CWI Compass Connect - September 17, 2015
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho (CWI) celebrated its newest transfer partnership on Wednesday (Sept. 9) welcoming the University of Idaho (UI) to campus to launch VandaLink, which provides benefits to CWI students interested in transferring to UI. The event included a program fair with information about UI programs and transfer opportunities, a formal handshake between the schools, and a dessert social. For more information about CWI’s transfer partnerships, visit cwi.edu/future-students/transferring-cwi-0.
News Highlights
Community Visioning Workshop – Potential CWI Boise Campus
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) invites community members to provide feedback on early concepts for the College’s potential urban campus in Boise’s West End during a Community Visioning Workshop. The event will take place:
Tuesday, Sept. 22
6:30-8:00 p.m.
Whittier Elementary School – 301 N. 29th Street, Boise
Presentation starts promptly at 6:30 p.m. followed by interactive small group discussions.
CTA Architects and Engineers will share multiple campus concepts developed from guiding principals they gathered during the Community Insight Sessions earlier this month. At the interactive workshop, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions and share their opinions on the concepts.
CWI Accepting Students for New Masonry Program
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is accepting students for a new Masonry Apprenticeship program that is set to begin classes in October. CWI will accept 30 students into the first class of the three-year program. The College will host an open house on Sept. 29 for anyone interested in learning more about the Masonry Apprenticeship program. The event will run from 5-7 p.m. at CWI’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education in Nampa.
The program, which is offered through CWI’s Workforce Development division, is made possible by a $25,000 grant from the Idaho Department of Labor. Classes will be held at Meridian High School and CWI is partnering with West Ada School District on instruction and curriculum.
“This program is built to address a growing industry in the Treasure Valley,” says Christi Rood, executive director of Workforce Development at CWI. “The demand for skilled Masonry laborers is projected to increase substantially in the next several years and we are thrilled to be the resource to meet the training need.”
According to the Idaho Department of Labor Occupational and Industry Projections, the number of jobs in the masonry professions is anticipated to grow over 40 percent between 2012 and 2022.
Students in CWI’s Masonry Apprenticeship program will receive classroom and lab training while also experiencing on-the-job training. Registration will occur annually.
Visit cwi.edu/program/masonry-apprenticeship for more information on the open house and program information.
CWI Students Lead Falcon Research Project
CWI Kestrel Research Project
Students at College of Western Idaho (CWI) are benefiting from a valuable undergraduate research opportunity made possible thanks to the efforts of CWI’s Biology Club to work in conjunction with the Peregrine Fund’s American Kestrel Partnership. During the 2014-15 school year, the club took on a research project that focuses on studying the American Kestrel; a small falcon. Students have built nest boxes, installed the boxes at CWI’s Nampa Campus for monitoring, and are recording data on Kestrel’s that inhabit the boxes. Watch the video to learn more about the project and how it is impacting students.
For more information on how to get involved in the CWI Kestrel Project, please contact Assistant Biology Professor Dusty Perkins at dustyperkins@cwi.edu.
CWI to Conduct Emergency Alert Test on Sept. 25
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will be conducting a test of its alert notification system, Rave Mobile Safety, to help ensure the CWI community is notified of any potential emergency situations. The test will occur on Friday, Sept. 25 at approximately 3:50 p.m. CWI uses Rave Mobile Safety to inform students, employees, and the extended College community of critical situations.
Employees and students are automatically enrolled to receive alerts to their CWI email and any phone numbers provided when joining the College. To ensure the safety of the CWI community and provide timely emergency messages it is important that current contact information is provided. Contact information can be updated by visiting cwi.edu/alerts. The service is free, but text messaging fees may be charged from cellular providers.
CWI partners and friends can sign up to receive alerts by visiting cwi.edu/alerts.
CWI Alerts are only used for critical circumstances including severe weather, snow closures, utility failure, hazardous material spills, violent incidents, and other situations with the potential to affect the health or safety of people on campus. Please email communications@cwi.edu with any questions.
Visiting Artist Series Welcomes Marimba Boise
The College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Artist Series returns this October with an exciting presentation that is sure to provide a fun and entertaining learning experience. CWI will welcome Marimba Boise to the Nampa Campus Academic Building, Oct. 9-10, for workshops and a concert. All events are free and open to the public.
Marimba Boise, a group that specializes in Zimbabwean-style marimba music, will host a workshop from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 9 and 9-11 a.m. on Oct. 10. The group will also present a concert on Oct. 10 from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., with a reception to follow.
Marimba Boise plays on a family of xylophones, where each instrument adds an essential voice to an intricate and joyful sound. Drawing on music from southern Africa, their music celebrates the region’s infectious dance rhythms, traditions, and ever-unfolding beauty.
Space for the workshops is limited. Contact Jeff Davis at 208.562.3255 or jeffreydavis@cwi.edu to reserve a spot.
Space Available for CWI Career Fairs
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is inviting organizations to participate in the College’s annual fall Career Fairs, which will be held Oct. 6-8 at three CWI campus locations. The Career Fairs provide a great chance for employers and nonprofit organizations to recruit CWI students for job openings, internships, and volunteer opportunities. The events will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.:
- Oct. 6, Ada County Campus Pintail Center
- Oct. 7, Micron Center for Professional Technical Education
- Oct. 8, Nampa Campus Academic Building
Space is limited so booths will be provided through registration on a first come, first serve basis. The registration deadline is 5 p.m. on Sept. 25. Visit http://cctc.signupsheet.com/ to sign up. Please contact Lori Yellen at loriyellen@cwi.edu or 208.562.2421 with any questions.
Haslam Honored with August Staff Award
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to name Heather Haslam its Staff of the Month recipient for August.
Haslam has been with CWI for almost eight months. She began her tenure at CWI as an Administrative Assistant I and currently serves as Administrative Assistant III for Academic Affairs at the Canyon County Center. Haslam was nominated for displaying the core values of Acting with Integrity and Serving All in an Atmosphere of Caring. Her nomination notes, “she is creating bridges and opportunities for developing relationships.” It also states “she emanates positivity. She has created a more inviting break room for faculty and staff, implemented activities and social events to bring employees together, and provides thoughtful and regular communication to the occupants of [Canyon County Center]. She is one of our shining stars!”
Haslam says she loves her job and is blown away by the incredible people she works with, and for. She enjoys being the messenger and implementer of her colleagues’ awesome work. She stays, “there are more than a dozen people who should be named here with me, if not instead of me. It’s their ideas, support, influence, participation, and guidance that I simply get to put into action. I have a front row seat to greatness and I get to watch it happening around me all day long.”
She has been married for 18 years to her husband Randy. She has a 24-year old stepdaughter, Bree, who lives in southern California. She’s lived in Idaho, Montana, California, and Texas. One interesting fact she was willing to share is that she loves to eat ice cream when it’s really cold outside.
Please join in congratulating Heather for her Staff of the Month recognition. Thank you for all your hard work as a member of the CWI family.
