Bert's Alerts - February 19, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to introduce a new video blog series, Science is a Verb. The series showcases CWI faculty sharing some of their favorite experiments, as well as tips and tricks for bringing science to life. The first episode was recently released, which features Doug Rapley exploring buoyancy of household objects.
News Highlights
CWI Students Participate in Refugee Panel Discussion
College of Western Idaho (CWI) students Ahmad Awabed and Ali Kathem enjoyed a unique opportunity recently, participating on a Refugee Discussion Panel at the Idaho Association of Bilingual Educator's Conference. The panel, which was led by CWI instructors Belma Sadikovic and Jenica Draney, was designed to promote discussion about how educators can better integrate refugee students into their classrooms across the state. Draney says Awabed and Kathem did a fantastic job in their participation and were loved by the large audience in attendance. They clearly articulated complex ideas, emotions, problems, and solutions related to refugee resettlement and higher education.
For more information, read the event recap on the Boise State University website.
Help Fundraise for Healthcare Career and Technology Conference
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Admissions, along with various community partners, is looking for fundraising support to present the third annual Hispanic Healthcare Careers Conference + Technology event for local Hispanic high school students on April 2. The conference will bring together healthcare professionals to speak about various health-related careers. The conference committee is currently selling $1 raffle tickets to raise funds to help cover the cost of the event. The grand prize is a 40-inch flat screen television. Please contact Luis Caloca at 208.562.3396 with questions or to purchase raffle tickets.
CWI Approves Commercial Solicitation Policy
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) has approved the following new policy – BP4660 Commercial Solicitation Policy. The new policy establishes the parameters for all groups and individuals who wish to engage in commercial solicitation and advertising on CWI’s campus. It does not apply to College sponsored activities or events which bring outside organizations to CWI’s campus by invitation of the College. Employees are encouraged to review the entire policy and guidelines.
Idaho Consortium for Physical Therapist Assistant Education Receives Probationary Accreditation Status
The Idaho Consortium for Physical Therapist Assistant Education [a collaboration between four Idaho institutions: College of Southern Idaho, College of Western Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, and North Idaho College (NIC) ], received verbal notification recently that it has received probationary accreditation status.
With funding from a Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) grant, the consortium received candidate status through its accrediting body the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in 2013. This is the only consortium of its kind in the nation where lab instruction is delivered at each institution. Accreditation was withheld in November 2015, based in part on the unique structure of the consortium and multiple instructional labs. Elevation from withheld accreditation status to probationary status means that the consortium’s first cohort of students, which completed in December 2015, will be able to sit for their licensure examinations in April of this year. A complete report from CAPTE on the accreditation review is due within the next few weeks.
“Achieving probationary accreditation status is huge step for our consortium and our students,” said NIC Health Professions Division Chair Rand Edwards, who is also the interim director of the Idaho Consortium for Physical Therapist Assistant Education. “After the review, the team of commissioners were very complimentary of our students. We were told to expect a formal commendation on the report for our administrative collaborative efforts.”
College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls) http://hshs.csi.edu/physical_therapist_assistant/
College of Western Idaho (Nampa) /academics/physical-therapist-assistant
Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston) http://www.lcsc.edu/career-technical-education/physical-therapist-assistant-program/ North Idaho College (Coeur d’Alene)
http://www.nic.edu/programs/viewprogram.aspx?landing=118
Basalt Literary Magazine Submissions Due March 11
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) student run literary magazine Basalt is accepting submissions for the publication of its fourth issue this Spring. CWI students are welcome to submit their fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art to Basalt until March 11.
Entries can be submitted at cwibasalt.com. All submissions will be considered for publication. First-place winners for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry will be awarded a prize, as well as place winning mention in the Spring 2016 issue.
Issues of Basalt can be purchased at the CWI bookstore and Rediscovered Books.
Topics and Schedule Announced for Business Office 101
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Business Office is happy to introduce the topics for its new Business Office 101 sessions, which will replace Deep Dive Training. Rather than providing only two trainings semi-annually on a wide range of topics, they will now offer six or more different classes on a reoccurring basis throughout the academic year. This will allow all faculty and staff to choose which classes they would like to attend. These trainings will help employees learn new policies and procedures as well as provide a refresher on need-to-know topics.
Each month during the academic year, the Business Office will offer three classes at rotating locations based on the attached schedule. Each class will last an hour and will provide more hands on training with the ability to venture into specific topics of the audience’s choice. In addition, special sessions can be scheduled by request.
Classes will be held at the following times and locations in February:
- Accounts Payable – Feb. 17, 2:30-3:30 p.m., Nampa Campus Academic Building RM 102E
- Fixed Assets – Feb. 17, 3:45-4:45 p.m., Nampa Campus Academic Building RM 102E
- Accounting – Feb. 24, 2:15-3:15 p.m., Micron Center for Professional Technical Education RM 1201
The following information will be covered in each class:
Accounts Payable
Presenter: Renee Watson
Topics: Purchasing Procedure, Accounts Payable FAQ’s, Purchase Orders vs. Blanket Purchase Orders, Prior Approvals for Travel, Prior Approvals for Meals, Payment Request Form, Local Mileage, Out-of-Town Travel Form, Fuel Pin Request, Interdepartmental Charges, and Per Diem.
Fixed Assets
Presenter: Shari Davis
Topics: What is a Fixed Asset, Acquisition of a Fixed Asset, Inventory and tracking, and Disposals of Fixed Assets.
Accounting
Presenter: Brian D. Smith
Topics: General Ledger Structure, Chart of Accounts, Project Accounting, Accruals and Prepaids, myCWI, Gift/Prize/Award Form, Funds Transfer Form, Donations, Unrelated Business Income Tax, Invoicing, Cash Handling, and Financial Statement Review.
The Business Office is very excited to offer this new opportunity and hopes that employees will utilize it to grow professionally. Please email BusinessOffice@cwi.edu with any questions.
Science Pair Celebrated as Faculty of the Month
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to recognize Jessie Marquardt and Marianne Nelson as CWI’s Faculty of Distinction for January and February. The pair is being honored in part for their dedicated work in the new Anatomy and Physiology Flex Lab. They were nominated for the College’s Core Values of “Leaving a Legacy of Learning” and “Innovating for the 21st Century”. The nomination said:
“The development of the flex lab is highly innovative and brings together technology, hybrid instruction, and flexible scheduling. It is the biggest change the Life Sciences department has made in helping the 21st Century student. Every time it is discussed with our regional partners, they are highly impressed and want to hear more about what we have done. This work will live on with CWI and likely be integrated into our regional partners programs as well. They have made a tremendous impact in life science teaching. As far as I am aware, no one has ever tried to do something like this on the scale that they have. So far, it has been extremely positive.”
On a personal note, Marquardt is an incurable bibliophile and an unrepentant sci-fi geek. Most of her time is spent chasing after her two daughters. She loves being crafty and thinks almost anywhere looks better from the back of a horse.
Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Nelson moved to Idaho in 2007 for the outdoor activities and cycling-friendly weather. Her background is fitness related: teaching, coaching, training, and massage therapy. Having the opportunity to create anatomy and physiology lessons that engage and excite students is her dream job.
Please join in congratulating Jessie and Marianne on this tremendous recognition.
Help Recognize Outstanding Faculty
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Faculty Recognition Committee would like to remind employees that it is continuously accepting nominations for the monthly Faculty of Distinction award. Faculty, staff, students, and administrators are encouraged to nominate a faculty member that they feel is doing an outstanding job of meeting one or more of CWI’s Core Values:
- Acting With Integrity
- Serving All in an Atmosphere of Caring
- Sustaining our Quality of Life for Future Generations
- Respecting the Dignity of Opinions
- Innovating for the 21st Century
- Leaving a Legacy of Learning
Please submit nominations through the You Rock form. Please note, every field in the You Rock form does not need to be completed as nominees aren’t expected to necessarily meet every Core Value. Meeting one Core Value very well is sufficient.
