Bert's Alerts - February 3, 2017
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will be showcased for the state’s elected leaders, Monday (Feb. 6), as the College participates in the first ever CWI Day at the Capitol. The event will display CWI programs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the fourth floor rotunda of the Capitol building. Faculty and students will be on-hand to mingle with legislators and share about CWI’s impact as Idaho’s largest public higher education institution. The day will include a proclamation by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter at 9:30 a.m.
News Highlights
Organizational Update from President Glandon
Since the beginning, change has been a constant dynamic at College of Western Idaho (CWI). As we look forward to the next chapter of the college, I want to communicate to you some additional changes which have or will begin to occur, some immediately while others will be more transitional over the next several months.
Office of Finance and Administration
- Cheryl Wright- Vice President Finance and Administration has announced her retirement which will be effective as of June 30, 2017. I know for me, it is hard to separate Cheryl and the College as she has served as one of the original founding leaders. Her contributions are many, and we simply will always owe Cheryl more than we can repay when it comes to setting CWI on a track of success. A search for a new Vice President, Finance and Administration including a job posting will occur as soon as possible. Cheryl is committed to help us in the same dedicated way she always has with the transition of some of her current responsibilities as well as the process of her replacement.
Office of College Operations
- Craig Brown- Vice President Operations. With the number of changes noted above and focus of the Strategic Plan, we are realigning Craig’s previous role as Vice President, Resource Development to Vice President of Operations. In this role, Craig will continue to oversee Real Estate and Campus Planning, Facilities Planning and Management, Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness, and the CWI Foundation. Additionally, he will assume responsibilities and oversight for Information Technology, Risk Management, Legal, and Auxiliaries.
Office of Instruction and Student Services
- Patrick Tanner- Assistant Vice President, Student Services- we are pleased to welcome Patrick who joined CWI on Jan. 26. Patrick is reporting directly to David Shellberg- Executive Vice President, Instruction and Student Services. In addition to Patrick taking his leadership role with Student Services, a job posting for a Dean, Enrollment and Student Services position will be shared as soon as possible. This position will report to Patrick.
- Instructional Alignment has been identified as one of our “Strategic Initiatives” to address opportunities realized through our new Comprehensive Strategic Plan and the Accreditation process. Accordingly, I am pleased to announce the following changes which will achieve a more integrated and aligned instructional area of the college.
- Brenda Pettinger- Assistant Vice President, Academic Affairs and Career and Technical Education. In addition to her current responsibilities for Academic Affairs, Brenda has assumed oversight for the College’s Career and Technical Education Division. Brenda will continue to report directly to David Shellberg.
- Christi Rood- Assistant Vice President, Economic Development. I am pleased to announce that Christi Rood has been promoted from her previous role as Executive Director, Workforce Development to a new role that will be aligned within Instruction, reporting directly to David Shellberg. Christi will continue to have oversight for the college’s Workforce Development Division as well as new and expanded responsibilities focused on representing and promoting the college’s critical role in supporting economic development.
Office of Communications and Governmental Affairs
- Audrey Eldridge – Director, Marketing and Communications. Audrey has been promoted to Director, Marketing and Communications. In this position, Audrey assumes responsibility and oversight of the Marketing and Communications Division and will report directly to Mark Browning, Vice President, Communications and Governmental Affairs.
I want to thank you in advance for your support of these additions and changes. I’m confident our students and each other will be better served as a result.
Yours Truly,
Bert Glandon
Scholarships Application Open for 2017-18 School Year
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) online scholarships application opened Feb. 1 for the 2017-18 academic year. There are currently over 30 scholarship opportunities available to students in CWI’s academic and career-technical programs. Current CWI students and future students who have finished the admission process are eligible to apply.
CWI’s online scholarships application is now easier than ever. Once applicants submit the General Application, the Associate Degree or Career and Technical Degree/Certificate application consists of only three questions that are used to match a student to all scholarships they are eligible for. Most scholarships have a component of demonstrated need that determines scholarship recipients. Students should also make sure the FAFSA is completed so they do not miss out on being considered for all awards.
The application closes April 30. Visit cwi.edu/scholarships for more information.
Idaho Shakespeare Festival Returns to CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to welcome Idaho Shakespeare Festival to campus, Feb. 16, for a free performance and workshop as part of CWI’s Visiting Artist Series. Actors with the Festival will visit the College to perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream with an acting workshop to follow. Both events, which are open to the public, will take place at CWI’s Nampa Campus Academic Building. The performance is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the workshop starting at 8 p.m.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of the most popular plays in the world. The comedy is suitable for all ages.
This performance is made possible thanks to a grant from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, which is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Please contact Brenda Fisher at brendafisher@cwi.edu for questions and more information.
Submissions Open for CWI Connections Project
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will celebrate culture, collaboration, and inspiring and educational work this spring with its second annual CWI Connections Project event. CWI students and faculty, as well as community members, are invited to showcase their work and accomplishments at the event. Submissions may include (but are not limited to) class projects, music, art, research, and service learning.
Submissions are currently being accepted for a variety of categories. All accepted proposals will be showcased at the Connections Project event in April. Student submissions are eligible for awards, including a $200 grand prize.
Submission deadlines vary by category:
CWI Faculty – Feb. 10
Community – Feb. 10
CWI Students – March 24
High School Students – March 24
Details on requirements and how to submit work can be found at cwi.edu/connections-project.
This year’s CWI Connections Project event is open to the public and will be held Thursday, April 27, from 3 to 8 p.m. at the College’s Nampa Campus Academic Building. Please email connections@cwi.edu with questions.
President’s Writing Awards Accepting Submissions
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) President, Bert Glandon, invites all students to submit their writing to CWI’s annual President’s Writing Awards contest. Winners, who will be announced at the Connections Project event, are eligible for a cash prize and a chance to be published on the College’s website. The contest is open to a variety of writing categories:
• Creative Nonfiction
• Poetry
• Fiction
• Critical Analysis
• Research Based
Applicants must be a CWI student and the writing must have been done for coursework at CWI. The deadline is Feb. 24. To access the submission link and guidelines, visit /current-students/presidents-writing-awards.
Ascuena Awarded Faculty Honor
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Faculty Recognition Committee has selected Andrea Ascuena as CWI’s January Faculty of Distinction.
Ascuena is an associate professor of English and was one of the original faculty at CWI’s opening in January 2009. She currently teaches English composition and humanities courses. Ascuena is an Idaho native and received her Bachelor of Arts in English—Creative Writing, and Master of Arts in Rhetoric and Composition from Boise State University.
She was nominated by a colleague who appreciates the incredible amount of work that Ascuena has done in leading development of policy that positively impacts faculty and her commitment to service within the college. Her nomination said, in part:
“As just one example of Andrea’s amazing level of commitment to serving her colleagues, she scheduled a two hour meeting during the Fall 2016 finals week to help coworkers that were up for promotion in completing their FPARs. I’m sure she had many other pressing things that she needed to attend to, considering the timing of the meeting, but she stepped forward to help others. When the FPAR meeting had to be cancelled due to weather, she offered to individually help each faculty member through email or phone during the winter break.”
Please join in congratulating Andrea. Thank you for your long-standing commitment to CWI and its students.
