Bert's Alerts - November 15, 2013
Weekly Spotlight
In honor of Veterans Day on Monday (Nov. 11) College of Western Idaho (CWI) presented multiple observance ceremonies to recognize community members that have served or are currently serving in the United States armed forces. If you missed the events or would like to revisit the tributes, video and a photo gallery are available to view online.
2013 Veterans Day at College of Western Idaho
News Highlights
Bert's Alerts Survey
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Marketing and Advancement department is seeking feedback from employees on their experience using the new format for Bert’s Alerts, CWI’s employee newsletter. A short survey has been created to gather information to help improve the newsletter as well as enhance the College’s external newsletter, which will be moving to the new format in the next couple of weeks.
Idaho Physical Therapist Assistant Consortium Program Receives Approval to Begin
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) voted to approve the start-up of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Consortium Program delivered by the College of Southern Idaho (CSI), College of Western Idaho (CWI), Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC), and North Idaho College (NIC). This approval will allow the four colleges to move forward with enrolling students for classes starting in January.
The program will be delivered to each of the four college campuses utilizing interactive video conferencing that allows students from each institution to participate in the lectures as a larger cohort group, and then have lab time at their own campuses. Clinical experiences are also integrated throughout the curriculum to offer students the opportunity to practice techniques they have learned each semester.
The program is designed to be completed in two years, including the integrated clinical affiliations. Graduates will be eligible to sit for the national physical therapist assistant exam and apply for state licensure once initial accreditation is achieved. The program is on track to be evaluated for initial accreditation in November 2015 with graduation of the first class of students occurring shortly thereafter. According to Occupational Employment Statistics, Idaho’s job market for physical therapist assistants shows growth of more than 27 percent in the next 10 years.
“Joint efforts like the Physical Therapist Assistant program between Idaho’s public institutions help ensure accessibility to everyone throughout the state,” noted Todd Schwarz, State Administrator at the Division of Professional-Technical Education. “The institutions in our state are working together to provide consistency in the quality of education and making sure that the tax payers support of the programs are invested wisely. This is why our higher education system continues to gain strength in meeting workforce demand.”
For more information on the Physical Therapist Assistant Consortium Program including information on enrollment, please visit the following website of the institution in your area:
College of Southern Idaho (Twin Falls) http://hshs.csi.edu/physical_therapist_assistant/
College of Western Idaho (Nampa) /academics/physical-therapist-assistant
Lewis-Clark State College (Lewiston) http://www.lcsc.edu/professional-technical-programs/physical-therapist-assistant-program/
North Idaho College (Coeur d’Alene) http://www.nic.edu/programs/viewprogram.aspx?landing=118
Fall 2013 Facts at a Glance Available
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Fall 2013 Facts at a Glance is now available in hard copy and online. CWI Facts at a Glance provides a statistical snapshot report of all courses and programs offered by the College. It is a valuable resource and all CWI employees are encouraged to review the brochure. CWI Marketing and Advancement will be working to distribute hard copies to each campus location. An electronic copy of Facts at a Glance Fall 2013 can be viewed online.
CWI Holiday Hours Updated Online
The holiday season is rapidly approaching and with that comes the opportunity for employees to enjoy time off during the College’s observed holidays. This month, all College of Western Idaho (CWI) campus locations will be closed on Nov. 28-29 in recognition of Thanksgiving. There will also be no classes for credit programs and Adult Basic Education, Nov. 25-30.
As a result of the Thanksgiving closure, Bert’s Alerts will not be sent on Nov. 29. The weekly employee newsletter will resume its regular schedule on Dec. 6.
Please reference the CWI 2013 Holiday Schedule online for details on the College’s holiday closures and hours of operation.
CWI Tobacco-Free Campus Policy and Procedure Updated
College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Board policy regarding Tobacco-Free Campus has been revised. Updates have specifically been made to Procedure 4351, relating to Policy 4350.
In an effort to be consistent and avoid confusion, electronic/vapor cigarettes have been added to the list of restrictions. Therefore, the use of electronic/vapor cigarettes is prohibited in the same manner and with the same restrictions as smoking on all CWI property, effective immediately.
Additionally, Procedure 4351 has been revised to reflect the re-establishment of a 50 foot non-smoking perimeter surrounding all entrances and exits of CWI buildings. Previously, smoking was not allowed within 50 feet of an entrance or exit of a CWI building but this wording was inadvertently eliminated when a prior revision of Procedure 4351 was approved in September 2012.
The complete policy and procedure can be found in the revised edition of CWI Policies. Please help share this update with your department or area of the College. Questions can be directed to Risk Management at riskmanagement@cwi.edu or 208.562.3948.
CWI Participating in English Remediation Reform
College of Western Idaho (CWI) has announced it is participating in English remediation reform, effective immediately for the upcoming Spring 2014 semester. CWI’s new model for English remediation comes as a part of a statewide mandate, in which all Idaho public institutions are participating.
Over the past year, CWI’s English faculty have been working on a model that has been shown to benefit students by reducing the amount of time it takes to reach college-level classes and giving students the support they need to succeed in those classes. The model is similar to one adopted by Boise State University.
This change will affect how students are advised through the English composition sequence. Communication has been sent to full-time faculty regarding advising changes, while One Stop Student Services has been trained on the new process. Some of the important advising changes include:
- All remedial level English classes (ENGL 015 and 090) are going away
- The English 101+ model will replace those classes
- English 101+ is ENGL 101 plus a 2-credit co-requisite, ENGL 100.
- ENGL 100 is a support class for ENGL 101
- English Compass scores of 18-69 place a student in ENGL 101 plus ENGL 100
- Students who place higher may elect to take ENGL 100 as well
- ENGL 100 may count as elective credit toward graduation (depending on degree allowance for electives)
Questions about these changes or English requirements can be directed to English Department Chair, Joy Palmer, at joypalmer@cwi.edu.
CWI Increases Online Presence for Student Groups
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Marketing and Advancement department is excited to unveil an expanded online presence for CWI student clubs and organizations on cwi.edu. Thanks to collaboration with CWI Student Enrichment, students now have a much more dynamic, interactive medium for sharing information about their groups. Here are just a few of the new features:
Student Clubs Home Page
- Clubs are now searchable by name, description, and club type.
- Blogs and newsroom posts tagged with any club will appear on this clubs home page.
- A club calendar provides a feed of upcoming activities and events.
- Expanded content areas allow for descriptions of each club.
- Contact information for advisors and student leaders displayed.
- Customizable calendar allows clubs to choose which activities and events to display on their page.
- Blogs and newsroom posts can be tagged to appear in a feed on the individual club pages.
- Faculty and staff directory bios now link to clubs that the employee advises.
Please direct all questions about student clubs and organizations online content to Michelle Cain in Student Enrichment at michellecain@cwi.edu.
Business Office Holiday Notice
Please be advised that due to the campus closure for Thanksgiving, the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Business Office will not process vendor checks on Friday, Nov. 29. Employee reimbursement checks will be processed that week for direct deposit on Friday. Normal processing will resume the week following Thanksgiving. Please submit any invoices due by Dec. 1 to Accounts Payable by Friday, Nov 15. All questions or concerns can be directed to Glen Harris at glenharris@cwi.edu or 208.562.3277.
Rob Walker's "Sounds of Lincoln" to be Performed at Gettysburg Address Celebration
Rob Walker, composer and College of Western Idaho (CWI) Jazz History professor and Marketing Management Program Chair, has written a new work for concert band entitled “Sounds of Lincoln” to commemorate the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. This very special concert will be held on Sunday, Nov. 24, at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. The piece, dedicated to the Wilkes University Civic Band's celebration of the 150th anniversary of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, uses an authentic collection of musical themes written during the time of Lincoln which have a direct connection to his life and death.
“I researched the actual music that was associated with Lincoln including his campaign songs, election music, music from the Civil War, slavery, and his funeral” explains Walker.
Much of the music research came from the Alfred Whital Stern Collection of rare books and Special Collections Division at the Library of Congress.
Walker studied music composition at the Berklee College of Music. He received a Berklee Alumni Award in 2009 and received the prestigious 2013 ASCAP Plus Award for his compositions for concert bands and orchestra. He holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University in Film and Music Composition and did additional compositional studies at The Juilliard School. He also studied composition privately with Stan Kenton alumnus, William Russo.
Walker’s music can be heard in 11 major films including Perks of Bing a Wallflower (2012), Easy A (2010), Tenure (2009), Bandslam (2009), Whip It (2009), What Goes Up (2009), High School Musical III (2009), Fired Up! (2009), and College Road Trip (2008). His television credits include Friday Night Lights, Cold Case, Chicago Fire, Shark, The O.C., Animal Planet, Glory Daze, Ugly Betty, True Blood, White Collar, Harry’s Law, All My Children, and One Life to Live. His music has been also used on ESPN, The Today Show, Minute to Win It, America’s Got Talent, and Parks and Recreation. His music has been heard internationally in over 35 countries.
As a trumpet player, Walker has worked with notable artists such as Wayne Newton, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Supremes, and The Moody Blues. In 2010, he was the featured soloist with the United States Air Force Jazz Commanders. Walker has also played in the pit for two Broadway national tours, "Chicago" and "Spamalot".
Walker is a member of the American Composers Forum, International Trumpet Guild, and ASCAP. He currently hosts his own jazz radio show on Boise State Public Radio called Jazz Conversations with Rob Walker.
Visiting Scientist Series Hosts Fourth Event Nov. 20
The College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Scientist Series will continue on Wednesday, Nov. 20, as Elowyn Yager, Ph.D. visits campus to present on Geomorphology. Yager is an Assistant Professor in the University of Idaho Civil Engineering Department. Her presentation is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. in the CWI Library classroom at the Nampa Campus Multipurpose Building.
The Visiting Scientist Series is a great opportunity for students to explore advanced topics in their field, make connections to what they are currently studying, and preview what the future might hold when they transfer to a four-year institution. For faculty and staff, the series can also provide a break from work to simply explore an interesting topic and engage in a stimulating discussion.
The Visiting Scientist Series will conclude on Dec. 11 with a guest lecture by Joseph Cloud (Germinal Stem Cells and WWAMI). For more information on the Visiting Scientist Series, please email Steve Lysne at stevelysne@cwi.edu.
Staff Senate Hosting Monthly Meeting Next Week
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Staff Senate will host its next meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, from 8:30-10:00 a.m., at the Nampa Campus Administration Building’s President's Conference Room. All CWI staff is invited to attend these monthly meetings to share ideas and concerns, or simply receive an update on Staff Senate activity. If you're unable to attend but would like a meeting update or to share a discussion topic, please contact a staff senator.
FCC Encouraging Thanksgiving Cheer
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Fun and Culture Committee (FCC) is hoping to help increase holiday cheer by supplying a non-competitive Turkey coloring activity for the whole College to enjoy. A Thanksgiving themed coloring template is available to download, so be sure to show your creative side by coloring your fowl friend and hanging it up at your location.
Nominations for Faculty Recognition
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Faculty Recognition committee is accepting nominations for Faculty of Distinction. Faculty, staff, students, and administrators, are encouraged to nominate a faculty member that they feel is doing an outstanding job. Please submit nominations by emailing yourock@cwi.edu. Be sure to include the faculty member's first and last name, department in which they work, and the reason for the nomination.
CWI Employees Seeking Fellow Musicians
Do you play a musical instrument that would be compatible with a concert-style band? A group of CWI employees are gauging interest in the possibility of forming a band of faculty and staff musicians. Participants do not need to be “good”—all they need is an instrument, a music stand, a willingness to practice, and lots of enthusiasm. Faculty Jeffrey Davis has volunteered to conduct and he thinks the group can borrow some scores to use. Rehearsals would likely be held for an hour on weeknights a couple of times per month. Anyone interested, please add your information to the online sign-up sheet. Please contact Anitra Townsend at anitratownsend@cwi.edu with any questions.
