Bert's Alerts - March 7, 2014
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) welcomed the Idaho Technical Students Association to campus this week (March 6-8) for its Spring Leadership Conference. Hundreds of guests visited the Micron Center for Professional Technical Education for the event. TSA strives to take the study of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics beyond the classroom and give students the chance to pursue academic challenges, technology based career development events, and leadership opportunities.
News Highlights
Opportunities for Input on Nampa Campus Master Plan
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is seeking input on its Nampa Campus Master Plan update and will be holding a series of public workshops with CTA Architects and SRG Partnerships beginning this month. CWI is currently undertaking a comprehensive master planning effort to help prepare for future growth of Nampa Campus. The workshops are intended to help gather input on ways to enhance the campus experience, better serve needs, strengthen connections, and align the College’s future. Employees, students, and the community are welcome to attend these sessions, see what the architects are working on, and share thoughts and ideas.
CTA Architects and SRG Partnerships, who were selected to complete Phase II of the CWI Nampa Campus Master Plan, will be hosting workshops for CWI students and employees, as well as community members:
Wednesday, March 19
CWI Students, Faculty, Staff, and Administration
9-11 a.m.
Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building, Lobby
CWI Students, Faculty, Staff, and Administration
Noon-2 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Second Floor Common Area
Thursday, March 20
Students, Faculty, Staff, and Administration
9-11 a.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Second Floor Common Area
Community Members
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Micron Center for Professional Technical Education, RM1701 A/B
Throughout the planning process CTA Architects and SRG Partnerships will also be meeting with business partners, education partners, and CWI’s Steering Committee. Meetings will continue throughout April and May and a presentation of the updated master plan is currently scheduled to take place in June.
Idaho Division of Public Works is coordinating and administering all aspects of the project. Last fall, the State Permanent Building fund approved CWI’s request for funds to further work on the current master plan to address new priorities and reflect the growth and changes surrounding Nampa Campus.
College of Western Idaho Students Fundraise for Childhood Cancer Research
2014 CWI St. Baldrick's Fundraiser
For the fourth-consecutive year the Associated Students of the College of Western Idaho (ASCWI) will host St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraising events in which volunteers will shave their head to help raise money for childhood cancer research.
The fundraiser will take place at three College of Western Idaho (CWI) campus locations:
March 12, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Nampa Campus Academic Building
March 13, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ada County Center
March 19, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., Nampa Campus Micron Center for Professional Technical Education
CWI students and employees have helped raise over $9,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to date. In 2013, the ASCWI event collected $4,600 for childhood cancer research. Currently, there are nearly 60 students, staff, and faculty set to shave their heads for the cause this year. For information on forming a team, signing up to participate, or donating visit www.stbaldricks.org/events/mypage/6189/2014.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer-driven charity that raises funds for childhood cancer research, and helps ensure survivors enjoy long and healthy lives. For more information about the Foundation visit www.stbaldricks.org/.
Skills On Wheels Car Show Returns to CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) SkillsUSA will be hosting the second-annual Skills On Wheels Car Show, April 5, to fundraise for students to travel to the organization’s national competition this summer. The car show, which will be held at the CWI Micron Center for Professional Technical Education in Nampa, features modified, import, muscle, and stock cars, trucks, eighteen wheelers, and motorcycles.
Admission to the event is $5 for adults and free for kids 12 and under. All proceeds from the event go to CWI SkillsUSA.
To register a vehicle, become a sponsor, or reserve a booth space visit www.cwiintc.net. Please contact Alex Beal at alexbeal@cwi.edu or Michael Tamas at michaeltamas@my.cwi.edu with questions.
What if? Campaign Ramps Up
The College of Western Idaho What if? marketing campaign returns this spring and will continue through the summer to help grow fall enrollment and raise general community awareness of CWI’s programs. The campaign will revolve around a number of familiar messages and mediums, but will also contain some fun new initiatives.
Elements of the campaign will include billboards, radio, television, online ads, print ads, events, direct mail, street teams, contests, and social media efforts. New to the campaign this year is a Debunking Community College Myths video project as well as movie theater advertising. Visit Communications & Marketing>Current Marketing>Advertising on myCWI for more information on the timeline of activities, creative files, and messaging that will be occurring.
Employees are also encouraged to support CWI’s marketing campaign efforts by including one of the What if? messages in their email signature.
CWI Sets the Record Straight on Community Colleges
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Marketing and Advancement Department has launched a fun new video project for the 2014 What if marketing campaign and is inviting employees and students to participate and help spread the word. The new video project will aim to “Debunk Community College Myths” through interviews and organic video methods. As part of the project, a video team will be at the Nampa Campus Academic Building recording responses to 10 myths about community colleges. The shoot schedule will be:
Friday, March 7
8 a.m. to Noon
Tuesday, March 11
Starting at 2 p.m.
The concept is based on allowing students and faculty to share their first-hand account of what a community college is really like. Students are also assisting by capturing footage using cell phones and GoPro cameras. Anyone interested in helping dispel the myths are encouraged to stop by and participate.
IT Programs Announce Competitive Entry Process
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Information Technology programs have announced they are transitioning to a Competitive Entry Application for the Fall 2014 semester. Computer Support Specialist, Cisco Networking and Security Technologies, Information Security and Digital forensics, Network Administration, and Web Development will begin accepting applications through the new process March 15. In preparation for the change to Competitive Entry Applications, information sessions are being held throughout March that will highlight the concentrations of each program, degrees, and career opportunities.
More information on the new competitive entry process, information session details, and applications can be found on each of the IT program web pages.
Employee Email Upgrade Coming
As part of the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Information Technology Department’s continuing effort to improve email services, CWI is moving to new servers that will provide more email storage, better performance, and quick recovery in the event of any data loss.
Over the next four weeks IT will be migrating all staff and faculty email mailboxes. An email will be sent to employees explaining when their mailbox is scheduled to be moved and an additional follow up email sent once their mailbox has been moved. There is nothing that needs to be done or change as everything will happen in the background at the system level.
Workforce Development Launches Newsletter
In March, Workforce Development at College of Western Idaho (CWI) is launching a new monthly newsletter titled, Workforce Times. Workforce Times will provide up-to-date information related to short term career focused training, including new and upcoming classes, local community impacts, and quick links to more information.
Interested in signing up for the newsletter? Visit cwi.edu/wd and click the signup for the Newsletter link.
Graduation Fee Waiver Clarification
The Feb. 28 issue of Bert’s Alerts included a notice about the College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) 2014-15 tuition and fees proposal being approved by the CWI Board of Trustees. Part of the approval included waiving the $30 graduation application fee. For clarification, students who have already applied for graduation for the 2014 spring semester or beyond will receive a credit of the $30 graduation application fee to their student account from CWI. If there are no outstanding charges on the student account, a refund will be issued. Please direct any questions to One Stop Student Services at 208.562.3000.
March Faculty of Distinction Goes to O'Hanahan
Patrick O’Hanahan has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for March.
O’Hanahan has been an instructor in the Business and Information Technology Network Administration program since 2009. He has earned numerous industry certifications, and brings over 32 years of IT industry experience and 14 years of community college teaching experience into the classroom. O’Hanahan is a dedicated and collaborative faculty member who consistently develops new classes and implements new labs and outcomes to meet the needs of the industry. He regularly reviews industry requirements for employment and adjusts material presented to students accordingly.
O’Hanahan is involved in many capacities at the College. He recently participated in the spring 2014 All-Faculty In-service by co-presenting a workshop entitled “My student just did WHAT!!?” with Amy Sharp. He serves on the CWI Student Conduct Board that meets weekly and has been tasked with creating a Student Conduct Philosophy statement, a comprehensive Student Conduct Manual for CWI, and training materials for CWI faculty. Pat also serves on Faculty Senate as a representative for the Professional Technical Education Business and IT department.
Other service includes maintaining the independent computer network and department computer server room for the IT programs. He also assists in classroom setup, mentoring new faculty, and troubleshooting IT related issues. He recently served on the State Division of Professional Technical Education alignment committee that is working to align high school curriculum with entry-level college courses. His primary task was to develop the statewide Networking exam required of high school students for entry into a college-level program.
Please join in congratulation Pat for this distinction. Thank you for all that you do.
CWIrish Day Returns
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is turning green on March 17 as the CWI Fun and Culture Committee presents the second-annual CWIrish Day. Employees are encouraged to join in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by dressing up and showing off their CWIrish spirit. Prizes will be awarded to the most spirited participants. To enter, employees simply need to email a picture of their CWIrish spirit, including their name and location, to fcc@cwi.edu by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 17. Winners will be announced in Bert’s Alerts on March 21.
CWI Employee Appreciation Day
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Rewards and Recognition Committee would like to thank everyone who participated in CWI's Employee Appreciation Day, Friday (March 7), and made it such a success. The event had great support and turnout from employees across the College who came together for cupcakes and laughs. Thank you to all CWI employees for everything you do!
