Bert's Alerts - June 2, 2017
Spotlight
Seven talented students, chosen through a competitive application process, participated in an exciting undergraduate research opportunity through INBRE (IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence). CWI is one of ten institutions in the state to partner with INBRE and offer this unique learning experience. Students were responsible for every step of the process from designing the research strategy to the presentation of their findings. Under the guidance of Suzanne Oppenheimer, Assistant Professor in the Biology Department, the INBRE Scholars spent their summer break studying the effects of water contamination on crayfish.
They look forward to sharing their results during the 2017 Idaho INBRE Summer Research Conference July 31 through August 2 in Moscow, Idaho.
News Highlights
2017 CWI Listening Tour Concludes
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Board of Trustees and Administration visited eight communities to gather input on the future direction of the College.
CWI Board of Trustees and Administration concluded the first Listening Tour with the final event at Kuna High School on June 1. During the three week, eight-session tour, trustees engaged with constituents in Boise, Nampa, Parma, Middleton, Caldwell, Eagle, Meridian, and Kuna.
Members of the community asked questions ranging from programs to partnerships and shared suggestions on locations, funding, future direction, and more.
The Trustees and Administration will now review all of the input collected, and use it to help set a path for the future.
Recordings of the events are available on CWI’s YouTube channel.
The community is encouraged to stay engaged as the College continues to evolve serve the communities in Ada and Canyon counties.
How to stay engaged:
- Attend CWI Board of Trustee meetings – Meeting Schedule
- Share ideas and questions to listeningtour@cwi.edu
- Like CWI on Facebook
- Follow CWI on Twitter
May Faculty of Distinction — Dusty Perkins
Dusty Perkins was selected as the Faculty of Distinction for May. He has been teaching biology and ecology at College of Western Idaho (CWI) since 2009, and loves the opportunities it has given him to work alongside a diversity of amazing students, staff, and faculty. Perkins coordinates research and internship activities for CWI’s NSF-supported undergraduate research program. He also mentors several undergraduate research students on projects at CWI that focus on conservation biology and organismal habitat suitability. This work seeks to understand how anthropogenic landscape alterations affect biological communities and ecosystem services. Perkins hopes his actions and work inspire others to embrace the value of life and to protect the diversity of nature that supports all life on earth.
Perkins was nominated by a colleague who appreciates the time, effort, and caring that he puts into mentoring students involved in undergraduate research. His nominator talked to each of the students that worked under him during the summer, and they all said they have found new avenues for interest and success under Perkins’ mentorship.
On a personal level, he is fascinated with nature and loves to connect it to life through gardening, hiking, rock climbing, and being outside with his family and friends. Please congratulate Perkins for being selected as the May Faculty of Distinction.
Employee Step Up Challenge begins June 12!
The Culture and Employee Engagement Committee (CEEC) would like to announce its second annual Step Up Challenge! Beginning June 12, 2017 all employees are invited to challenge themselves and their co-workers to get as many steps as possible in the month of June. At the end of the month prizes will be awarded to the highest steppers at each building. All you need is a step counter and a tracking log! Be on the lookout for further instructions next week. Are you ready to Step Up to the challenge? Contact ceec@cwi.edu with questions.
