CWI Compass Connect - July 12, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) hosted over 150 educators in June for the annual Treasure Valley I-STEM (TViSTEM) event. The conference ran June 27-30 at CWI’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education. TViSTEM focuses on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction for Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers. The event included presentations and workshops that allowed teachers to dive deep into STEM specific content through hands-on activities, experiments, and field trips. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a tremendous success.
News Highlights
Celebrating the Life and Legacy of a CWI Founder
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) is paying tribute to one of its founding fathers. Former Trustee S. Hatch Barrett passed away on May 7, 2016. Instead of mourning his passing, it was his request that his life and legacy at CWI be celebrated. In his honor, the CWI Foundation and the Barrett Family have established a scholarship fund for students in the College’s Professional Truck Driving and Heavy-Duty Truck Technician programs.
The Barrett Family has a long history in Treasure Valley’s trucking industry. Hatch loved the people who make up this great industry. Education and continuous learning were always important to him. He told his family one of the proudest accomplishments in his life was being part of CWI’s creation as a Trustee.
“As a founding member of CWI, it pleased him greatly that CWI took control and has grown the vocational technology school established by Boise State University,” Ed Barrett, his son and current CWI Foundation board member, said. “He told me time and time again that ‘Idaho deserves a great community college and professional-technical programs, and CWI is fulfilling that dream.’”
Much of CWI’s success is due in large part to Hatch’s leadership and support. In his obituary, people were asked to make memorial gifts to the scholarship fund in lieu of flowers. The response was heartwarming. In lieu of a memorial service, the Barrett Family contributed $10,000 to start an endowment for the scholarship to keep Hatch’s legacy alive for generations to come. They are inviting the public to join them in their efforts to grow the fund even more.
To make a contribution to the scholarship fund, donations can be made online: cwi.edu/giving/foundation, or mailed to CWI Foundation, MS 1000 PO Box 3010, Nampa, ID, 83653 (in honor of Hatch Barrett).
CWI Approaching Independent Accreditation Decision
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is nearing the final steps to garner approval for independent accreditation through the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). The College will host NWCCU representatives for a campus visit, Oct. 5-7, while also submitting its year seven self-evaluation report to the Commission.
The NWCCU will review the year seven report and findings from the committee’s site visit to determine whether or not to recommend CWI for accreditation. While pursuing independent accreditation, CWI has delivered college credit instruction, certificates, and degrees through a memorandum of understanding with the College of Southern Idaho.
Independent accreditation will allow CWI more flexibility to modify curriculum and add credit programs to best meet the needs of the local community. Accreditation is also required for CWI and its enrolled students to continue accessing federal funds to support teaching, research, and student financial aid. Finally, regional accreditation provides a way for post-secondary institutions to ensure quality instruction and service, as well as institutional improvement, by voluntarily submitting to a regulatory process.
Since February 2012, CWI has been recognized by the NWCCU as a candidate for accreditation. Since earning candidacy status, the school has been in a progression period involving a thorough review of all relevant requirements. CWI has also hosted the NWCCU for two campus visits.
A decision on CWI’s independent accreditation status could be determined as early as January 2017.
CWI Anthropology Department Enjoys Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Assistant Professor Nikki Gorrell has authored an article for the official publication of the American Anthropological Association, Anthropology News. Gorrell’s article, A Taste of the Basque Culture, provides insight to the cultural role of the Basque food tradition called pintxoak. Her article was written in support of the annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C. which features the Basque Culture. Gorrell’s article can be viewed at anthropology-news.org.
In conjunction with the start of the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter proclaimed June 29, 2016 to be Basque History and Culture Day. CWI was included in the proclamation based on the hundreds of cultural anthropology students from the College who have immersed themselves in student engagement field trips Gorrell has lead at the Basque Museum and surrounding Basque Block since 2010.
Dual Credit Featured in College Board Newsletter
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Dual Credit Department’s work helping high school students earn college credit has been put in a national spotlight. In June, CWI was included as a highlight in an electronic newsletter from College Board, which is the not-for-profit organization that oversees the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP). Since 2014 CWI has been coordinating opportunities for high school students to take the Spanish Language CLEP exam. The College Board newsletter shared CWI’s article about Earning Credit Where Credit is Due.
June Staff Award Goes to Harrison
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to announce CWI’s June Staff of the Month honor has been awarded to Mary Harrison.
Harrison joined CWI in January 2015 as a temporary hire, and became permanent in June 2015. She is one-of-six Technical Support Specialists at the College and currently supports the students and staff residing at the Nampa Campus Academic Building.
Before coming to CWI, Harrison served honorably in the United States Navy for 20 years, supporting the core values of living a life filled with honor, courage, and commitment. She said she feels blessed to serve the CWI community and strives to make the college experience positive. Her can-do attitude and willingness to assist others makes her a valuable team member to CWI and a pleasure to work with.
Harrison’s nomination indicated she follows all the Core Values – acting with integrity, sustaining our quality of life for future generations, serving all in an atmosphere of caring, respecting the dignity of opinions, innovating for the 21st Century, and leaving a legacy of learning. Her nomination mentioned, “Mary is amazing, and has been a life saver for me! I also overhear her working with adjunct faculty in helping them master updates. She exudes a calmness that is most welcome in the hectic world we work in and always has a smile! She is a true asset at CWI!”
Harrison received her bachelor’s degree in Information Systems Security in 2015 from American Military University, and was recently accepted into their master’s degree program for Information Technology (Digital Forensics). She successfully obtained certifications in CompTIA: Security +, EC-Council: Certified Ethical Hacking, and HDI: Desktop Support Technician.
After retiring from the military in 2014 the Harrison family moved from Italy to Idaho. She is happily married to her husband of 20 years and together they have two children, Ashley and Matthew. In her spare time, she likes to garden with her family and is passionate about travel, cookies, and cats.
Please join in congratulating Mary. Thank you for your commitment and continued dedication to CWI and its faculty, staff, and students.
