CWI News – Dec. 2, 2022
Spotlight
There is still time to take part in College of Western Idaho's (CWI) 14th-annual Giving Tree! This year, the College’s Psychology Club, Psi Beta, Veteran’s Association, Student Nurses Association, and Social Work Club are partnering with CASA of Southwest Idaho, an independent non-profit organization representing the best interests of children in foster care.
Unwrapped gifts will be collected through Dec. 6 at trees located near the security desks at the following campus locations:
- Ada County Center Pintail Building (APIN)
- Canyon County Center (CYNC)
- Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)
- Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building (NASP)
News Highlights
CWI Partners with Mountain Home Air Force Base
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is proud to partner with Mountain Home Air Force Base to bring quality educational opportunities and classes to military personnel and their families on base, as well as civilian residents of Mountain Home eligible for base access.
Military personnel are able to leverage CWI’s exceptional tuition value to support their personal and professional development by taking up to eight classes per year using military benefits.
CWI offers a wide variety of online courses to choose from, such as Business, Criminal Justice, Cybersecurity, English, Spanish, and more. Online enrollment is a preferred mode for military members because it offers flexibility through duty reassignments and deployments.
Along with online offerings, in-person classes will be offered on base beginning Spring 2023 to assist students working to earn their Community College of the Air Force (CCAF) Associate of Applied Science.
In-person classes are held at the Education Center in room 109 A/B, where students can enroll in Fundamentals of Oral Communication (COMM 101) and Math in Modern Society (MATH 123).
“As the largest community college in Idaho, we are proud to continue serving the greater Treasure Valley and partner with Mountain Home Air Force Base,” said President Gordon Jones. “We’re excited to deliver affordable and accessible educational opportunities to service members and their families to accelerate their career and life goals.”
A CWI representative will be on base to speak with those interested or who have questions about the educational opportunity at the Education Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Those who wish to learn more can also contact a One Stop Representative at 208.562.3000, or email onestop@cwi.edu.
LGBTQ+ Panel Discussion Seeks to Promote Knowledge, Awareness, and Acceptance
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Social Work Club hosted its second series of panel discussions seeking to provide community education around LGBTQ+ identities and experiences on Thursday, Nov. 10. The LGBTQ+ Panel Discussion Series, which began Spring 2022, offers general insight into a broad spectrum of LGBTQ+ identities. Fall 2022 semester's discussion focused on transgender and nonbinary identities.
The panel consisted of four individuals who identify as trans and/or nonbinary and a moderator who identifies as nonbinary. Panelists answered prepared, moderated questions surrounding their identities, their journeys of self-discovery and acceptance, coming out, and experiences in the larger community.
Audience members were then given the opportunity to ask questions so panelists could elaborate on their stories and experiences. Panelists shared the hardships they had encountered as well as the profound joy of recognizing and living as their authentic selves.
Those in attendance said they walked away with a deeper understanding of trans and nonbinary identities and an appreciation for varied experiences.
“This is an example of how students can use their voices to create inclusivity and inspire change on campus, in their community, and beyond," said a CWI student who attended the panel discussion. “Each panel guest bravely spoke about their gender identity and explained what being transgender or non-binary means for them. As one panelist stated, ‘To be my true authentic self, I had to give myself permission to see myself in a new way.’ Another person expressed grief from the loss of who they had been born as but joy in becoming who they are meant to be.”
The CWI Social Work Club hopes events, such as the LGBTQ+ Panel Discussion Series, will help to create a more inclusive and welcoming campus for all as marginalized voices are amplified and community members come together to listen and learn.
The LGBTQ+ Panel Discussion Series is planned to be offered each semester and will continue to highlight various identities and experiences.
What is Burnout? CWI Student Services are Here to Help
Someone once told me, “Life doesn’t stop when you’re getting your degree.”
I’ve reflected on this statement often while wading through my own college experience, and it’s come back to me again and again while working with students.
In my role as a College of Western Idaho (CWI) Tutor, I have the amazing opportunity to help and get to know a lot of students. The more students I work with, the more convinced I am that college is a big balancing act.
Students will tell me all the things they are trying to juggle simultaneously: schoolwork, a job, commitments to family and friends, and much more. Some even say that making time to sleep and eat are among the more difficult things to fit into their schedule.
I hear students say things like, “I’m just so burnt out,” or “I can’t wait for this semester to be over.” And I understand what they mean–being in college while managing life can be a lot to handle.
Some well-managed stress can be a good thing to help us continue to grow. But when can stress in life become unhealthy and begin to inhibit our ability to reach our academic goals?
So What is Burnout?
According to the American Psychology Association(APA), burnout is not a medically diagnosable condition, but rather is described as a form of “exhaustion”. The APA defines burnout as:
“Physical, emotional, or mental exhaustion accompanied by decreased motivation, lowered performance, and negative attitudes toward oneself and others.”
Where does burnout come from?
The APA says this about what causes burnout:
“[Burnout] results from performing at a high level until stress and tension, especially from extreme and prolonged physical or mental exertion or an overburdening workload, take their toll.”
What are signs of burnout?
BestColleges.com outlines some possible signs of academic burnout, though burnout can come from several different stressors (work, school, and other responsibilities):
- Lost of interest in social and extracurricular activities
- Grades suffering and having trouble meeting deadlines
- Feeling a lack of motivation to carry out everyday tasks
- Lost of enjoyment in your daily activities
- Feeling more lonely than usual
- Increasingly irritable
Tips on overcoming burnout
Exhaustion from trying to do it all can lead to a diminished feeling of joy or meaning in what you do every day. Here are some helpful tips for beating burnout and getting back to feeling your best:
Reach out
Turning inward and remaining isolated in your struggles can make burnout worse. Consider connecting with mental health professionals, booking an appointment with a tutor, or talking to your advisor.
CWI doesn’t want you to go this alone. There are many resources available that can assist you and make your college experience a success.
Connect with your peers
Making friends in college can make all the difference. Whether it's making a friend in one of your classes, or meeting fellow students at a CWI event, peer friendships help remind you that you’re not alone.
In my experience, creating study groups with fellow students helps students perform better in their classes, and it creates a sense of accountability to each other.
Make boundaries
Making some rules around when you’ll work and when you’ll take a break is an important life skill, and college is a great time to practice.
Get specific on when you’ll do school work, when you’ll dedicate time to your job, and when you’ll spend time with family, friends, and other obligations. I’ve seen that people who honor and take care of the boundaries they’ve set find that their boundaries end up taking care of them.
Commit to self-care
It’s easy to be so focused on academic and career goals that we forget to find joy in the moment. So make sure to take regular breaks! It will help reinvigorate you and keep you feeling your best.
But what are some ideas for self-care?
- Getting enough sleep
- Eating healthy
- Spending time with friends or family
- Exercising
- Enjoying a hobby
- Learning a new skill
CWI is here to help!
CWI is committed to seeing you succeed, despite the many demands on your time and attention. It’s even in the mission statement:
“College of Western Idaho is committed to empowering students to succeed by providing affordable and accessible education to advance the local and global workforce.”
Below are CWI student resources that are designed to lighten your load and help you—so you don’t have to navigate the challenges of college alone:
CWI Counseling and Wellness Services
Counseling and Wellness Services believes mental health and wellness are critical to student learning, persistence, retention and personal development. They support student mental health and wellness through direct counseling services, community referrals, consultation, and educational programming.
CWI Tutoring Services
CWI Tutoring Services exist to empower students to master course content and succeed in their classes. The tutoring they provide complements classroom instruction in individualized and group sessions to help students achieve their academic goals. Their support is free to all currently enrolled students, faculty, and staff.
Make a tutoring appointment today!
Writing Center
CWI Writing Center, housed within CWI Tutoring Services, is a place where students can get help with academic, professional, and creative writing.
Advising
College can be confusing, but Student Success Advisors are here to help. When you need help or have a question, you can turn to your advisor to get help with:
- Registration
- Degree Planning
- Graduation
- Career or Major Exploration
- Major Changes
- Transfer Options
- Campus Resources
One Stop Student Services
One Stop Student Services is your student information and service hub. The One Stop can help you with questions regarding admissions, financial aid, registration and records. The team can also answer payment questions, collect payments, take vouchers, and more.
Many other resources!
Here’s a list of other resources available to CWI students:
- CWI Bookstore
- Career Information
- Center for New Directions
- Computer / Technical Help
- Cyber Defense Center
- Disability Services
- International Services
- Latinx Student Services
- Library
- Testing Services
- Veterans and Military Family Services
Don’t give up
More likely than not, you’ll face burnout at some point in your college experience or career.
Don’t be ashamed of getting help when you need it. In fact, the most successful people I know are the biggest advocates for connecting and seeking help from others. No great accomplishment is done alone!
Woodall Named Staff of the Month for September 2022
Congratulations to Degree Audit Coordinator, Laura Woodall, who has been named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for September 2022.
Woodall works in the College’s Registrar’s Office where she builds and maintains the degree audit system that allows students and advisors to stay up to date on what classes have been completed and what is still needed to graduate. As curriculum evolves, programs run pilots, or consider and approve exceptions, she maintains the Degree Audit program’s system to reflect those efforts.
She has been part of the College for more than 13 years and has held several different roles in the Registrar’s Office, including the Transfer and Graduation Evaluator.
Before joining the CWI team, Woodall previously worked at Boise State University’s Registrar’s Office for 17 years.
“I was very excited to come to CWI to have an opportunity to be part of something new and so needed in the community,” Woodall said. “I feel so lucky to work with such dedicated and passionate people. CWI's staff and faculty are wonderful.”
With her knowledge and years of experience working in higher education, she helps support her team members in day-to-day tasks and takes on other duties to help her team thrive and get necessary work completed.
“Laura is the quiet cornerstone of the Registrar’s office,” said IT Senior Program Manager, Autumn Brackley. “You will not see her out giving presentations to students like other recruiters or in the One Stop answering questions and making IDs, but you will see her supporting team members and system processes which promote excellent customer service to staff and students.”
During the Fall 2022 semester, Woodall took on the responsibility of leading the Colleague Duplicates Committee while the original chair was on family leave. The work required responding to reported possible duplicate records, cleaning up the records, and coordinating with all impacted offices to clean-up their associated records.
“Over and over, I have said we are lucky to have Laura at CWI and specifically in the Registrar’s Office,” Brackley said. “The work is not flashy, but so crucial to be a mighty institution. Laura deserves recognition as Staff of the Month."
In addition to her role in the Registrar’s Office, Woodall also helps with CWI’s Commencement ceremony each year. Having been part of the College since 2009, she has helped run numerous commencement ceremonies — something she’s never grown tired of.
Her favorite commencement was CWI’s first one. From putting together hundreds of chairs all afternoon, to trying to keep family members from running on stage, Woodall said the “chaos” all came together, and everyone had a great time.
“Every Commencement is amazing, and it is such a fun time to see the excitement of students,” she said. “It really puts into perspective why we are here.”
Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Woodall lives with her two sons, one is attending Boise State and the other is a junior in high school.
In her spare time, Woodall enjoys spending time with family in Garden Valley, watching horror movies, and attending as many metal concerts as possible each year. She is also a HUGE fan of Halloween.
