CWI News—Jan. 28, 2022
In the Spotlight—Jan. 28, 2022
When you visualize an otter as the College’s future mascot, what do you see? What physical attributes and personality traits would it have to best represent CWI? What would you name it? Help us bring the otter to life by completing the Mascot Survey. TODAY is the last day to tell us what you think!
President's Message
I hope you and your students off to a great start for spring term. This past week I have been able to celebrate the amazing efforts of all of you and share our message with the Idaho Legislature during Education Week. It has been my privilege to represent the great work going on here at College of Western Idaho and have done my best to emphasize the high quality and extreme value available here.
Wednesday morning, I had the opportunity to introduce myself and present our vision for fiscal year 2023 to the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee (JFAC). Next, we moved to the House and Senate Education Committees where we engaged in truly meaningful dialogue related to the needs of the state and how community colleges are rising to address those needs. As Education Week wraps up, please know I will be continuing to meet with our legislative leaders and sharing the amazing efforts of our staff and faculty to empower our students and advance student success.
I look forward to getting out across campus to meet and engage with you. It is very important for me to stay connected, and I am committed to connecting with you through communications, conversations, and hopefully in-person opportunities very soon.
Education Week Recordings:
Wednesday, Jan. 26 – Joint Finance Appropriations Committee (48:10)
Thursday, Jan. 27 – House Education Committee (15:40)
Thursday, Jan. 27 – Senate Education Committee (33:55)
CWI in the News
KTVB Viewpoint: New CWI president discusses his vision for the college and its 29,000 students
Idaho Press: New CWI president wows lawmakers in budget pitch
IdahoEd News: Statehouse roundup, 1.26.22: Community colleges make their budget pitch
CBS 2 News: CWI outlines proposed budget: New health science building could be in the works
News Highlights
English Students Experience the World of Publishing Firsthand
If you are an English, Creative Writing, or Liberal Arts major at College of Western Idaho (CWI), you will likely encounter English 211, Literary Analysis. A course that teaches application of literary theory to texts may sound abstract and even impractical at first, but for students in Liza Long’s class, the final project offers a real-world opportunity to experience what it is like to produce a scholarly publication.
“For the final project, students choose a short story and a theoretical lens we have studied, then create and publish a group critical edition of that short story,” said Long, Department Chair of Integrated Studies. “Designed with my own publishing experiences in mind, this assignment serves as a real-world opportunity for students to learn and practice the skills they will use for publication.”
The students choose roles for the project, including project manager, editor, and publisher. Group members work together to create a proposal and write introductions about each member, a group critical introduction introducing the short story, an annotated bibliography, and individual essays. Each group’s work is then published in the online book, Beginnings and Endings, which is expanded upon each semester.
“When first introduced to this project, I was pretty intimidated,” said Liberal Arts major, Grace Hug. “There were a lot of steps and seemed like it was going to take a lot of time. However, once my group got settled and started forming a plan, I felt much better. I think the goal of every class you take should be to finish it up with your best work, and I would say this project made that possible for me. Not only do I have something of value to put on a resume now, but I also wrote an essay I can say I'm proud of – it was my best of the semester. Overall, this project taught me how to work well with others, meet deadlines, and motivated me to work hard.”
Thanks to the expertise of Ryan Randall, Instruction Coordinator and Faculty Outreach Librarian, this open education resource (OER), was brought to life.
"Working with Professor Long and her English 211 students for the past year has been an absolute joy,” said Randall. “This project is a great example of how OER increases access to materials and also opens many new pedagogical opportunities."
Focused on OER as a 2020 Idaho State Board of Education OPAL Fellow, Long is proud of her students’ contributions to OER and literary scholarship but is most proud of what they learn about teamwork.
“Publication is important for scholars and writers,” she said. “I love having my community college students demonstrate scholarship in action. They feel prepared to go on to four-year colleges and universities as published literary scholars, and they have practical experiences in teamwork that can transfer to any major or profession.”
"Working on Beginnings and Endings was something I never thought I'd be doing even just a year ago,” said Liberal Arts major, Helen Neves. “Contributing to the publication with my group ended up being something both educational and fun. Knowing that future Literary Analysis students will see our work made the project even more exciting and worth the effort."
OTA Students Finish Semester “en Pointe” with Children’s Dance Camp
Since its inception, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) students have been pioneers paving the way with innovative, hands-on, practical learning experiences. In partnership with TRICA, Treasure Valley Institute of Children’s Arts, OTA students worked side-by-side with children in the community during the Fall 2021 semester to learn and perform a dance with choreography tailored to their unique abilities.
In collaboration with their instructors, students developed interactive activities aimed to address various pediatric needs of the children. The hard work and dedication of both the students and the children culminated in a week-long, all-inclusive dance camp. Regardless of their abilities, the children were able to twist and shout on stage for family and friends.
“TRICA was so honored to collaborate with the CWI’s OTA program in this inaugural, adapted dance program that helped to define for children what success means, which is doing their personal best,” said TRICA Creative Director, Jon Swarthout.
“This was such an amazing, hands-on experience,” said OTA student, Skylar Luna. “I have learned skills I will carry with me throughout my career as an occupational therapy assistant.”
This and other service-based learning projects over the course of the semester gave students invaluable learning experiences through the practical application of key clinical concepts.
“Creating hands-on learning opportunities through collaboration with families in our community and the TRICA organization allowed us to provide our students with the increased ability to effectively apply classroom concepts to real-life situations for a richer, more immersive learning experience,” said OTA Academic Fieldwork Coordinator, Angela Zaugg.
“This experience was beneficial to both the students and the participants,” said Deborah Waters, a nurse and mother of TRICA collaboration participants. “As a fellow healthcare professional, I loved watching the students and instructors work together to identify the individual needs of the participants. I think this program was mutually beneficial. As we have both a child with special needs and an advanced toddler, it was very interesting to see the modifications made to help both of them progress, as well as see the OTA students learn. I wish I would have had a similar experience during my education!”
“The OTA program believes in the strength and resilience of the human body, mind, and spirit,” said OTA faculty, Christina Jenkins. “We express our appreciation to TRICA and to the many families for making this dance camp a reality. Be on the look out for more from CWI’s highly-talented OTA students as they share their knowledge, passion, and skills within the community."
The OTA annual application period is now open. Applications are being accepted for Fall 2022 through April 15, 2022.
New CWI Honors Program Now Accepting Applications
Maximize your educational experience and receive a $1,000 scholarship in College of Western Idaho's (CWI) new Honors Program. Applications for Fall 2022 are open now through Saturday, Aug. 13, to first time, full-time, degree-seeking students.
Students accepted into the Honors Program will have the opportunity to supplement their degree with diverse courses, work closely with honors designated faculty, hear from President Gordon Jones, connect with classmates who share similar goals, and participate in events each semester within the CWI community. Transfer partnerships between local and regional institutions are available, and students will receive intentional advising and mentoring from CWI faculty and staff. Students in the Honors Program will also be eligible for membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and have the opportunity to engage in community service both within the CWI community as well as the Treasure Valley at large.
“We're delighted to welcome a diverse group of students into the Honors Program cohort and are excited to walk alongside them as they develop into life-long learners both in and outside of the classroom,” said Honors Program Coordinator, Michal Yadlin. “We're looking forward to the Honors students working to achieve their program degrees along with an opportunity to hone the skills that are vital in becoming active and curious global citizens.”
Apply by July 29 for free CWI swag! Visit the Honors Program page for more information including benefits, admissions requirements, scholarship opportunities, expectations, and more. Contact honorsprogram@cwi.edu with questions.
Applications Open for 8th Annual Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge
Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? College of Western Idaho students are invited to take part in the eighth-annual Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge (IEC), Thursday, April 7, hosted by Boise State University’s Venture College in the College of Innovation and Design. This statewide competition brings together Idaho’s most promising student innovators and entrepreneurs to compete for $50,000 in cash prizes, legal consultation, and accounting services to advance their startups.
Visit the IEC website to learn more about the event including rules and eligibility, read about past winners, and complete an application. Applications for the 2022 event are due by Tuesday, Feb. 25.
CWI Bookstore Reduces Hours through Feb. 4
Planning a trip to College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Bookstore this week or next? The Bookstore will be open with reduced hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays between Thursday, Jan. 27, and Friday, Feb. 4.
Spring Semester Reminders:
- Purchasing textbooks using financial aid ends Monday, Jan. 31.
- The last day to return textbooks is Friday, Feb. 4. Students with verification of a dropped class have until Monday, Feb. 7.
- The Bookstore is now hiring Sales Associates through the CWI’s Work Study program. Apply today!
Visit the Bookstore online for store hours, to purchase textbooks, learn about book buyback and the Bookstore return policy, and view frequently asked questions.
Spring 2022 Student Resource Fair
Discover resources on and off campus, learn ways to get involved and stay connected, and enjoy a burrito during College of Western Idaho’s Spring 2022 Student Resource Fair. Join us in person for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!
Tuesday, Feb. 1
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Ada County Center Pintail Building
Wednesday, Feb. 2
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building
Can’t make it in person? Visit the Resource Fair virtually all semester long in myCommons on Blackboard!
Global Gardens Volunteer Event – Feb. 5
Associated Students of College of Western Idaho (ASCWI), in partnership with CWI’s departments of Biological Sciences and Agricultural Science and the Biology and Horticulture clubs, invite you to join them to give back to the community.
Students will be assisting Idaho Office for Refugees’ Global Gardens project to prepare greenhouses for spring. Created to provide access to greenhouses and community gardens, the Global Gardens project offers Idaho refugees both financial opportunity and food security.
Get involved, and help make a difference in our community. Sign up to volunteer today! No experience necessary – just show up with a mask, gloves, and water.
Global Gardens Volunteer Event
Saturday, Feb. 5
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
2908 S. Pond St. in Boise
Global Gardens Volunteer Event Registration
Contact ASCWI Chief of Staff, Kaylee Peterson, at kayleepeterson@my.cwi.edu, or email ASCWI@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
Move More 21-Day Challenge
Thank you to all who took part in January’s Sugarless challenge. Participation in January doubled from previous challenges!
Now that we have gotten all the sugar out of our systems, it’s time to get moving! Sign up to participate in February’s Move More Challenge by Monday, Jan. 31. As a participant of this challenge, your goal will be to do a minimum of 15 minutes of intentional exercise each day Feb. 1 – 21. Of course, moving more is certainly acceptable!
Visit the Culture and Employee Engagement Committee site on myCWI for all the details including:
- how to sign up
- participation requirements
- tracking resources
- submission information
- valuable tips, information, and resources to get you started
Submit your participation data by Sunday, Feb. 28, for your chance to win some awesome prizes!
Employee Training Opportunities: February 2022
The beginning of 2022 marked the launch of College of Western Idaho’s Virtual Learning Center (VLC) for employees. In addition to mandatory trainings, employees are encouraged to take part in optional training opportunities offered each month through the VLC. Below is a preview of trainings available in February.
Coaching & Development: How to Have Difficult Conversations for Managers
In-Person or Online, via Zoom
Learn how to manage performance when an employee is not meeting expectations. This training will cover when coaching/corrective action is appropriate, how to use CWI coaching/corrective action tools when addressing ineffective behavior, and how to have effective coaching and performance management conversations.
- Friday, Feb. 4
2:00 – 3:30 p.m.
Ada County Campus Pintail Center, Room 1205
Defeating Unconscious Bias: Five Strategies
In-Person
A bias is an inflexible conscious or unconscious belief about a particular category of people. An unconscious bias is in our mental blind spot – we are unaware that it is there. Participants of this training will learn five strategies for becoming aware of and defeating unconscious bias.
- Thursday, Feb. 17
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Ada County Campus Pintail Center, Room 1302
Please share this opportunity with members of your teams and departments. Space is limited, so register ASAP! Contact Human Resources Business Partner, Casey Brown, at caseybrown@cwi.edu with any questions.
