backpack project can drop off filled backpacks to the CWI Professional Nursing department located at the Canyon County Center or to Family Advocates directly. Contact Lizzie Glafke at lizzieglafke@my.cwi.edu to learn more or with questions.
Local Veterans Chapter Gives to Help Students
Jim Curtis and Richard Cordero, representatives from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 2 in Boise, met with College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation Board President, Ivan Castillo, in January to present the Foundation with a $1,600 donation for student scholarships.
The DAV Chapter 2 Boise scholarship fund, created for CWI students who are American veterans or are an immediate family member of an American veteran, awards a $1,000 scholarship to one student each academic year. While the fund was established in 2018 by Chapter 2, all Idaho chapters can contribute.
“DAV Chapter 2 donates to CWI in order to give disabled veterans and their dependents an opportunity to start or continue their education and help them achieve their goals,” said Commander Curtis.
The CWI Foundation scholarships application period is now open for the 2021-2022 academic year. Students interested in applying for scholarships must have the CWI admission application completed, be accepted, and have myCWI login information. The application closes March 31, 2021.
Visit the Grants and Scholarships page to learn more or apply.
Visiting Artist Series Welcomes Boise Baroque Orchestra
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Artist Series is proud to welcome the Boise Baroque Orchestra, for a series of virtual concerts, March 1-4, followed with a Q & A with Artistic Director, Robert Franz, March 5.
Boise Baroque Orchestra Virtual Concert Series
Grab a snack and settle down in the comfort of your own home to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Boise Baroque Orchestra as they host three, virtual concerts. Concerts, featuring music from the 17th and 18th centuries, can be viewed on demand March 1 – 4. Concerts are free, will be approximately 35-40 minutes in length, and are suitable for all ages.
Concert 1: Mannheim Effect
The Boise Baroque Orchestra performs music inspired by the famed Mannheim Orchestra. Watch for an explanation of the infamous "Mannheim Rocket”. This concert will feature Johann Stamitz’s Symphony in E-flat Major op. 11, no. 3 and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony in D Major, KV 320.
Watch Concert 1: Mannheim Effect
Concert 2: Vivaldi’s Italy
The Boise Baroque Orchestra visits St. Mark's Square in Venice with music of Gabrieli and Vivaldi.
Watch Concert 2: Vivaldi's Italy
Concert 3: Hijacked Pergolesi
How did these pieces become wrongly attributed to Pergolesi until 1980? Watch to find out more about the lesser-known Dutch composer, Wilhelm van Wassenaer, and how his music was high jacked by history.
Watch Concert 3: Hijacked Pergolesi
Q & A Session
Join Boise Baroque Orchestra's Artistic Director, Robert Franz, and CWI music faculty, Sveltlana Maddox, Friday, March 5, from Noon – 1 p.m., via Zoom, as they answer questions and discuss various aspects about the concert performances. The Q & A session will be sign interpreted in American Sign Language.
Zoom Link: Q & A with Robert Franz and Sveltlana Maddox
Passcode: 025273
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.
2021 Performance Evaluations
Human Resources (HR) is excited to announce employee performance evaluations will now be completed through the College’s PageUp platform. Performance evaluations, required of all full-time and part-time benefited employees and faculty, are completed on an annual basis and will open Monday, March 1, 2021.
Please refer to the email sent Friday, Feb. 26, from hr@cwi.edu which provides instructions along with a short tutorial on the evaluation process in this new system.
Contact HR at hr@cwi.edu with any questions or if you experience any difficulties with the new process.
2020 Safety and Security Annual Report
A revised version of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) 2020 Safety and Security Annual Report has been uploaded to the Campus and Security Reports page on myCWI. In this revised version, the Micron Education Center, previously listed as a separate campus, is now incorporated into the Nampa Campus along with crime statistics. All else remains unchanged from the previous version.
As a reminder, this report is published annually to ensure compliance with Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crimes Act, commonly referred to as the Clery Act.
Contact Campus Security at 208.562.3333 or security@cwi.edu with questions about the report or to request a printed copy.
