Bert's Alerts - September 5, 2014
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Nampa Campus is sporting a new look. Banners have been installed around the various Nampa Campus buildings to help support the way finding system that was recently established for CWI. The addition of the banners is part-one of the project’s first phase. Part two will include installing signs dedicated to navigation to and around locations and buildings. Together the banners and way finding signs will help establish a CWI district, which brings consistency and identity to the College’s numerous locations. The way finding system plan is currently being finalized and will be available to view on myCWI upon completion.
News Highlights
CWI Launches Blogging
College of Western Idaho (CWI) has joined the world of online blogging with the launch of three faculty blog posts on cwi.edu. The CWI Marketing Department has developed a blog platform to provide employees and students an opportunity to engage both the College and community. CWI’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) Department has collaborated to create the College’s first blogs:
- Musings on the value of STEM courses by Willard Pack
- It’s called Research because you Re-Do it! by Nicole Frank
- Keeping Secrets! by Maia Kelley
Currently, blogs can be viewed at the bottom of related program pages—like Biology—on faculty and staff directory pages—like Willard Pack—and student club pages. As the College’s blog archive expands, they will be connected to department web pages along with a centralized CWI Blog Room. Blogs can be shared as recurring or one-time submissions.
More information can be found in the CWI Blog Guidelines on myCWI. Any faculty or staff interested in becoming a CWI blog contributor as an individual or as a department can contact Communications Representative II, Jake Garcin, at jakegarcin@cwi.edu or 208.562.3106.
Important Campus Safety Training Videos Complete
As part of ongoing efforts to provide a safe campus, College of Western Idaho (CWI) has created two training videos that provide guidance for responding to an active shooter situation on campus. The training modules, which employees are required to review, provide instruction on CWI’s Run, Hide, Fight/Active Shooter Procedure as well as a new Lockdown Procedure.
Run, Hide, Fight has been approved as the College’s official procedure in an active shooter situation. The Lockdown procedure is an extension of Run, Hide, Fight and will help serve as a guideline on how to secure facilities in case of an active shooter situation. Both training videos, as well as the associated standard operating procedures, can be found on myCWI under Campus Safety & Security.
CWI’s Facilities Management Department would like to remind employees that it is necessary to watch both training videos, as the content is related yet independent. Please do not hesitate to contact CWI’s Environmental Safety and Health Coordinator, Victor Villanueva, at 208.562.3241 or victorvillanueva@cwi.edu with any questions.
CWI Board of Trustee 2014 Election Information
Two College of Western Idaho (CWI) Board of Trustee seats are up for election this year; seats No. 1 and No. 2. The following candidates are running:
Seat No. 1
Stanley Bastian – Eagle
Seat No. 2
Darrell Bolz – Caldwell
Gordon Browning – Meridian
Emily Walton – Boise
Elections will be held on Nov. 4, 2014, as part of the general election. At the election, board members representing seat No. 1 and seat No. 2 will be elected to a four-year term commencing at the next regular meeting of the Board following the election. For more information visit the CWI Board of Trustees web pages. Election results will be sent out as soon as official confirmation is received.
Visiting Scientist Series Returns in September
The College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) 2014 Visiting Scientist Series kicks off Sept. 10 with a discussion titled "From our phones to our bones: Mechanisms of cadmium-induced osteotoxicity" by Dr. Sara Heggland from The College of Idaho. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the CWI Library, located in the Nampa Campus Multipurpose Building.
In its fourth year, the Visiting Scientist Series is bringing a diverse group of Idaho scientists and teachers to CWI to discuss their work and opportunities for students when they transfer to a four-year college or university in Idaho. Employees and the community are also invited to attend and enjoy refreshments and discussion. Please help spread the word and encourage students to attend. For more information, please contact Steve Lysne at 208.562.3360 or stevelysne@cwi.edu.
CWI Smoking Policy Reminder
With the start of fall semester, College of Western Idaho (CWI) would like to remind employees, students, and the community of important information related to CWI’s current Smoking Policy. The following excerpts are from the College’s Tobacco-Free Campus Policy and Procedure:
- Smoking includes the use of electronic and vapor cigarettes, the burning of any type of pipe, cigar, cigarette, or similar product, and chewing tobacco.
- Smoking is prohibited in all campus buildings as well as in all vehicles owned, leased or rented by the College. Smoking is also prohibited within 50 feet, approximately 20 paces, of all campus buildings–not just the doorways. Smoking is only allowed in designated smoking areas.
CWI would also like to remind its campus community that, effective Jan. 1, 2015; CWI will become a Tobacco-Free Campus. On that date:
- All forms of tobacco, electronic and/or vapor cigarettes and instruments will be prohibited on the grounds and within all buildings where CWI classes are held and in all college-owned, rented, or leased vehicles.
- The policy pertains to all College employees, students, visitors, and contractors. The College reserves the right to initiate disciplinary procedures against any individual found to be in continuous violation of the policy.
More details will be provided regarding CWI’s Tobacco-Free Campus status as the transition approaches. In the meantime, please view the CWI Tobacco-Free Campus policy online for Smoking Policy information, including Frequently Asked Questions.
Staff Senate to Host September Meeting Next Week
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff Senate will be hosting its September meeting on Thursday, Sept. 11, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at CWI Horticulture. The monthly meetings are open for any staff member—with approval from supervisors—to attend and are a great opportunity for staff to bring forward any suggestions, ideas, or concerns they want Staff Senate to help address.
Anyone unable to attend the meeting can contact a Staff Senator, email staffsenate@cwi.edu, or leave an anonymous question or concern in the suggestion boxes at any of the following five locations:
- Ada County Campus Pintail Building
- Canyon County Center
- Nampa Campus Academic Building
- Nampa Campus Administration Building
- Nampa Campus Micron Center for Professional Technical Education
Staff Senate meetings are scheduled for the second Thursday of every month at various locations.
FCC to Light the Night
Members of the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Fun and Culture Committee (FCC) are organizing a group of volunteers to help staff the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s annual Light the Night Walk. The event, which serves as a nation-wide fundraiser for the organization, will be held Oct. 2 at Ann Morrison Park in Boise. Registration is scheduled to start at 5 p.m. There will be a remembrance ceremony at 6 p.m. and the walk will begin at 7 p.m. More information on the event can be found at www.lightthenight.org/oswim.
Volunteers are needed to help with set up, clean up, first aid stations, and more. CWI employees interested in joining the FCC volunteer team should contact Sean Muldoon at seanmuldoon@cwi.edu or Lindsay Reynolds at lindsayreynolds@cwi.edu before Sept. 26.
