CWI News – March 08, 2024
President's Message
Greetings CWI Faculty and Staff,
I extend my appreciation to everyone who weathered the snowy conditions (and virtual Zoom meetings) to attend Tuesday's Town Hall. It was a valuable opportunity to share updates, address your questions, and come together with colleagues. Without rehashing all the details, I want to emphasize a few key points and add acknowledgments.
Over the past months, we have dedicated significant time to engaging with legislators, advocating for CWI's needs, and showcasing our successes. Approximately 40% of our budget stems from legislative allocations, underscoring the importance of our engagement with elected officials to convey our value to the Treasure Valley and Idaho. This session I made a point to champion measures to enhance the salaries of our lowest-paid employees and secure additional state revenue for standard employee raises (CEC), mitigating the impact on our budget. We are vigilant in monitoring legislation affecting CWI and will provide further updates post-session. Special acknowledgment goes to Ashley Smith, Director of Government and Community Relations, for his exemplary leadership and diligence in liaising with the Legislature.
Nic Miller, Vice President for Strategy & Operations, outlined our ambitious plans for campus development, including adding over 200,000 square feet in new building space and external site improvements over the next three years. This simultaneous undertaking of four major projects is unprecedented for CWI and requires a team effort. I commend Nic, Jeff Flynn, Executive Director of Facilities, Planning & Management, and Aaron Whitman, Director of Planning & Construction, and the entire Operations team for their dedicated efforts in this transformative endeavor.
As our physical campus undergoes significant changes, I am equally committed to enhancing and supporting our most valuable asset — our faculty and staff. A positive workplace culture is pivotal to individual and organizational success. Hence, I've tasked Ken Kline, Vice President and CFO, with leading an initiative focused on our organizational processes and culture. In preparation for this work, Human Resources will now be part of Finance and Administration. The Office of Human Resources will continue to be overseen by Ryan Herring, who will now report directly to Ken. I express my gratitude to both Ken and Ryan for their collaboration on this crucial initiative.
Denise Aberle-Cannata, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, shared updates on our efforts to increase involvement in research opportunities and roll out our first bachelor's degree program. We are eagerly awaiting word from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, who is reviewing our Bachelor of Applied Science in Business degree this week. Special thanks to Denise, Kris Smerick, Dean of SSPA, and Richard Sotto, Chair of Business, for their commitment to this program — a milestone for CWI and an incredible new option for our students and alumni.
Looking ahead, we are eagerly anticipating Giving Day at CWI on March 13. Detailed information is forthcoming. I encourage everyone to actively promote and participate in this significant event.
Your dedication to our students and community is truly appreciated. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to College of Western Idaho!
Sincerely,
News Highlights
Save the Date: Support Higher Education on the College of Western Idaho’s Annual Giving Day
Putting your resources into education is one of the most effective methods for facilitating positive transformations. At College of Western Idaho (CWI), we are dedicated to empowering students and laying solid foundations for the future. We are excited to invite our alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and the community to participate in our annual CWI Giving Day, March 13 and 14.
CWI Giving Day is focused on supporting students, programs, and opportunities that amplify the positive impact of our campus and community. Any contribution, regardless of its size, opens doors to affordable education, turning dreams into reality and champions students and programs of the College that significantly influence our community’s lives. Discover more about these programs and resources on the CWI Giving Day page.
“CWI is thrilled to announce our second Giving Day,” stated CWI President Gordon Jones. “As the largest higher education institution in the state, CWI is proud to deliver affordable, high-quality, and empowering educational opportunities designed to help our students find good paying jobs. CWI Giving Day is an opportunity for you to see and support the amazing work of our students and faculty. Community members can show their generosity by supporting a student club, program, or scholarship with a gift today.”
CWI Giving Day will allow convenient, online access for donors to support a variety of programs and initiatives within the College. A donation to CWI Giving Day grants current and future students the opportunity to aim high and fulfill their ambitions.
Automotive Technology student, Ryan Hael, is grateful for the boost of a scholarship, made possible through generous donations, that has helped him pay for his education.
"Receiving a scholarship has relieved so much stress off my back of having to try to apply for loans and struggling to find funds," he said. "It is also helping me be able to stand out in the automotive field by having tools that will help me work faster and do jobs that other technicians won’t be able to do without those tools."
“The Foundation Board is deeply committed to the belief that education has the power to transform lives,” said CWI Foundation Board President, Mike Peña. “Through this support, students are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve success in their chosen careers and build a solid foundation for their future.”
CWI Giving Day launches on Wednesday, March 13 at 9:30 a.m. and will close on Thursday, March 14 at 3:30 p.m. A great way to participate, beyond donating, is to share the CWI Giving Day page with their friends, family, coworkers, and community members.
For any inquiries or if more information is required about CWI Giving Day, please reach out to CWI Foundation at foundation@cwi.edu.
Visiting Artist Series: Sandow Birk
Join College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Visiting Artist Series in welcoming multidisciplinary artist Sandow Birk to the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) March 14 – 15 for a lecture and a workshop.
Based in Los Angeles, Sandow Birk is a graduate of the Otis/Parson's Art Institute and whose work — created with paint, pencil, clay, and more — illustrates contemporary life in its entirety. His art draws on themes including inner city violence, graffiti, various political issues, war, prisons, surfing, and skateboarding. He is the recipient of many awards including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Fulbright scholarship to Brazil. Recent projects have dealt with police violence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Holy Qur’an.
Sandow is represented by the Catharine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, Track 16 Gallery in Los Angeles, and Koplin del Rio Gallery in Seattle.
ARTIST’S LECTURE
Sandow Birk will present a lecture to students at CWI about his path from college student to professional artist and how he develops art from inception to completion. He will guide attendees through several large projects, reviewing how one idea leads to another and ultimately growing into a body of work and exhibition.
Thursday, March 14
5 – 6 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Room 206
WORKSHOP, PAPER PUPPETS
After showing a clip from his feature film project, “Dante’s Inferno” — produced using paper puppets — Birk will assist and guide students through DIY methods of crafting puppets from household items, including paper, cardboard, pens and paper, and creativity. Ultimately students should leave with a basic knowledge of how to use puppets in their own future video and art projects.
Friday, March 15
10 a.m – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, Room 206
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.
Treat Yo’ Self at the Spring Into Wellness Event
Join Counseling and Wellness Services as we Spring into Wellness! Stop by to say hello to College of Western Idaho (CWI) counseling staff and the Social Work, Psychology, and Q&A student clubs. Get tips and ideas on how to prioritize your mental and physical wellness.
Tailormade for CWI students, this fun and informative event will give students the opportunity to enjoy a free chair massage, add self-care ideas to a wellness jar, earn snacks and other giveaways, and qualify for an Amazon gift card drawing.
Spring Into Wellness will take place at two CWI locations:
Tuesday, March 19
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ada County Center Pintail Building (APIN) Common Area
Thursday, March 21
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) Student Lounge
For any questions, please contact Counseling and Wellness Services at counselor@cwi.edu or 208.562.2200.
Alworth Named November 2023 Staff of the Month
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is pleased to recognize William Alworth, IT Systems Engineer, as the Staff of the Month for November 2023.
“William consistently demonstrates exceptional dedication, technical expertise, and an unwavering commitment to providing top-notch support to our department and the entire CWI community,” said CWI Cybersecurity Instructor, Jay Soelberg.
Proactive in approaching IT issues, Alworth foresees potential problems and takes preemptive measures, saving the CWI community valuable time and avoiding unnecessary stress. This forward-thinking approach emphasizes a commitment to providing efficient solutions.
Known for being both amicable and approachable, Alworth cultivates a welcoming environment for those seeking his support. Patience, respect, and an understanding of individual needs underscore each interaction, reinforcing the spirit of community at CWI.
Beyond his primary role, Alworth contributes as an adjunct instructor, imparting knowledge to future systems engineers. His dedication to staying abreast of the latest technological advancements is admirable, sharing insights from workshops, conferences, and training sessions to ensure the college remains at the forefront of modern solutions.
Again, congratulations to William Alworth, CWI’s November 2023 Staff of the Month.
