Bert's Alerts - March 4, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is continuing its efforts to help make higher education more accessible by waiving the College’s $25 application fee, March 7-14. CWI has hosted its Free Application Week initiative since 2012 in an effort to encourage future students to take the first step in starting college. In addition to waiving the application fee, CWI will also be hosting a FAFSA Completion Night event on Thursday, March 10, to help future students complete their federal financial aid application. For more details view the full announcement.
News Highlights
CWI Joins iExploreSTEM Event
On Saturday, Feb. 27, College of Western Idaho (CWI) helped promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education in Valley County by participating in the West Central Mountain iExploreSTEM event in McCall. Approximately 150 visitors attended the inaugural all-ages event, which was sponsored by Umpqua Bank and Valley County 4-H. CWI Education Faculty Molly Wolk, who represented the College’s Education Department, IDoTeach Program, and Life Science Department, provided one of many wonderful demonstrations.
Wolk showcased a demonstration entitled "Edible Epithelial Tissue." In her demonstration, participants were invited to view mammalian epithelial slides under a microscope, explore an integument model that highlighted first and second degree burns, and create 3-D candy models of the eight types of epithelial tissue. Many visitors to the table were curious not only about histology and the edible models, but also about CWI as an institution. Wolk says the iExploreSTEM venue allowed for wonderful dialogue about not only the importance of STEM but also about the value of the community college experience.
CWI was joined at the event by: Boise State University, Brundage Mountain, Epikos Land Planning and Architecture, Epoch Land Surveying, HP, Idaho Power, McCall Fire Department, McCall Outdoor Science School (MOSS), Micron Foundation, Midas Gold, Nez Perce Fisheries, Northwest Nazarene University, Payette Avalanche Center, Ponderosa State Park, Rich Stowell Aviation, Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Valley Country Astronomical Society.
CWI Political Science Department Co-Hosts Valuable Event
On Feb. 22, the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Political Science Department partnered with Boise State University’s Political Science Department and Political Science Club to host a valuable event for students. The collaboration brought together elected officials to discuss their careers as public servants and answer student questions about politics and the responsibilities of elected office. The event, which was themed “A Career in Public Service”, featured State Senator Fred Martin, State Representative Phyllis King, and CWI Trustee Emily Walton.
Jeff Reed, department chair of CWI’s Culture, History, and Politics Department, said the event was a huge success. Approximately 40 students and faculty attended, including the Assistant Dean of the Public Affairs School at Boise State and a couple of Boise State students. Thank you to everyone who participated and helped present this opportunity for CWI students.
CWI Dual Credit to Host Meet the College Event
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Dual Credit office will host its second annual Meet the College Night on March 17 from 5-8 p.m. The event will be hosted at CWI’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education and is open to both prospective dual credit students as well as current dual credit students and their families. The CWI Dual Credit team will be on hand to answer questions and meet with students. A light meal will be provided.
At the event, prospective dual credit students and their families will learn about the program, meet faculty from various departments, learn about campus resources such as Student Life and the library, and visit with clubs and organizations to see how they can become involved on campus.
Current dual credit students can complete their FAFSA, apply to CWI, and meet with college representatives from around the state to get their admission questions answered.
Declare Your Major Week is March 14-18
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Advising and New Student services is excited to present Declare Your Major Week, March 14-18. Declare Your Major Week is intended to help students who are still uncertain about their major and/or career.
At Declare Your Major Week students will be able to:
- Answer the question: “What can I do with this major?”
- Make sure the major they have declared is right for them.
- Make an appointment to meet with a professional Advisor.
- Mingle with professors and students from different majors.
- And WIN PRIZES!
On average, college students change their major three times during their college careers. Knowing a direction or pathway to success is very important to save time and money, but another great way to do that is to declare you major early. That is why Advising and New Student Services is hosting Declare Your Major Week. See you there.
CWI Partners to Host Stewards of Children Event
College of Western Idaho (CWI) has partnered with Idaho Children’s Trust Fund and St. Alphonsus to present a training titled Stewards of Children. The training is a two-hour, evidence-informed program that teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse.
CWI employees, students, and interested community members are invited to attend the training:
Tuesday, March 29
1-3 p.m. OR 7-9 p.m.
Ada County Campus Quail Court Building, Room 2204
The training program is nationally available in both English and Spanish. It is designed for parents, professionals, organizations serving youth, and other concerned individuals. It focuses on adult education because ultimately, it is adults’ responsibility to keep children safe.
To register for the training held at CWI, please call 208.562.2705 or email tammydavid@cwi.edu. For more details view the training flyer.
Training Announced for Supervisors
College of Western Idaho (CWI) President Bert Glandon announced in November that CWI is adapting its performance management process to promote a high performance culture. The College is moving toward this goal by changing to a differentiated pay process that acknowledges and rewards individuals for their capabilities and contributions. Supervisors will be provided guidelines and a budget, and will have accountability for making the decisions for their employees’ increases, while applying discretion based on individual’s capabilities and contributions. It is now time to begin training supervisors on how to administer differentiated pay should the College fund increase this year. View the training schedule.
Douglas Honored with March Faculty of Distinction
Mike Douglas has been selected as College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for March. He is the chair of the Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology Program (formerly Electronics Technology). He worked as an electronics tech for many years before he began teaching at Boise State University in 1995. While at Boise State, Douglas had the opportunity to volunteer for the football team maintaining their communication equipment. His last game was the team's first Fiesta Bowl win, and he had the incredible experience of being on the sidelines for the game.
Douglas' contributions to CWI have been extensive. His classes are exciting for students and he has ensured that his program constantly evolves to keep up with the demands of the electronics industry. He spends a lot of additional time putting together courses for CWI's Workforce Development division and working with industry contacts both to assemble a grant proposal and to ensure that his classes are relevant for students and beneficial to the current workforce. Douglas recently visited and toured a local company that was having trouble finding qualified technicians to learn their needs, then invited representatives from the company to visit with his class about what they were looking for in technicians. Following the visit, one of the CWI electronics students was hired by the company.
Douglas says: “I have really bought in to what CWI can do for our community and our program has many successful graduate stories to prove it. It makes us all in the program proud.”
Phone Scam Targeting CWI
Microsoft Support phone call scams have been targeting CWI numbers recently. These start with the caller stating that they are with Microsoft Support or Window Service Center, and that they have detected that there is something wrong with your PC. This is NOT the case. Microsoft does not make these kinds of calls, nor do they have business partners who do this.
If you stay on the line, the caller will ask you to load TeamViewer or other software allowing them to control your computer. Once the software is loaded, they will lock your computer and ask you for money to regain access. If you don’t comply, they will likely threaten you, and finally delete all files on your computer.
If you receive a call like this, please just tell them, “No thank you”, and hang up.
Upgrade U.O Launches Second Year
Upgrade U.0 [you-point-oh!], the college-wide marketing campaign, is set to launch into its second year! After receiving valuable feedback from target audiences; tweaks have been made, a refresh of the creative elements has been applied, and the recruitment campaign is on its way! Upgrade U.0 focuses on connecting people to life upgrades achievable through higher education. Upgrade U.0 plays off the constant technology upgrades promoted to people every day. Who doesn’t want “the latest-and-greatest?” From new technology to better equipment and faster processes, it seems the focus is always on what’s next; but despite a desire for constant upgrades of the material gadgets in our lives, we often neglect the personal knowledge upgrades we need to stay sharp and marketable. CWI’s Upgrade U.0 campaign, uses familiar technology lingo as a way to communicate the benefits of college.
Once all production of the various media is finalized, files will be loaded onto myCWI under the Communications and Marketing tab, Current Marketing.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the Upgrade U.0 campaign, visit www.collegeofU.com or feel free to contact Marketing and Advancement at x23100.
