CWI Compass Connect - August 11, 2020
Spotlight
The fifth issue of the College’s magazine, Elevation, hit households in July. Featured on the cover is Sharon Rose Malubeki, one of our 2020 graduates. Malubeki, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, studied Medical Administrative Support. Visit cwi.edu/Elevation to subscribe, view past issues, read more about the class of 2020, and look back on an extraordinary spring semester we won’t soon forget!
News Highlights
Be Safe, Be Mighty at CWI
With the start of fall semester quickly approaching, College of Western Idaho (CWI) is ready to welcome our students back for online and in-person classes. Dedicated to their safety, as well as the safety of our employees, the College has launched Be Safe, Be Mighty – your first stop for up-to-date information related to COVID-19 procedures and guidelines, campus safety measures, student services availability, and resources to help you navigate the semester successfully.
Considerations and information specific to instruction can be found in the COVID-19 Operational Guidebook for Employees. Due to recent news of Treasure Valley school districts’ decisions to delay term starts and move to more remote-learning models, options for instruction are currently being evaluated. Please watch for announcements and updates which will be communicated as they become available.
Together, we can be safe and will continue to be mighty. Visit Be Safe, Be Mighty to learn more about our commitment to students, employees, and our community during these unprecedented times.
CWI Announces New Healthcare Program
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce a new Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program, adding to the more than 100 programs already offered at the College.
The Occupational Therapy Assistant degree provides a holistic and client-centered approach to improve the quality and functionality of the clients they serve.
“We are very pleased to offer Occupational Therapy Assistant at CWI,” said Cathleen Currie, Dean of Health. “It offers students another opportunity to be in healthcare, coming from a different perspective of working with patients in acute and out-patient care settings.”
Current and future students interested in starting the OTA program in the Fall of 2021 are encouraged to complete their pre-requisites before applying for the program next spring.
Upon completion of the two-year program, students will have received the education, skills, and training necessary for the national certification exam to become a certified and licensed occupational therapy assistant.
“OTA is a hands-on discipline working with patients to reestablish skills and abilities that may have been lost due to injury, stroke, and other traumas,” Currie added. “It takes a holistic approach to the patient.”
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, from 2018 to 2028, the job market for occupational therapy assistants will increase by 21%, much faster than average.
“This will be another high-quality nationally accredited program at CWI,” Currie said. “There are very few OTAs in the Treasure Valley, and our program is the only one in the region – so there is a demand for these professionals.”
CWI is proud to add this program to the list of options we provide, as we serve more than 30,000 students in our community.
Fall 2020 Admission Deadline Approaching
Empower your future at College of Western Idaho (CWI) – your community college! Earn a degree in-person*, online, or a combination of both. CWI offers a wealth of options for all lifestyles and schedules, allowing you time to focus on what matters most.
Important Dates, Fall 2020 Semester
- July 25 – Financial Aid Priority Deadline
- July 31 – Scholarship Application Deadline
- Aug. 15 – Admission Deadline
- Aug. 21 – Registration Deadline, Tuition and Fees Due
- Aug. 24 – Fall 2020 Classes Begin
Get started today!
Complete your application, register for classes, and apply for financial aid and scholarships.
- Applications and necessary documentation must be received prior to the admission deadline in order to be accepted for fall semester.
- All new, degree-seeking students must also participate in New Student Orientation prior to registering for classes.
Contact One Stop Student Services or visit us online with questions or to learn more.
*Additional information regarding CWI’s safety protocols for fall classes is available at cwi.edu/COVID19.
Drop-in(to) Advising This August
Join College of Western Idaho’s Student Success Advisors for Drop-in(to) Advising during the month of August. The virtual events will be held Wednesday, Aug. 12, from 5 – 7 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 15, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., and will be hosted via Zoom. Students are encouraged to “drop in” during the designated hours either day to meet with their advisor and ask questions about degrees, registration, and next steps in preparation for fall semester.
Contact academicadvising@cwi.edu to learn more or with questions.
Drop-in(to) Advising Zoom Link
Important Dates: Fall 2020 Semester
A College Graduate
Hometown: Greensboro, North Carolina
Major: Communication
Graduation: 2020
“Because of CWI, I am a college graduate,” said 2020 College of Western Idaho (CWI) graduate, Jeff Cullers.
A husband, father, and grandfather, Cullers chose to pursue his education following a lengthy and successful career in the pizza industry.
“My wife and I moved to Boise in 2014 from Illinois after I got a job offer from WinCo Foods to be their Director of Pizza Operations. Prior to WinCo, I spent 30 years with Domino's Pizza where I started as a delivery driver and worked my way up to an Operations Director.”
Inspired by the educational endeavors of his children, Cullers made the decision to attend college in order to advance his career. CWI offered him the flexibility he needed.
“Nothing could have prepared me for the fear and anticipation of saying yes to college at the age of 51. I was nervous about coming back to school as I did not perform well in high school. Working 60 hours a week and traveling while trying to go to school was certainly a challenge and a sacrifice, but being able to take the majority of my classes online was a huge benefit.”
Choosing to major in Communication, Cullers learned along the way he not only had the ability to acquire knowledge but to excel as a leader. As a student he was a scholarship recipient, was recognized as a 2020 Emerging Scholar, served as a Presidential Ambassador, and was selected as the 2020 Student Commencement Speaker for the College’s first-ever virtual ceremony, all of which he attributes to the passion, encouragement, and support of his professors.
“There were four critical mindsets that changed during my journey at CWI. Mike Robinson’s Philosophy and World Religions classes changed how I view the world around me and opened my eyes to looking at it from different perspectives. Johnny Rowing’s Communication and Culture and Mass Media classes exposed how society and media treat people differently. Michelle Mahoney’s Public Relation classes helped me to see a different future for myself in a career I would have never previously considered. Finally, Dr. Michelle Fellows changed how I viewed myself through her Human Relations for Career and Personal Success class. She taught me that we must constantly re‐examine ourselves to be successful.”
Now a college graduate, Cullers plans to begin his journey at Boise State University this fall in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies.
“It is never too late to say YES, chase your dreams, and begin your journey of self‐fulfillment.”
Networking Technology Programs Prepare Students for In-Demand Careers
Networking technology skills are in high demand as any business utilizing computer networks also has a need for digital security. College of Western Idaho (CWI) offers opportunities in several technology-focused areas including Network and System Administration and Cisco Networking and Security Technologies to prepare students for in-demand careers within the field of information technology.
In recent years, Idaho has seen incredible growth in information technology careers with an estimated 23 percent projected growth in network and system administration between 2018 and 2028. In addition, careers begin in the range of $38,000 per year with a median annual wage of $56,000 according to EMSI data.
At CWI, students learn not only the how-to skills but the soft skills employers are looking for giving them the upper hand when it comes to employment and/or promotion. Network and System Administration takes students through the software side of networking technologies, including industry-leading technologies from Microsoft and others. Cisco Networking and Security Technologies focuses on the industry-leading hardware solutions Cisco brings to the market and provides a pathway to Cisco industry certification. Both degree programs provide hands-on learning opportunities utilizing current technologies in real-world scenarios to enhance career readiness.
“Employers thank us for preparing quality-trained new employees who are ready to work and learn,” said John Miriello, Business, Communications, and Technology Department Chair at the College. “We have strong industry relationships with businesses in southwestern Idaho providing students access to internships and potential future careers.”
To learn more about Network and System Administration or Cisco Networking and Security Technologies or to get started, contact One Stop Student Services.
Gardom and Tuohy Named 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar
College of Western Idaho (CWI) students, Sheila Gardom and Jordan Tuohy are two of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members recognized as a 2020 Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar and recipient of a $1,000 scholarship.
The Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program helps new PTK members defray educational expenses while enrolled in associate degree programs. Scholars are encouraged to assume leadership roles by participating in Society programs and are selected based on scholastic achievement, community service, and leadership potential. Nearly 700 applications were received.
“I’m incredibly proud of CWI’s PTK chapter. Gardom’s and Tuohy's scholarship is another terrific example of student success at the College,” said CWI President Bert Glandon.
A total of $207,000 is awarded through the Leaders of Promise Scholarship Program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation provides $200,000 in funding for the scholarships, with $25,000 set aside for members who are veterans or active members of the United States military. The remaining amount is supported by donations to the PTK Foundation and provides seven Global Leaders of Promise Scholarships, earmarked for international students.
“The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation has a long history of providing financial assistance to outstanding students at community colleges,” said Jane Hale Hopkins, President of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. “We are proud to partner with PTK to make it possible for more deserving students to achieve their educational goals and support tomorrow’s leaders of the global community.”
“The Leaders of Promise Scholarships recognize students for what they have achieved already and assure that financial need isn’t an obstacle to achieving their academic goals,” said Dr. Monica Marlowe, Executive Director of the Phi Theta Kappa Foundation.
PTK is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.5 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 nations, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.
Staff of the Month – June 2020
Congratulations to Marisa Quintana, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for June 2020. An Administrative Assistant for the Fire Service Technology program, Quintana has been at CWI for just over a year.
“I enjoy working in the college environment and helping prepare students for where life takes them,” she said. “CWI has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. I am honored to work with my amazing coworkers and supervisors. Because of CWI, I get to learn and experience the wonderful world of firefighting each day.”
“Marisa started with CWI in April 2019 and immediately hit the ground running getting things done so fast for us,” said Kevin Platts, Director of Public Safety Programs. “Marisa is that “can do” peer on the CWI Fire Service Technology, Public Safety, and Social Science and Public Affairs teams that always rolls up her sleeves to help others and keeps a positive attitude to improve these teams. Her commitment to our teams is among the highest I have ever worked with. She is always suggesting new things to help our teams obtain superior performance. Specifically, we could not be where we are at in the Fire Service Technology program without Marisa’s superior contributions and very high work ethic.”
“Marisa was our administrative assistant II for the first graduating class from the Basic Technical Certificate Fire Service Technology academy which graduated in the fall of 2019,” added Darrin Raskopf, Director of Fire Service Technology. “She has been invaluable on getting our program up and running and is personally invested in making sure the students are successful and has been paramount in making sure we accomplish our mission for the students and the community.”
A fifth-generation Idahoan, Quintana was born and raised in the Treasure Valley and earned her bachelor’s degree from University of Idaho. During her free time and on the weekends, she enjoys spending time with family.
“We enjoy being together while playing board games, baking scrumptious treats, and hanging out with our dogs. We are also huge Disney fans!”
