CWI Compass Connect - April 29, 2014
In the Spotlight
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) community took a stand against child abuse, Thursday (April 24), as over 25 students, faculty, and staff joined forces to support the Kiss 103.5 Live for 175 event. As part of this year’s event promoting child abuse prevention, Treasure Valley residents were asked to ride stationary bikes to power a radio remote at the Village in Meridian for 175 hours. The CWI team managed to power eight stationary bikes from 3-5 p.m. Thank you to everyone who joined in the fight and provided a tremendous response for this great cause.
News Highlights
CWI Rolls-out Campaign to Debunk Community College Myths
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Marketing and Advancement Department is excited to introduce a new video series aimed at debunking community college myths. The 10 videos present misconceptions about community colleges and allow students and faculty an opportunity to set the record straight. Some of the dispelled myths include:
- Community college students could not get into a university
- Employers do not value community college education
- Community college professors are inferior to those at a university
The videos will be an integral part of the 2014 College of What if campaign, which will run throughout the summer. The videos are also integrated into the third-annual $1,000 What if Scholarship contest that is currently running on Facebook. Participants will be voting on their favorite myth video as part of the submission process. To watch the Debunking Community College Myths videos visit www.collegeofwhatif.com. The videos are also available to download on myCWI under College Resources>Current Marketing>Videos.
Seven CWI Students Earn Trip to SkillsUSA Nationals
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will send seven students to compete at the national SkillsUSA competition following gold medal finishes at the organization’s State Leadership and Skills Conference last weekend (April 10-11). CWI captured 20 medals overall, securing six silver and seven bronze finishes.
CWI enjoyed success in 13 unique events, some of which were hosted at CWI's Ada County Center and Micron Center for Professional Technical Education. The College earned multiple medals in six events, including a sweep in Computer Maintenance Technology.
CWI’s gold medal finishers were Ivan Vojvodic (CNC Milling), Sharon Estrada (Commercial Baking), Victor Nunez (Computer Maintenance Technology), Jake Arkoosh (Diesel Equipment Technology), Michael Tamas (Extemporaneous Speech), Carlos Gonzales (Internetworking), and Lisa Webb (Prepared Speech).
These top finishes have qualified them for a trip to Kansas City, Mo., June 23-27, to compete in the 50th-annual National Leadership and Skills Conference.
Final Chance for Public 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 final public workshop with CTA Architects and SRG Partnerships to help prepare for future growth. 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. The public is welcome to attend the upcoming session, see what the architects are working on, and share thoughts and ideas:
Wednesday, May 7
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Micron Center for Professional Technical Education RM 1701A/B
CTA Architects and SRG Partnerships were selected to complete Phase II of the CWI Nampa Campus Master Plan. 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.
A presentation of the updated master plan is currently scheduled to take place in June. Please contact the Facilities Management department at 208.562.3545 for information.
CWI Spring Candidate Forums Conclude May 8
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) School of Social Science and Public Affairs is sponsoring a series of political candidate forums between now and the election in November. These forums are intended to give candidates, students, faculty, and the community a chance to present and discuss the critical issues in this year's election cycle.
The second forum, which is the final event of the Spring semester, will be held May 8. The forum will include Shirley Ringo (U.S. Congress District 1), Richard Stallings (U.S. Congress District 2), and Nels Mitchell (U.S. Senate).
Thursday – May 8
6:00-7:30 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building
Second Floor Common Area
Inaugural Solar Viewing Event Coming to CWI
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Physics and Astronomy Department is excited to welcome the public to campus, May 3, for a solar viewing event at the Nampa Campus Academic Building. The event will mark the first opportunity for the public to utilize CWI’s new solar telescope, which was made possible by a mini-grant from the CWI Foundation and the Department of Physical Sciences.
The solar viewing will take place on the west lawn of the Academic Building at 1 p.m., weather permitting. Come learn about the Sun from CWI Astronomy Instructor, Dr. Irwin Horowitz, and marvel at the views of our home star through this instrument.
Garbology Day to Promote Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Anthropology and Biology Clubs are teaming up to host Garbology Day, May 1, to raise awareness for proper recycling practices, reducing consumption, and re-purposing rather than disposing of material. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to stop by the Nampa Campus Academic Building east lawn from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as the clubs seek to raise collective consciousness regarding the current campus recycling program while also promoting sustainable practices and environmental awareness through a “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” theme.
Anthropology Club members will be sorting through two days of trash collected from the Academic Building and determining not only what could have been recycled, but also what is being consumed on campus. Informational posters will provide fast facts and helpful hints on how individuals and households can reduce consumer waste and decrease their carbon-footprint.
Inaugural President’s Writing Award Winners Named
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) English Department has announced the recipients of the inaugural CWI President’s Writing Awards. The annual awards were established to recognize and honor excellence in student writing at CWI, while celebrating the power of the written word—the beauty and necessity of thoughtful communication.
The 2014 President’s Writing Awards Winners are:
Critical Analysis
First Place - Lantz Brown (Faculty, Leslie Jewkes)
Second Place - Austin Kirkham (Faculty, Dave Nicholas)
Poetry
First Place - Austin Kirkham (Faculty, Stephen Crumrine)
Second Place - Rebecca Evans (Faculty, Stephen Crumrine)
Fiction
First Place - Chris Grapes (Faculty, Val Kiesig)
Second Place - Kelli Laughlin (Faculty, Val Kiesig)
Research-based
First Place - Heather Augustine (Faculty, Michelle Fellows)
Second Place - Kelli Wood (Faculty, Paul Berg)
Nonfiction
First Place - Chris Grapes (Faculty, Matthew Moorman)
Second Place - Cassie Roundy (Faculty, Matthew Moorman)
College of Western Idaho to Suspend New Enrollment in Culinary Arts Programs until New Location is Secured
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) has announced plans to suspend new enrollment in its Culinary Arts programs until a new facility that includes a modern teaching kitchen to match evolving industry needs is secured.
CWI currently offers two programs, Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts. Both programs are the last remaining CWI programs located on the Boise State University campus after the final moves of Surgical Technology and Dental Assisting over the summer. A new location has not yet been secured to provide an adequate teaching environment to meet the culinary program needs, and as a result the CWI Board of Trustees has approved a suspension of any new enrollment in the existing Culinary Arts and Baking and Pastry Arts programs effective fall 2014.
"The esteemed faculty of the culinary program and its history on the Boise State campus makes the decision to suspend new enrollments in the programs difficult and full of emotion,” stated CWI President Bert Glandon. “We appreciate our partners at Boise State for the generous support of CWI and continuing to lease us the space beyond the originally agreed timeframe of June 2012. As with most industries, culinary arts is evolving and requiring new technologies to meet industry demands. CWI is hopeful that we can bring the program back in three to five years contingent upon our ability to secure funding for an adequate facility.”
Current students enrolled in the program will NOT be affected as CWI will continue to serve the students who have already started the programs. The location at Boise State and teaching staff will remain intact through December 2015 to support existing students who will be completing the program.
CWI will continue to work closely with local culinary professionals and the community in development of a new facility that fosters a hands-on learning environment and strengthens the future of Culinary Arts. Community members interested in supporting the program are encouraged to contact Will Fanning, Dean of CWI Professional Technical Education, willfanning@cwi.edu.
