CWI Compass Connect - October 4, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) welcomed representatives from Idaho State University (ISU) to campus on Thursday (Sept. 29) to promote a transfer partnership between the two schools. Idaho State’s Bengal Bound program provides incentives for community college students interested in transferring to ISU. The announcement event included an information session with various ISU programs. For more details, please read the complete story below.
News Highlights
Idaho State University and CWI Launch Bengal Bound Program
Guaranteed admission to Idaho State University (ISU) after successfully completing an associate degree and application-fee waivers are two benefits of Bengal Bound, a new program designed to encourage Idaho community college students to continue their education at ISU.
ISU launched the program Thursday (Sept. 29) at College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Nampa Campus Academic Building. Faculty and staff visited campus to share information about ISU programs with prospective CWI transfer students.
"ISU is so pleased with this new partnership and the opportunities it will create for Idaho's community college students hoping to pursue an advanced degree," said Dana Gaudet, ISU assistant director of recruitment and student services. She also notes Bengal Bound should ease the transition process.
“We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with Idaho State University to expand transfer opportunities for CWI students. Our four-year partners have made a tremendous commitment to help make education beyond CWI a reality for more of our students,” said David Shellberg, CWI’s executive vice president of instruction and student services.
Bengal Bound benefits that apply to qualifying students from CWI include:
- Guaranteed admission to ISU with successful completion of an Associate of Science or Associate of Arts degree based on a 2.0 or higher cumulative G.P.A.
- Coordinated academic advising with ISU and community college advisors
- A dedicated ISU transfer admissions counselor for Idaho community college transfer students
- A seamless transfer, meaning all college-level credits will transfer through articulation agreements
- An application fee waiver
- Scholarship opportunities based on cumulative G.P.A.
Chasing Butterflies for the Greater Good
CWI Impact - Chasing Butterflies
What started out as a public service project for College of Western Idaho (CWI) students has turned into a concerted effort to save an American icon. Instead of spending their summer vacation relaxing and recharging, two Biology program students spent four to six hours a day, five days a week walking among ticks, mosquitos, and 90-plus degree days—all for the greater good. Vance McFarland and Manny Reyes literally chased butterflies in an effort to save them.
“We could be working a different summer job, but instead we’re out here doing a nature walk every day,” McFarland said. “We see raptors, deer, beavers, and most importantly, we’ve seen tons of Monarch butterflies.”
Monarch butterflies’ natural habitats are dwindling nationwide and their survival is in jeopardy. It’s to the point where they are being considered for endangered species status. The problem is that, much like bees, Monarchs help farmers pollinate crops. They live and lay their eggs on a plant called Showy Milkweed. There are two milkweed hotspots in the Treasure Valley; one along the Boise River, the other at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in Canyon County. McFarland, Reyes, and their instructor, Dusty Perkins, spent several weeks tracking Monarch behavior as part of a grant-funded research project.
“This project is on the forefront of just a few projects within our entire region in mapping the distribution of both Monarchs and milkweeds,” Perkins said. “In fact, we contribute our data to a nationwide modeling and conservation effort.”
This all started last year as a project for Perkins’ ecology class. A refuge manager received a mandate to look for and map milkweed plants. Perkins, who was looking for opportunities for his students to be involved, jumped at the chance to help. After students spent the year mapping the plant locations, and uploading the data into a national database, a natural question developed: Are Monarchs using the plants?
“This is the first big effort to track Monarchs here,” Perkins said. “No one else is doing this. Our research will be critical in determining what happens next.”
With the milkweed patches mapped, the trio was able to return this summer to see if the plants were being used. From caterpillar droppings to the orange and black, fully-evolved beauties they are, no milkweed leaves went unturned in the search for Monarch activity. Much to their delight, they found evidence that the plants are in fact being used by Monarchs.
“By next year this could be an endangered species,” McFarland said while examining a large, colorfully-striped caterpillar. “It’s pretty cool for me being an undergraduate student—working with these right now, doing this research, and leading the front on the West Coast for what happens here with Monarch butterflies.”
The Monarch Butterfly Conservation Project is one of three grant-funded projects at CWI through the National Science Foundation and Idaho EPSCoR program. This is the first time the grant has been opened up to two-year colleges.
Up-Close and Personal With Birds of Prey
CWI Impact - Birds of Prey
Chances are you have seen an osprey. The large birds live on every continent of the world—except for Antarctica—and spend most of their time fishing near lakes and rivers. Three students, and College of Western Idaho (CWI) Biology instructor Dusty Perkins, spent their summer break doing more than just watching the common birds of prey. They had the opportunity to get up-close and very personal with them—all in the name of science.
“Ospreys are considered an indicator species,” Perkins said. “They are valuable to the ecosystem and useful in helping humans understand how they use the land. Our goal is to provide data that land managers need so they can do their job. Fortunately for us, osprey are fairly tolerant of human activity.”
From the early morning hours to late into the afternoon, the team monitored more than 150 nests from south of Cascade in Valley County to north of McCall. The nests were checked one-by-one. The clock started the split second a nest sitter took flight. The team had 25 minutes to hoist a ladder, climb to its top, take the nestlings—of which there are typically two to three—out of the nest, and complete their exams. Each nestling was weighed, measured, checked from wing-to-wing and everywhere in between, and then photographed before being returned up the ladder and replaced safely in its nest. It is a quick, well-executed task.
Lizzie Meisman was in charge of nestling retrieval and return. Ty Styhl was responsible for the examinations with Perkins’ help. All of this was happening while a third student, Andrew Dorrell, scoured the ground searching for the remains of what osprey eat. Each student was responsible for collecting and analyzing his or her own data.
“I was overjoyed when I found out I was accepted for this program,” Meisman, a student at Humboldt State University in coastal northern California, said. “Working with Dusty has been a huge inspiration. I’ve found that I can do this work, I’m good at it, and I feel a lot more confident.”
Styhl, who is a CWI graduate and current University of Idaho student, has been working on this project for the past three years. He recognized a gap in the existing research and, through this process, is working to create a nestling aging guide as his project contribution.
“My true passion lies in education,” Styhl said. “I’m interested in protecting the resources we have in Idaho, and helping people understand why it’s important to protect those resources.”
At the end of their 10-week research experience, each student presented their work at the Idaho Conference for Undergraduate Research.
“These opportunities really give students the hands-on experience that gives them the shot in the arm to go out and really continue their academic and professional careers” Perkins said.
The Osprey Research Project is one of three grant-funded projects at CWI through the National Science Foundation and Idaho EPSCoR program. This is the first time the grant has been opened up to two-year colleges.
Fiesta Cultural at CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage month with its first annual Fiesta Cultural event. This celebration of cultures will take place at CWI's Nampa Campus on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Fiesta Cultural will offer the community a chance to experience, engage, learn, and have fun attending a multi-cultural event. Numerous cultures will be represented in music, dancing, games, art, and demonstrations.
Activities will range in age and interests; there will be something for the whole family to enjoy. Experience Azteca, salsa, and Tahitian dancing performances, live music, and a classic car show. Kids will love the piñata workshop, sugar skull art, and face painting. On the more competitive side; bubble ball, boxing, and an obstacle course race will take place during the event. Enjoy a diverse variety of food from local food trucks and vendors. The event will conclude with car show awards and a closing ceremony.
Fiesta Cultural kicks off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at the CWI Nampa Campus Academic Building off of Idaho Center Boulevard in Nampa. – View Map
Please contact melissamallory@cwi.edu or osterhernandez@cwi.edu for more information.
Job Fair Coming to CWI
College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Career Services will help students and community members connect with job opportunities at CWI’s 2016 Fall Job Fair. The event is open to the public and will focus on seasonal employment and jobs that may be ideal for students working their way through school. The fair, which is presented in partnership with the Idaho Department of Labor, will take place:
Friday, Oct. 21
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
CWI’s Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building
View Map
Over 50 employers have registered for the job fair. Job seekers at the event will also have the opportunity to learn about resources from CWI and Idaho Department of Labor. Attendees are encouraged to take their resume and be prepared to interview with employers. Please email loriyellen@cwi.edu with any questions.
CWI Strategic Plan Summary Now Available
A new handout has been created to highlight key components of College of Western Idaho's (CWI) comprehensive strategic plan for fiscal years 2018 to 2022. The brochure summarizes in a visual way the main sections addressed in the strategic plan, providing a quick overview for individuals of where the College is headed in its vision for the future.
Key components in the brochure include:
- Core Ideology
- SWOT (Environmental Scan)
- Gap Analysis (Priorities for Education and Training)
- 5-Year Focus (Objectives and Indicators of Success)
To view the summary online visit cwi.edu/planning. Printed copies are also available upon request by contacting the Marketing and Advancement department.
Hernandez Named September Staff of the Month
Oster Hernandez has been recognized as College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for September.
Hernandez has been with CWI since February 2014. He is currently an Enrollment Advisor and was previously in the Assessment Center. Hernandez has an Associate of Arts degree in Communication and a bachelor’s degree in Communication with an emphasis in Marketing and Sales. He is currently seeking a master’s degree in Human Resource Development at Idaho State University.
Hernandez was nominated for displaying the core values; Serving all in an Atmosphere of Caring and Respecting the Dignity of Opinions. His nomination noted, “Oster is very knowledgeable and always willing to help. Oster does a lot of recruiting at high schools and has students remember him by name, years later. He has a very open and approachable personality that makes a lasting impression on students. Oster is always willing to listen. He will never tell you, you are wrong or force his opinions on you. Oster is well loved by the majority of people he meets, and they remember him and his personality. He has a way of getting people excited about going back to school and that will be passed on through families because word of mouth is the best advertisement.”
He has two daughters and a son, with two grandchildren on the way. A fun fact about him is that he loves music, especially hip-hop.
Please join us in congratulating Oster on this honor.
Honorable Mention for September:
Jennifer Wind
Autumn Brackley
October Faculty Honor Goes to Johanek
Kim Johanek, who is the lead faculty for College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Connecting With Ideas (CWID) classes, has been selected as the October Faculty of the Month for the College.
Johanek was nominated by a colleague who shared, in part, the following things that she appreciates about her: “Kim always seeks input from fellow faculty and tries to build consensus. She speaks with kindness and is thoughtful in her approach to building new material for the CWID program. Kim was instrumental in developing CWID courses at CWI. She has trained numerous faculty on how to use Taskstream (a cloud-based assessment tool).”
Johanek is currently working towards her doctoral degree. She has been with CWI since the College’s first semester, originally as an adjunct in Sociology and now in CWID. Johanek says she loves that she is involved with something that has real and lasting impact on students that goes beyond their time at CWI.
She says she has six kids; her children, Natalie and Hunter, her border collie Dooley, and three cats. Outside of CWI, Johanek is the co-chair for the Treasure Valley Education Partnership in the “Beyond School” initiative. She is also a member of the South East Boise Rotary that oversees their foreign exchange program. In her free time Johanek likes to enjoy the lake and outdoors of McCall.
Please join in congratulating Kim on receiving this recognition.
