CWI News—March 11, 2022
In the Spotlight
Idaho Power CEO, Lisa Grow, and members of her leadership team toured the Nampa Campus Academic Building and Micron Education Center Friday with President Gordon Jones and other staff. The tour showcased campus facilities and programs available at the College. Thank you to Idaho Power for their ongoing partnership and continued support of CWI and its students.
President's Message
I am excited to share the news College of Western Idaho (CWI) was selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program to deliver accessible and high-quality educational opportunities to Amazon’s hourly employees.
CWI is a leader in delivering education to adult learners with nearly 90 programs to choose from ranging from GED courses, to healthcare, cybersecurity, business, and many Career and Technical programs.
This is a fantastic partnership! CWI is less than a mile from the Amazon Fulfillment center in Nampa, so it’s easy for Amazon employees to access programs in-person or online.
Additionally, this will be a wonderful opportunity to support Amazon employees on campus and remotely through all of our wrap-around services. We pride ourselves on accessibility to empower students wherever they are on their educational journey; this partnership demonstrates this, and I look forward to launching more partnerships like this.
Please take a few minutes to watch KTVB’s coverage on this story, I believe this is just the beginning of many great things to come.
Have a good weekend, and remember it is daylight savings time this weekend!
Be Safe, Be Mighty Updates
In consultation with local health officials and our College of Western Idaho (CWI) Board of Trustees, the College will be transitioning to masks optional in all spaces, as of Monday, March 14. Recently, Ada and Canyon Counties were reclassified by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) from high down to medium COVID community level.
For communities in the medium COVID category, the CDC does not recommend indoor masking. People may choose to mask at any time. CDC recommends people with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 must wear a mask. If you are immunocompromised, learn more about how to protect yourself. If you are in need of employee accommodations, please reach out to your supervisor or Human Resources.
KN95 masks and a limited number of test kits are available at security desks in each campus location. In addition, Be Safe, Be Mighty continues to be a great source for information and updated signs may be requested through Victor Villanueva in Facilities, Planning, and Management.
Bold Appreciation
It's time for another employee ticket giveaway!
Enter for your chance to win tickets to Treefort Music Fest by entering a number between 1 and 500 via the link below. Four employees closest to four numbers, chosen at random, will each receive two tickets to the event for either Saturday, March 26, or Sunday, March 27.
Passes include:
- SATURDAY Pass – General admission festival pass for Saturday, March 26
- SATURDAY Main Stage Pass – Admission to Kim Gordon + Men I Trust for Saturday, March 26
- SUNDAY Pass – General admission festival pass for Sunday, March 27
- SUNDAY Main Stage Pass – Admission to Goth Babe + The Regrettes for Sunday, March 27
Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, March 14. Winners will be announced Tuesday, March 15.
Members of President’s Cabinet and the Executive Operations Team are not eligible. Limit one entry per CWI employee.
Email communications@cwi.edu with questions.
News Highlights
CWI Partners with Amazon for Career Choice Program
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is excited to announce it has been selected as an education partner for Amazon’s Career Choice program to deliver accessible and high-quality educational opportunities to Amazon’s hourly employees.
CWI is a leader in delivering education to adult learners with nearly 100 programs to choose from ranging from GED courses, to healthcare, cybersecurity, business, and many Career and Technical programs.
“This is a fantastic partnership, CWI is less than a mile from the Amazon Fulfillment center in Nampa, so it’s easy for Amazon employees to access programs in-person or online,” said CWI President Gordon Jones. “Additionally, we can support students on campus and remotely through services such as tutoring to help students navigate their classes. We pride ourselves on accessibility to empower students wherever they are on their educational journey.”
Amazon will pre-pay 100% of tuition for employees, and funds can be used for tuition, books, and fees. The benefit is eligible to full- and part-time employees after only three months of continuous employment.
“We’re looking forward to CWI coming on board as an education partner for Career Choice, adding to the hundreds of best-in-class offerings available to our employees,” said Tammy Thieman, Global Program Lead of Amazon’s Career Choice program. “We have intentionally cultivated a partner network of third-party educators and employers committed to providing excellent education, job placement resources, and continuous improvements to the experience. Today, over 50,000 Amazon employees around the world have already participated in Career Choice and we’ve seen first-hand how it can transform their lives.”
Amazon’s Career Choice program has a rigorous selection process for third-party partner educators, choosing partners focused on helping employees through their education programs, assisting them with job placements, and overall offering education that leads to career success.
Visit cwi.edu/amazon for more information on CWI and Amazon Career Choice.
Employees Engage in Student-Focused Professional Development and Innovation
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) annual faculty professional development events welcomed Dr. J. Luke Wood as this year’s keynote speaker Friday, March 4. Dr. Wood, Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education at San Diego State University, and Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), presented “Underserved Students in Community Colleges: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities” to faculty and staff via Zoom. The interactive workshop discussed societal and institutional factors that influence belonging, welcomeness to engage, and success for underserved students within community colleges.
“I felt Dr. Wood’s presentation gave my colleagues and me a framework and critical vocabulary to have important conversations and take actual steps in creating a culture of inclusivity at CWI,” said English Professor, Andrea Ascuena.
Beyond the keynote, faculty also participated in the 2022 Innovation in Action contest which celebrated the contributions faculty make toward retention through sharing of their best practices.
2022 Innovation in Action Winners
- Individual Connections: Annie Estvold, Social Work faculty, for “Extra Credit Encounters”
- Classroom Connections: Elisa Lowenstein, Software Development faculty, for “Team Learning”
- College Connections: Michal Yadlin, Honors Program Coordinator, for “Understanding our Students”
- Teaching Strategies: Sara Palmer, Psychology faculty, for “Weekly To-do”
View the 2022 Innovation in Action Submissions
Congratulations to the School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs (SSPA) for winning the school-wide Innovation in Action trophy!
“While I’m excited to see the trophy return to SSPA for the third year in a row, all of the submissions demonstrated creative ways our faculty care for and encourage students,” said SSPA Dean, Courtney Santillan.
Thank you to all for a great week of learning!
New Scholarship Opportunity for Veteran Students
Thanks to a recent donation from S.E.E.4Vets, a new scholarship opportunity is now available for veteran students at College of Western Idaho (CWI).
S.E.E.4VETS is a non-profit organization on a mission to accelerate the support of men and women who have served our nation in uniform as productive members of the civilian community, including the pursuit of academic or certification goals and greater opportunity to succeed and advance in the workplace. S.E.E.4VETS collaborates with community colleges, like CWI, to shape an implement programs to inspire student veterans to “persist and advance” in their school work.
S.E.E.4VETS’ generous donation will fund up to six, $1,680, scholarships available to eligible veteran students at the College.
“This scholarship can have a profound positive impact on the success rate of veteran students,” said Dallas Hulsey, Senior Coordinator of Veteran Services at the College. “The veterans who receive this scholarship will be able to focus more on school knowing that, because of the combination of the GI Bill® and scholarships, they will not need to work as much to take care of their needs.”
“S.E.E.4VETS is grateful that our men and women in uniform serve our nation in the name of democracy and freedom,” said Ray Torres, S.E.E.4VETS Chairman of the Board. “Our moral obligation extends to veterans, as well and their educational pursuit. SEE4VETS is honored to offer these funds to College of Western Idaho. The more veterans we assist with scholarships, the stronger the meaning of ‘Thank You for Your Service’.”
Thank you to S.E.E.4VETS for your support and contributions to CWI and our students. Your generosity empowers lives by helping students’ dreams become a reality.
Scholarships are now open for the 2022-2023 academic year. Scholarship applications will be accepted through Nov. 15, 2022.
Hanson Named Faculty of Distinction for February
Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Business, Ryan Hanson, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty of Distinction for February 2022. Prior to CWI, he worked in the IT Services industry for a decade while earning a master’s degree in Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University.
“Education runs in my family,” Hanson said. “Both of my parents worked in the Nampa School District and believed every child had the right to a good education. I found that same mission at CWI focused on adult learning. I believe education is the great equalizer. It opens doors for individuals and their communities.”
Over the past seven years as CWI faculty, Hanson has taught a variety of Business courses including Business Communication, Business Statistics, Personal Finance and Business Math, and Business Software Applications.
“Ryan has been a fantastic teacher throughout the various semesters I was fortunate enough to learn from him,” said student, Gabby Minor. “The availability and flexibility he offers his students is essential in our educational success at CWI, and for that, I cannot thank him enough. He is a stats wizard and truly shows instructional excellence while providing a go-getter attitude each day. As stats course content begins to rear its teeth, he is encouraging supplying his students with the tools necessary to conquer it. I will always recommend Ryan to current and future students. Thank you!”
“I am always amazed at the caliber of students we have at CWI,” said Hanson. “Community Colleges are often perceived as being for lesser students, but that is just not true at CWI. Despite being open to all, CWI attracts and develops very capable individuals who go on to succeed in their chosen fields, both professionally and continuing on to a four-year degree.”
The spirit of the CWI community is something Hanson finds unique.
“Offering low barriers to a first-rate education, CWI empowers students from all walks of life to reach their goals. I think one of the best things about CWI is we have former students who have come back to teach here. Our impact on their lives was such they wanted to come back and be a part of the CWI community again. The legacy we are beginning is going to be amazing to watch!”
Hanson was born and raised in Nampa, Idaho. He and his spouse have four kids ages 16, 14, 13, and 8. He enjoys camping with his family, reading, and woodworking when he can find the time.
Healthy Minds Survey Seeks Student Feedback
Committed to the emotional well-being of its students, College of Western Idaho (CWI) recently partnered with JED Campus in a four-year initiative. As a first step to this strategic collaboration, the College’s current approach to supporting student mental health and wellness will be evaluated.
Beginning Monday, Feb. 21, CWI students will be recieving an email invitation from healthyminds_CWI@umich.edu to take a survey. The Healthy Minds survey will include questions regarding how CWI is currently doing with issues and support related to the mental health and well-being of students.
Students are strongly encouraged to complete the survey. Those who complete the survey by March 22 will be entered for a chance to win one of 75 Amazon gift cards valued from $10 to $50, in addition to a national survey drawing for larger prizes.
Contact Dean of Students, Chad Trisler, at DOS@cwi.edu with questions.
One Stop Hours – Spring Break 2022
Planning to visit One Stop Student Services during Spring Break?
College of Western Idaho’s Ada County Center Lynx Building (ALYN) and Canyon County Center (CYNC) One Stop locations will be open as outlined below the week of Spring Break, March 21-16.
Monday, March 21 – Thursday, March 24
8 – 5 p.m.
Friday, March 25
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 26
Closed
The Nampa Campus Micron Education Center (NMEC) One Stop will be closed during Spring Break for painting.
Regular business hours will resume Monday, March 28. Visit One Stop Student Services online to view additional hours and locations.
Security to Host Run, Hide, Fight Presentations
Ever thought about what you would do in the event of an active shooter situation on campus? Many of us may think a situation of this nature would never happen to us. The odds are, you are right, it will never happen to you – until it does. The shooting last fall at Boise Towne Square Mall illustrates this can happen to anyone, anywhere. Remembering to run, hide, and fight can increase your chances of surviving such a situation.
Join College of Western Idaho Security’s team the week of Spring Break to learn how you can prepare mentally for an active shooter situation. The 30-minute presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.
Tuesday, March 22
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Nampa Campus Micron Education Center, 1701 A/B
Wednesday, March 23
1:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Ada County Center Pintail Building, Room 1320
Thursday, March 24
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Canyon County Center, Room 207
Contact Director of Security, Stan Niccolls, at stanniccolls@cwi.edu with questions.
A Novel Life – March 25
Storyfort and College of Western Idaho are proud to present A Novel Life – a dive deep into processes, practicalities, passions, and how the conception and writing of a novel gets done. This year’s event will feature bestselling authors Jason Mott, Jennifer Haigh, and Jonathan Evison.
Friday, March 25
FireFusion Studio & Delia Dante Gallery
14th and Main in Boise
3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
A Novel Life, geared toward writers and readers 16 years and over, is free and open to all.
Contact Dave Nicholas at davenicholas@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
Join CWI in Celebrating Women’s History
College of Western Idaho’s Student Affairs and Latinx Student Services invite you to celebrate Women’s History Month in March.
Learn about the history, achievements, and strength of women by watching the following films, available March 1-31 for free using your CWI login:
She’s Beautiful When She’s Angry
Then, plan to join Poder of Idaho and guest speaker, Estefania Mondragon, March 29, as she shares stories and experiences of migrant women with toxic masculinity and assaults.
Women's History Guest Speaker – Tuesday, March 29
11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Nampa Campus Academic Building, 2nd Floor Atrium
Contact Student Engagement and Programs Coordinator, Natalia Rojas, at nataliarojas@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
Nominate a 2022 Emerging Scholar
The Emerging Scholar Committee is excited for the opportunity to select another group of Emerging Scholars! Faculty are encouraged to nominate students based on perseverance, innovative thinking, and professionalism both in and outside the classroom.
“It has been a challenging year,” said Brenda Fisher, Department Chair of Visual and Performing Arts. “This award could truly make a difference in a student’s life by offering tangible support encouraging them to persist with their education.”
Students selected as 2022 Emerging Scholars will each receive a $1,000 scholarship to be applied toward their tuition for the 2022-2023 academic year. Students must plan to enroll in six or more credits for the 2022-2023 academic year in both fall and spring semesters and have a minimum GPA of 2.0.
Nominations are being accepted through April 11, 2022.
“Can I Kiss You?”
Join College of Western Idaho (CWI) Wednesday, April 20, as we raise awareness on issues relevant to dating, intimacy, and sexual assault with nationally-renown author and expert, Mike Domitrz. As Founder of The Center for Respect, Domitrz’s approach to handling intimacy is blunt, thought-provoking, and entertaining – while being sensitive to this important topic. Domitrz has traveled the world for over a decade offering real solutions to talking about sex and boundaries. Using humor and hard-hitting emotion, he provides individuals with skills they can implement into their lives instantly.
Sessions, offered throughout the day for employees and students at the Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB), will additionally feature Title IX Coordinator and Dean of Students, Chad Trisler, and Counseling and Wellness Services.
FACULTY & STAFF SESSIONS
- Let’s Talk About SEX-ual Assault
presented by Title IX Coordinator and Dean of Students, Chad Trisler
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
NCAB, Room 309
- Building your Sexual Assault Support Toolkit
presented by Mike Domitrz
10 – 11 a.m.
NCAB, Room 122
- Respect in the Workplace Training
presented by Mike Domitrz
11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
NCAB, Room 122
STUDENT SESSIONS
- Let’s Talk About SEX-ual Assault
presented by Title IX Coordinator and Dean of Students, Chad Trisler
1:30 – 2:15 p.m.
NCAB, Room 122
- Can I Kiss You?
presented by Mike Domitrz
2:30 – 3:45 p.m.
NCAB 122
When it comes to intimacy and sex, how do you know how far your partner really wants to go? How do you let your partner know what you want without being too subtle, too bossy, or the mistake of just ‘going for it’? Learn specific how-to skills for consent, respect in relationships, bystander intervention, and addressing sexual assault.
- Relationships: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
presented by Counseling and Wellness Services
4 – 5 p.m.
NCAB 122
Guarantee your spot by registering to attend a session today! Contact Assistant Director of Student Engagement, Amber Eubanks, at ambereubanks@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
"Can I Kiss You?" Event Registration
