CWI News – Feb. 17, 2023
Spotlight
Throughout the week, a production crew was on campus filming different instructors, staff, and students as part of upcoming advertisements targeting specific programs. The work captured this week will help create video spots, social media posts, update program pages, and much more!
This was the first of many upcoming shoots capturing and highlighting the different programs at CWI. Stay tuned! #mightyCWI
News Highlights
2023 Juried Art Exhibition
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visual and Performing Arts department is excited to host the seventh-annual Juried Art Exhibition, which takes place during the College’s Connections Project.
This year’s juror is painter, printmaker, and arts administrator, Cassandra Schiffler, who brings 15 years of experience working in the arts in fine art appraisals, museums, galleries, universities, community print studios, and frame shops. Through her education and experience, she has acquired a unique understanding of the complexities of the arts community as both a participating artist and an arts administrator. She is currently the Arts & Culture Coordinator for the City of Meridian and a regularly exhibiting artist at Capitol Contemporary Gallery in Boise, Idaho.
For more information or to view Schiffler’s work, visit her website CassandraSchiffler.com.
Submissions are being accepted for the 2023 Juried Art Exhibition through March 31. Submit your work in the Connections Project Portal section on Blackboard. All currently registered students are encouraged to participate — the winner will receive $150!
CWI’s Connections Project event is Thursday, April 20. For those with questions or in need of more information, please contact Karen Brown at karenbrown@cwi.edu.
ASL Club Welcoming Skills of All Levels
Do you use American Sign Language (ASL) often? Are you interested in learning how to sign or in need of a refresher? College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) ASL Club invites all signer skill levels to turn off their voices and practice ASL. CWI ASL Club will host their first club meeting of the semester on Thursday, Feb. 23.
The ASL Club is an opportunity for students to practice ASL with others in a judgment-free space, as well as get to know other students, staff, and members of the Deaf community at CWI. The Club plans to meet at least once a month but hopes to participate in and attend various ASL-centered events around the Treasure Valley to help students increase their skills and knowledge of Deaf culture.
“You cannot fully understand Deaf culture until you start immersing yourself in ASL and building relationships with deaf and hard-of-hearing people,” said ASL Club Secretary, Emily Anderson. “We are proud of the ASL program at CWI and want the club to have a presence on campus again.”
CWI ASL Club Meeting
Thursday, Feb. 23
Noon – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), second-floor atrium
For those with questions or are in need of more information about CWI ASL Club, please visit their program page or @cwiaslclub on Facebook.
Vote in Upcoming Spring 2023 ASCWI Election!
As Spring 2023 semester gets into full swing, students at College of Western Idaho (CWI) are gearing up for an important annual event: the Associated Students of College of Western Idaho (ASCWI) elections. This tradition gives students the opportunity to have a say in the leadership of their college and help shape the policies and programs that will affect their lives on campus.
This semester, CWI students will be encouraged to vote on the ASCWI President, Vice-President, Senators, and a Referendum.
Spring 2023 Ballot
ASCWI President & Vice-President ticket
- Casey Dudley and Raquel Valdibieso
ASCWI Senator
- Travis Raney
Referendums
- Establishment of a Student Services & Activities Fee – Referendum #01-2022-2023
For more information on the candidates and Referendum, please visit the ASCWI elections web page.
Students who wish to write in other students will also have the opportunity to nominate them by providing the student's full name and CWI email address.
Voting will begin on Friday, March 10, at 5 p.m. and will stay open until Thursday, March 16 at 11:59 p.m. More voting details will be sent through CWI student email closer to the polls opening. To vote in the student body election, you must be a currently enrolled student at the College.
Election results are expected to be announced on Friday, March 17, at noon.
For those with questions or in need of more information, please contact Amber Eubanks at ambereubanks@cwi.edu.
Pathways Program Offering Real World Experience for Biology Students
Are you interested in natural resources research or management? If so, you may be interested in a program at College of Western Idaho (CWI) created specifically for second-year, Biology–Natural Resources majors.
The Pathways Program provides appointed students the opportunity to intern with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Students will work with local and regional biologists on the Service’s environmental review process creating content on fish, wildlife, and plant species of concern in Idaho.
Appointments will be made for one academic year, October 2024 through May 2025, during the candidate’s sophomore-equivalent year at CWI. Eligible students include those enrolled at the College during the 2024-2025 academic year and working toward a bachelor’s degree in any field of natural resources research or management including botany, ecology, environmental science, fisheries, wildlife biology, and other related fields. Students must be eligible for financial aid and the federal work-study program and be able to work up to 10 hours per week. Eligible students should be planning to transfer to a four-year college or university in Idaho to continue their studies in natural resources research or management.
Successful candidates will participate in U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service meetings, complete federally sponsored trainings, and network with potential employers. Most work will be completed remotely, so students must have a computer and internet connection capable of meeting U.S. Department of Interior information technology and security requirements. In addition, there is opportunity for regional field work and/or temporary employment during the summer of 2024. Outstanding candidates may even be eligible for additional internships or employment once they have left CWI, and enroll in a natural resources-related program at a four-year college or university in Idaho.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Idaho has offices in Boise, Chubbuck, and Coeur d’Alene. Whether your plan is to transfer to Boise State University, Idaho State University, or University of Idaho, there will be an office nearby where you may be invited to participate in additional experiences. Careers in the natural resources field are rewarding but very competitive. Gaining experiences by way of internships or volunteerism is a great way to begin your career as a natural resource professional and may be an entry point into federal service.
For those interested in applying, contact Dr. Steven Lysne at stevelysne@cwi.edu with a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and include a brief notice of interest in your communication.
Learn the Ins and Outs of LinkedIn
Students looking to grow their professional network and navigate the online world of LinkedIn are in luck! College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Work-Based Learning Center is hosting the professional series, “LinkedIn Workshop: The Power of Social Networking for Career Growth and Opportunities” on Wednesday, Feb. 22.
The workshop, which is open to all students and areas of studies, is a great resource to engage with employers, connect with opportunities, and gain tips on social media etiquette from Coding Temple Career Coach, Aubrey Plew. Plew works with students at Coding Temple to build their network and online presence through the use of professional online platforms, such as LinkedIn.
By attending the workshop students will walk away with the knowledge of how to create and build on an online profile, grow their professional network, and have a better understanding of utilizing LinkedIn to land a job.
Virtual: Zoom, passcode: 097509
Those with questions or in need of more information can contact Roberto Trinidad at 208.562.2150 or robertotrinidad@cwi.edu.
Spring 2023 Transfer Fair
So, you’re a College of Western Idaho (CWI) student who is approaching graduation and interested in learning more about transferring to a university or college to continue your education. You are in luck! CWI invites those interested to the Spring 2023 Transfer Fair on Tuesday, March 7.
College and university representatives will be on campus to discuss programs, majors, and transfer requirements. This is a one-day event that will take place at both campus locations, Ada County and Nampa, throughout the day.
Visit with representatives from schools, such as Boise State University, University of Idaho, Idaho State University, College of Idaho, and more! You can find the full list of participants on the Transfer Fair webpage.
Ada County Center Pintail Building (APIN), Student Commons
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), first floor lobby
For those interested or who have questions, please contact Brittney Hernandez at brittneyhernandez@cwi.edu.
Meyers Named Staff of the Month for October 2022
Congratulations to Enrollment and Student Services Program Manager, Kari Meyers, who was named College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) October 2022 Staff of the Month.
A member of the CWI community for nearly five years, Meyers works to help and serve students, so they can achieve success — something she values greatly in life.
Meyers works with all areas of Enrollment and Student Services to ensure work is documented in the College’s Planning Tool, collaborates with other departments to help with requests for work in and out of Enrollment and Student Services, and identifies obstacles to work in progress and assists to remove those barriers. Part of her role is to also train the department to use the CWI Governance Framework and Planning Tool.
In addition to her role with Enrollment and Student Services, Meyers is the Scrum Master for the Academic Enterprise Tactical Advisory Council (AETAC).
Prior to working as Program Manager, Meyers worked in the Financial Aid Office as the Financial Aid Scholarship Coordinator and Special Process and Financial Aid Systems Analyst.
Before CWI, Meyers worked at her alma mater, Simpson University, in Redding, California, within the Student Financial Services office, which handled Financial Aid and Student Accounts. She worked there for nearly 13 years before moving to the Gem State and beginning her CWI journey.
“When I moved to Idaho in 2018, having previously worked in a four-year, private institution, I was looking to get more experience in a public institution,” Meyers said. “I was impressed with the reach that CWI had and their mission to provide affordable education to the community, especially because I was planning to continue my work in financial aid, which is all about helping students access education through the use of funding.”
Through her willingness to help students succeed, Meyers holds several certifications through the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), including the Financial Aid Administrator Certification (FAAC), and earned her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification. She also is part of several CWI committees and outside organizations, such as the Western Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (WASFAA), NASFAA, and its Rapid Response Network Taskforce.
“Kari is always working toward improving processes and how we can do things better as a department and college, excellence and innovation,” said former CWI employee, Alice Baldazo. “She is always checking to ensure we are following compliance and staying within the national and state rules and regulations. If any issues arise, she will be the first to step up and bring them to attention. She also will be the first to admit she’s wrong if she messed up, or had an issue and will own up to it and address it accordingly, all of these I believe fall under integrity.”
One of Kari’s favorite things about CWI is the people she gets to work with. In addition to student success, the people around CWI is what has made the College a great place to work.
“CWI has such a wonderful group of individuals working and serving the students and each other every single day,” said Meyers. “I have been so blessed to be able to serve alongside many of them.”
“She is constantly caring for her team and the work she does to ensure the students are the first priority,” Baldazo said. “She shows tremendous respect toward all.”
Meyers grew up in Turlock, California, and upon graduating high school, moved north Redding, California, to attend college at Simpson University. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English with minors in History and Bible and Theology staying in Redding for 13 more years. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Human Resource Management from Simpson University and a Master of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University.
Outside of CWI, Meyers enjoys reading, listening to true crime podcasts, and watching true crime documentaries, and learning about other cultures. Her latest venture has been exploring more of South Korean culture and language. In addition to her fascination to with other cultures, she loves to travel and has been to more countries than other states in the United States.
Campus Safety and Security Testing Building’s Door Locks
Throughout the month of February, College of Western Idaho (CWI) Campus Safety and Security will test campus building’s electronic door-locking systems on Friday afternoons. This will affect entrance doors to buildings and internal doors with card access locks, primarily lab rooms.
Security will lock down a different set of buildings each week and manually check to be sure the locks are functioning properly. During this time, people will be able to exit buildings and electronic keyed interior doors but will not be able to re-enter them until we are done testing the system. The process should take less than 30 minutes per site.
Classes and college business will be able to continue as normal as there will only be a short inconvenience on entry into buildings.
Testing dates and times
- Friday, Feb. 24 — 2:15 p.m.
CWI Campus Safety and Security will post notices on the entry doors of the buildings being tested on the days of the events with the time as a reminder.
For those with questions or in need of more information, contact security@cwi.edu.
