CWI News – August 30, 2024
News Highlights
Support First-Generation Students at CWI’s Open Doors Benefit Event
Join College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation’s 11th-annual Opening Doors Benefit Event, taking place Sept. 1 – 15, as we raise money for first-generation student scholarships! The entire CWI community is invited to join this year's online auction, featuring one-of-a-kind metal art created by CWI students, experience packages donated by community members, and much more!
The auction opens on Sunday, Sept. 1 and runs until Sunday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. Be sure to register early to view and bid on auction items! Follow the arrow below to learn more and bid.
For more information and to learn about additional ways to support the College and first-generation students, contact the Advancement/Foundation at 208.562.3100 or foundation@cwi.edu.
Visiting Artist Series: Roland Becerra
Join College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Artist Series in welcoming artist, Roland Becerra, to the Nampa Campus Academic Building on Monday, Sept. 12 for a lecture and Tuesday, Sept. 13 for a workshop.
Roland Becerra grew up in Miami’s “Little Havana”, where he witnessed the process of recreating Cuban culture in a new homeland through stories, art and music. This deeply impacted his path toward becoming an artist. He earned an MFA from Yale University and has exhibited his work throughout the east coast. His first animated short “Dear Beautiful” premiered at Sundance in 2009. Roland spent the last decade making “Agatha” into a feature-length animated film and currently into a graphic novel.
Artist’s Lecture
Roland Becerra will present a lecture to students at CWI about his work.
Monday, Sept. 12
6 – 7 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Room 206
Creating Simple Stories: Beginner Comic-Book Workshop
Becerra will also host an engaging, hands-on workshop where attendees will learn the essentials of comic-book storytelling. This beginner-friendly session is perfect for those interested in exploring the art of comics. Attendees will learn the basics of creating clear and compelling stories through simple art and concise dialogue.
Tuesday, Sept 13
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Room 206
By the end of the workshop, participants will understand the basics of comic-book storytelling and create their own simple, short comic.
CWI’s Visiting Artist Series is made possible through a grant from Idaho Commission on the Arts, which is supported by National Endowment for the Arts. Visiting Artist Series events, featuring visual and performing artists, are free and open to the public.
For those with questions or need more information, please contact Brenda Fisher at brendafisher@cwi.edu.
CWI Gains New Health, Wellness Tools Through American College Health Association
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is now an institutional member of the American College Health Association (ACHA). ACHA is a nonprofit association that serves as the voice for student health and wellness through advocacy, research, and education. The benefits of being a member of ACHA include:
- Tools to Connect with Other Community Colleges: Individuals can collaborate with other community colleges through the Community College Coalition online forum. This dynamic space enables institutions to share insights, discuss challenges, and participate in initiatives aimed at improving student well-being across two-year colleges.
- Actionable Data: ACHA’s National College Health Assessment (NCHA) is a tool used by 1,000+ colleges to collect data on student health behaviors and attitudes. By leveraging the NCHA, CWI can gain critical insights into student well-being, enabling us to make data-driven decisions and implement strategies that effectively address the needs of our students. Student Affairs will be administering the NCHA later this fall!
- Free Membership for All Staff, Faculty, and Students: Every member of the CWI community — staff, faculty, administrators, and students — can stay informed about the latest trends and best practices in the college health realm.
If you are interested in an individual ACHA membership, please use the instructions below. If you already have an ACHA account or had one in the past but need your membership activated, please reach out to membership@acha.org to request account reinstatement.
- Complete an online profile using the regular member application or student member application ensuring you connect your account to your member school, College of Western Idaho directly linked to the database in the “organization” field
- Proceed to checkout. Even though your dues are free you must complete the shopping cart process to activate the account
- Your “active through date” is connected to the school so yours will automatically update to reflect your school’s “paid through” date
- You will receive a welcome email the next day. Please contact membership@acha.org with questions
Instruction Levels-Up with New SharePoint Site
We are excited to announce the new Instruction SharePoint site launch — a comprehensive resource designed to support your work within Instruction at CWI. This site is your one-stop shop for everything related to credit instruction, offering over 100 pages of valuable information that connects day-to-day activities with the relevant policies, procedures, training, and resources.
What You’ll Find:
- Extensive Resources: Explore detailed information on a wide range of instructional activities, complete with links to the corresponding policies and procedures.
- Training and Support: Access training materials and resources to help you stay current and enhance your teaching practices.
- Calendar of Events: Stay informed with our calendar, featuring key dates and events related to instruction.
- Bi-Weekly Newsletters: Receive important updates and reminders from the Instructional Deans, ensuring you’re always in the loop with the latest information and initiatives.
Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of how credit instruction works at CWI or need guidance on specific instructional processes, this site has you covered.
Access the Instruction SharePoint site at https://cwidahocc.sharepoint.com/sites/Instruction.
We encourage you to bookmark this page and visit it regularly, as new content and updates will be added frequently.
Join a Club and Find Support at Fall 2024 Student Resource Fairs
Discover what College of Western Idaho (CWI) has to offer outside of the classroom! Student Engagement is hosting their Fall 2024 Student Resource Fairs. CWI students can attend to explore different resources available on and off campus, while enjoying fun activities and tasty food.
Students will be able to connect with clubs, campus departments, and gain valuable information that will contribute to a thriving and successful campus experience.
Tuesday, Sept. 10
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Ada County Center Pintail Building (APIN)
Wednesday, Sept. 11
11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)
The Student Resource Fair will also bring together about a dozen off-campus community partners. These organizations are excellent resources to help students with basic needs, such as transportation, childcare and family support, financial support resources, low-cost medical care options, and domestic violence resources.
Three lucky students who fill out an event passport or attend the virtual fair will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Amazon gift card. Names will be chosen and contacted by Student Affairs following the events.
Can’t make it in person? Visit the Resource Fair virtually all semester long in myCommons on Blackboard!
For those with questions or in need of more information about the Student Resource Fairs, contact Sitlaly Escamilla at sitlalyescamilla@cwi.edu.
Wishing Well Fund Accepting Applications
Looking for extra financial help to fund a classroom need or program? Now's your chance as the College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation’s Wishing Well Fund is accepting applications!
The Wishing Well Fund was established to encourage our staff and faculty to innovate and enhance CWI's educational environment and develop student learning opportunities. All the funds granted must be used for the direct advancement of departments or programs, contributing to students' growth and learning experiences.
This Fund is only possible thanks to the generous contributions of CWI employees and our supportive community partners, who are passionate about funding projects that extend beyond the standard departmental budget and require a financial lift to enhance student experiences.
The application must be signed both by you and your Dean/Director and submitted online to the CWI Foundation by 3 p.m. on Oct. 31. Late submissions will not be considered.
The maximum award amount is $1,500, and funds must be utilized by May 1, 2025.
For more information about the Wishing Well Fund or to request an application, please reach out to the Foundation at foundation@cwi.edu.
Let's Go Otters
The new College of Western Idaho's (CWI) mascot was launched on August 14 during 2024 State of the College Address. Through an inclusive and collaborative journey and in partnership with our campus community, the Otter was established as CWI’s official mascot.
The Otter serves as a symbol for our thriving community to rally around while also paying tribute to the accomplishments and growth at CWI. This mascot will embody the curious, resilient, dynamic, and collaborative spirit of the College, mirroring our students’ ability to thrive and innovate in any field or environment.
You can learn about River the Otter at cwi.edu/mascot and follow the inspiration and creative journey that went into it's development. Explore a behind-the-scenes look at logo and wordmark designs, the anatomical analysis, and the brand guide for usage.
Ready to sport your Otter spirit? Visit the CWI Bookstore to find Otter gear such as t-shirts, hats, sweatshirts, and more. Want to win some limited-edition Otter gear? Enter the mascot sweepstakes through Sept. 30 for a chance to win.
If you have any questions about the mascot, reach out to Marketing & Communications at communications@cwi.edu.
Let’s Go Otters!