CWI Compass Connect - May 19, 2015
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) honored its 2015 graduating class on May 9, hosting CWI's sixth-annual Commencement ceremony at Taco Bell Arena in Boise. If you missed the event it’s not too late to experience the celebration. Visit cwi.edu/graduation to check out the #cwigraduation social media conversation and watch a recording of the ceremony.
News Highlights
2,270 Reasons to be Thankful for Idaho Gives
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation has 2,270 reasons to be thankful to donors supporting Idaho Gives on May 7. The annual, online, 24-hour fundraising blitz put $2,270 in the CWI student scholarship fund. To kick start the effort, the Bank of the Cascades provided a matching $1,500 grant.
To boost the fundraising effort, President Bert Glandon joined in the festivities by becoming a CWI student for the day. He started out at CWI's Ada County Campus—visiting Jason Herz and two of his students in the Cisco Networking and Security Technologies program. From there he moved over to Workforce Development’s Medical Assisting program where he learned from students in Donna Heathman and Dr. Sabina Omair’s classes. He learned the importance of proper hand washing, safe gloving techniques, and how to take blood pressure.
After a quick car ride west, the president made his way to the Biology lab in the Nampa Campus Academic Building. He met with Dusty Perkins and two of his students under Department Chair Nicole Frank’s watchful eye. He dissected owl pellets—which he said was fascinating. He then met with two student senators from the Associated Students of the College of Western Idaho and discussed heard about student priorities.
Dr. Glandon’s last visit of the day took him to the Micron Center for Professional Technical Education. He spent some time with Sean McConnachie in Auto Body; learning how to mix paint for a project and then painting a car hood by himself.
At the end of each activity, Dr. Glandon was graded on his classroom performance. He earned two A’s, an A-, and a C+. In a mini graduation ceremony CWI Foundation Executive Director, Mitch Minnette, congratulated Dr. Glandon on becoming an honorary CWI graduate and for graduating with honors by earning a 3.5 grade point average.
“On behalf of the CWI Foundation, we thank you—and everyone one else—who participated in Idaho Gives,” Minnette said. He also joked with Dr. Glandon, “at this rate, maybe you’ll be president someday.”
CWI Keeps Tuition and Fees at $136 Per Credit
On Tuesday (May 19), the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Board of Trustees held the first reading for tuition and fees and Fiscal Year 2016 budget considerations. During the meeting the Board unanimously approved a recommendation to keep CWI’s tuition at $136 per-credit-hour for the 2015-16 academic year.
CWI’s $136 cost-per-credit applies to in-district Idaho residents, regardless of the number of credits taken. CWI’s tuition has not increased since 2011.
The College of Western Idaho has three primary sources of revenue: tuition and fees, property taxes, and state appropriations. The College’s administration has conservatively budgeted for a slight decrease in tuition and fees revenue based on early credit hour enrollment projections.
“I am pleased that CWI has continued to balance operational costs from the general fund so that we can continue to provide affordable access to our students and the communities we serve,” noted Board Chair Mary Niland. “As a community college we serve a diverse student population and although we are budgeting slight decreases in our academic transfer, we are also looking at another potential increase in dual credit and workforce development training. This is a positive sign for our community. “
In addition to the approval of tuition and fees, the Board also approved recommendations from the CWI Finance Committee for the 2016 Fiscal Year related to employee pay and benefits. These increases included budget to cover Governor Butch Otter’s recommended and legislature approved three percent increase in employee compensation and additional health insurance costs, and some additional rank and promotion adjustments. Final approval of the Fiscal Year 2016 will occur in July.
CWI Closed Memorial Day, May 25
On Monday, May 25, all College of Western Idaho (CWI) campus buildings, offices, and services will be closed in observance of Memorial Day. The College will resume its regular operating hours on Tuesday (May 26). Classes for CWI’s summer semester start June 1.
CWI Students Assist with Impactful Demonstration
Students from College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) advanced Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) course participated in an impactful presentation on Tuesday (May 12), helping local first responders stage an intoxicated driving demonstration at Kuna High School. Members of the CWI Workforce Development program joined the Ada County Sheriff’s Department, Ada County Paramedics, Kuna Rural Fire, and Life Flight Network in the enactment.
Kuna High School organized the presentation to educate its students about the consequences of driving under the influence. The demonstration was staged as a single car DUI accident in which a passenger was ejected from the car, another passenger was partially ejected from the back seat, and the driver was unhurt but intoxicated. CWI students participated in groups providing care to the injured passengers.
The enactment also allowed the CWI students a tremendous opportunity to train with professionals in a real world scenario. They put classroom skills to work as they stabilized and transported the victims. In addition, the students were able to spend time with the paramedics reviewing equipment and tools throughout the ambulance.
Thank you Kuna High School and the participating first responder organizations for inviting the CWI EMT program to be involved. It provided invaluable experience for students while allowing the opportunity to support a great community service.
CWI Dental Assisting Joins Mom’s Dental Care Day
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Dental Assisting program teamed with Advantage Dental Care on Thursday, May 7, to provide free dental care for moms in honor of Mother’s Day. The program helped serve 35 women from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. for extractions, fillings, or cleanings. There were two local dentists and one from Seattle who volunteered their time for the event. The dentists commented on how competent and confident the CWI Dental Assisting students are and said that the office would not have been able to provide treatment for so many women without help from the CWI group.
Open House for Short-Term Welding Training
On May 28, College of Western Idaho (CWI) Workforce Development is inviting the community to explore the short term welding training offered at CWI. The open house will highlight the various training opportunities available; from welding certifications to entry level skills. The event is scheduled for:
Thursday, May 28
5-7 p.m.
Micron Center for Professional Technical Education, room 1602
5725 E Franklin Rd. Nampa (Garrity/Idaho Center Exit) – View Map
Short-term welding training through CWI Workforce Development provides students the opportunity to pick the skills that they need for a welding career or the skills they want for welding around the farm or garage. Classes are offered nights and weekends, from single sessions to more in-depth welding programs. All classes offer hands on training with today’s various welding technology, in CWI’s state-of-the-industry Micron Center.
Instructors and those from the industry will be at the open house to talk with attendees and answer any questions they may have about the welding industry.
Please call 208.562.2700 for more information about the event or with any questions about the welding programs and classes.
Second-Annual President’s Writing Awards Presented
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) English Department is proud to present the recipients of its annual President’s Writing Awards. Thirteen students were honored for their work on Friday, May 1, with a presentation and remarks from CWI President Bert Glandon. This is the second year that Dr. Glandon has selected students to receive awards in the following five categories:
- Creative Nonfiction
- Critical Analysis
- Fiction
- Poetry
- Research Based
During the presentation, President Glandon shared with students, “the writing this time around was absolutely exceptional. You are prime examples of the quality of students coming out of CWI. You demonstrate what is right in education today.”
The annual awards were established to recognize and honor excellence in student writing at CWI.
The 2015 President’s Writing Award winners are:
Creative Nonfiction: first-person accounts that explore the writer’s experiences and observations.
- First Place - Sabine Hartmann (Faculty, Janene Thomas)
- Second Place - Alicia Mathia (Faculty, Abby Wolford)
- Third Place - Cassie Roundy (Faculty, Matt Moorman)
Critical Analysis: represents essays that critically evaluate or analyze a piece of literature, a theatrical performance, a work of visual art, a historical moment, a philosophical argument, a social movement, etc.
- First Place - Carley Baeta, “Love Poem” (Faculty, Leslie Jewkes)
- Second Place - Alicia Mathia, “The Awareness Crisis: Breast Cancer and Sexualization” (Faculty, Abby Wolford)
- Third Place - Gary Porter, “Education and the Good Human Being” (Faculty, Reggie Jayne)
Fiction: short stories limited to 20 pages.
- First Place - Jeff Boyd, “The Canyon” (Faculty, Dave Nicholas)
- Second Place - Chloe Tucker, “Red Hope” (Faculty, Dave Nicholas)
Poetry
- First Place - Casey Bosse, “Amoral World” (Faculty, Abby Wolford)
- Second Place - Salem Djembe, “Dementia” (Faculty, Leslie Jewkes)
- Third Place - Tanya Trofimuk, “Mother of Mine” (Faculty, Leslie Jewkes)
Research Based: feature a variety of topics, methodologies, and documentation styles specific to their disciplines including science, math, technology, English, Psychology, etc.
- First Place - Ty Styhl, “Irrigation Canals Represent a Bioenergetic Sink for Primary Consumers (Faculty, Steve Lysne)
- Second Place - Chelsea Chambers, “The Effects of Alcohol on the Acceptability of Casual Sex” (Faculty, Heather Schoenherr
- Third Place - Lianne Collins, “Pirates Sail the High Fidelities: How File Sharing Affects the Music Industry” (Faculty, Joel Gladd)
