Bert's Alerts—May 8, 2020
News Highlights
Making the Move
Tehani Schnupp, a first-year Marketing Communications and Media Arts student at CWI, also wears the titles of wife and mother. Most days for her are full of what she refers to as “organized chaos”, especially these last two months as she has been working hard to finish up the semester in the midst of a pandemic.
“My husband and I have five kids ranging in age from sixteen to five years old,” Schnupp explained. “Our kids attend four different schools including high school, middle school, elementary, and preschool, and of course, all our kids are in sports or music lessons year-round. Needless to say, there are always dishes in my sink, and the laundry is never done.”
While her decision to go back to school was scary and intimidating, Schnupp wanted to find a career that would allow her to earn a livable income while working remotely in order to spend more time with her kids.
“The greatest challenge on my educational journey has been finding balance between my family life and my full-time student life which has demanded a level of organization I did not have prior. This challenge has forced me to find creative, problem-solving solutions. I try not to forget to stop and laugh from time to time – like the time I was studying for finals while cooking French toast for my kids and grabbed what I thought was cinnamon but actually cayenne pepper. I am now barred from cooking during finals week. It may take years for them to trust me to make them French toast again!”
As a student at CWI, Schnupp has had many memorable and enriching experiences including sharing her story as part of the Mom’s Next Move promotional campaign with 107.9 Lite FM, interviewing Shannon Decker from The Speedy Foundation to promote a suicide prevention website, and building and executing a marketing campaign for a local, Boise-based business.
“These and several other experiences at CWI have brought richness to my education by giving me direct, real-world experience as well as solidifying to myself I am in an industry I love.”
Encouragement from faculty, like Dan Garrity, have made a powerful and lasting impact on her education.
“For anyone who has ever met Professor Garrity, you cannot sit in a room with him for longer than five minutes without feeling how deeply he is invested in his students. This investment goes much further than a letter grade. He works to take each and every one of his students and empower them to find their way.”
Schnupp hopes by sharing her story she will inspire other mom's to consider their next move, and if that next move is education, she says to go for it!
“CWI took a shy and quiet mom and made me into a fierce, strong, and career-driven woman. This transition happened because of unmatched professors, an advisor who should be promoted to sainthood (Teresa Martinez), and curriculum that has prepared me for the world. Because of CWI, I believe I am capable of achieving anything!”
Following graduation from CWI, Schnupp plans to transfer to Boise State University to study Public Relations.
Are you, or a mom you know, ready to make the move? Nominations for this year’s Mom’s Next Move one year, full-tuition scholarship giveaway are open now through Friday, May 15!
Students Launch Suicide Prevention Website
Marketing and Communication students at College of Western Idaho (CWI) launched an ambitious project called Hope for Idaho this semester with Dan Garrity, Marketing and Communication Faculty, to produce a website highlighting suicide prevention.
Students in three separate classes of Garrity’s – Multimedia Storytelling, Intro to Video Production, and Principles of Promotion – embarked on the project and worked together to complete the website.
“It’s been a dream of mine for quite some time,” said Garrity. “I’ve always been impressed with how excited and motivated students get when they see how they can apply what they’re studying to a real-world issue of social justice.”
“I think the biggest thing that has impacted me emotionally is just how everyone came together to build this,” says student, Jacob Ronnow. “I’ve had a lot of classes over the years where I didn’t even know the name of the person sitting next to me. But we aren’t just a class. I feel like we’ve become a team working on this. And it’s really built a sense of community within our small group that’s gotten to me emotionally. It’s quite beautiful how everyone puts so much into their own little contribution.”
Students had an opportunity to use the storytelling skills they cultivated over the semester to illustrate the importance of addressing suicide awareness in the community and shine a light on the issue with their stories.
Garrity continued, “It’s a very sensitive topic. It turns out we didn’t have to go outside of our own classroom. All the stories on the site come from students in one class, our class. It just convinced me even further how rampant the issue is and how important it was to start a dialogue. Now we’re anxious to see what kind of a difference we can make with the broader community.”
To explore videos, podcasts, and stories generated by the class - visit the Hope for Idaho website.
2020 Essential Nursing Pinning
Nursing pinning ceremonies are a long-held tradition throughout Schools of Nursing; the pins are worn to reflect the school of nursing the nurse attended. These ceremonies have been a tradition for College of Western Idaho (CWI) since our inaugural class of Professional Nursing students. Rest assured, this year’s pinning will go on!
It has been said in many a CWI pinning ceremonies, it takes an entire college to grow a nurse! Many contribute to a graduating nurse’s success including the faculty who taught the pre- and co-requisite classes, the advisors who cheered them on, the security and facilities staff who kept the buildings and labs safe and clean, and many others who have touched their lives throughout their journey at CWI.
Plan to join us Saturday, May 16, for the 2020 Essential Nursing Pinning beginning at 4 p.m. as we line the streets entering the Nampa Campus Academic Building to honk, clap, and cheer on 44 CWI Nursing graduates. Cars can begin lining up at 3 p.m. along East Terra Linda Way and Selland Way.
A closed ceremony will take place following the celebratory processional to honor our 2020 graduating class of Nursing students as well as acknowledge the heroes who work every day to keep the rest of us safe and healthy. Spots for the ceremony are on a first-come, first-served basis as parking is limited. Families, friends, and supporters are asked to remain in their cars in an effort to follow social-distancing protocols. Guests are welcome to stay on campus and provide enthusiasm and celebratory cheers from your cars, as the nurse’s recess from campus and begin their journey to their future careers.
Faculty of Distinction—April 2020
Congratulations to Luke Yeates, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for April 2020. After graduating from CWI in 2014, Yeates went on to finish a bachelor’s degree in Communication, Media, and Journalism and a master’s in Communication at Boise State University. While there, he competed on the University’s debate team, the Talkin’ Broncos, and taught Communication classes as a graduate assistant for two years. Yeates returned to CWI in the fall of 2019 to teach Communication full time and take over as Director of Forensics.
“I knew I wanted to be a teacher back when I was a student at CWI,” Yeates recalled. “I was at a debate competition as a student, and one of my coaches commented that I might make a good coach. I took that to heart and decided to make it my chosen profession.”
Taking on the task of coaching CWI’s nationally-recognized Speech and Debate team is a dream come true for Yeates. Devoting countless hours of his time to this cause, he works relentlessly to uphold the high level of achievement the team has demonstrated for years.
“I remember the first student I recruited to the debate team,” he said. “It was my first week of teaching. The team only had four returning members on it, and I was supposed to take over the entire program. I taught a night class that semester. Lydia Shearman, a now decorated member of the team, was in that class. I asked if she wanted to come debate for the College. She accepted my offer, and that was it – that was the moment I knew I could do this work.”
“Luke has been a phenomenal asset to the Speech and Debate team,” said Shearman. “This past year has been incredibly unprecedented, and he has handled it with grace, checking on each of his students, not only prioritizing their education but their physical and mental well-being. I look forward to my future at CWI because of him and the positive impact he's had on not only my life but the family I've come to know at CWI.”
As both a coach and an instructor, Yeates demonstrates dedication, care, and commitment to the success of his students and the College as a whole.
“Luke has repeatedly expressed his position at CWI as his ‘dream job’,” said Jim Gatfield, Department Chair of Communication, Media Arts, and Marketing. “He is exactly what we want to see – a faculty member who understands and cares about his students because he was once one of those students. Luke approaches the classroom with a passion that is infectious. His care for this school, his students, and fellow faculty is perfectly evident through his genuine, heartfelt, and skilled engagement in all of his duties. Luke understands what it’s like to come back to school, try something new, and learn who you really are through grit and determination. He is truly fearless.”
Born and raised in Idaho, Yeates has always called the Treasure Valley home. While he enjoys film photography, shooting with rangefinders, and is a huge movie buff – debate is a big part of who he is and where he focuses most of his time.
“I wasn’t anything special when I came to CWI,” he said. “Because of CWI, I have meaning in my career. Everything I am now came from choosing CWI… all of it! CWI empowers people to be more than they ever thought was possible.”
Latinx Scholars Program
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Latinx Student Service Coordinators are excited to launch our newest retention program, Latinx Scholars. The Latinx Scholars Program is designed to help students feel connected to and part of the CWI community. Scholars will enroll in courses with other scholars as part of our Latinx cohort, meet monthly with one of the Latinx Student Service Coordinators, be part of the Navegando Mentor Program, and attend two monthly socials and two academic workshops per semester.
To be selected for the Latinx Scholars Program, students must apply, meet eligibility requirements, and agree to program expectations. Students who are selected will receive a $1,000 scholarship for their first year.
Minimum Eligibility Criteria:
- First-time, incoming student to CWI. Students with previously earned dual credits qualify.
- Identify as Latinx.
- Enrolled in a CWI Academic Program.
- Enrolled in 9 credits.
The deadline to apply is May 15, 2020.
Limited CTE Labs Open
CTE Labs are OPEN Welding Tour
Below is a copy of the message sent to students the week of May 4 highlighting the limited CTE labs open for students to complete projects for their Spring 2020 classes.
Dear CWI Students,
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to welcome you back on campus to complete your CTE labs for the Spring 2020 semester.
Please review the attached Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for your program.
CWI has established this SOP to allow students, faculty, and staff on campus to safely complete laboratories for educational classes. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS to this SOP, so please take the time to review the protocols for your program.
Watch this video highlighting the protocols you will be following:
Let's finish the semester strong!
Entangled Solutions to Host Virtual Town Halls
In January, College of Western Idaho (CWI) engaged Entangled Solutions, a higher education strategy and innovation group, to advise the Board of Trustees on opportunities and challenges facing higher education, in order to inform the Board’s thinking about CWI’s future.
In late February, the Entangled Solutions team conducted interviews, focus groups, town halls, and a post-visit survey with CWI staff, faculty, and students. This May, Entangled Solutions will be returning to campus virtually to share key insights from this listening tour and validate what they learned from the CWI community.
Entangled Solutions will conduct three virtual town halls to share the results. Each virtual town hall will cover the same information. Based on the dates and times outlined below, please select one, click on the link for the appointment, and follow directions to register. You will then be emailed a confirmation with the Zoom link, and you can choose to add this event to your calendar. The Entangled Solutions virtual town hall options are:
Wednesday, May 13
3 - 4 p.m. MT
Register for the May 13 Virtual Town Hall
Friday, May 15
10:30 - 11:30 a.m. MT
Register for the May 15 Virtual Town Hall
Wednesday, May 20
3 – 4 p.m. MT
Register for the May 20 Virtual Town Hall
We hope to see you there, and thank you for your time. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Sara Beth Hoffman with Entangled Solutions at shoffman@entangled.group.
Open Enrollment Ends May 15
Open enrollment for medical, dental, and flexible spending accounts will be held April 27 through May 15, 2020, for all benefit-eligible College of Western Idaho (CWI) employees.
The open enrollment period is the only time benefit changes as listed below can be made. Forms for open enrollment will be available Monday, April 27, on Human Resources Employee Resources site on myCWI. Exceptions will not be made for those who miss the May 15 deadline.
Flexible Spending (FSA)
- Enroll or re-enroll in the FSA program for the 2021 fiscal year.
- FSA plans do not automatically renew year-to-year.
Medical and Dental Plans
- Change your medical plan type.
- Add dependents to dental care coverage.
- Switch premium deductions from post-tax to pre-tax or vice-versa.
- Dependents can be added or removed from medical coverage at any point during the year.
Learn more about benefits you are eligible for by attending CWI's Virtual Benefit Fair, April 24 – May 14. View informative videos, attend webinars, access FAQs and forms, and enter a drawing to win prizes! Attend from anywhere and at any time throughout the fair.
Contact Gwen Dawson in Human Resources at gwendawson@cwi.edu with questions.
