CWI News – Nov. 4, 2022
Spotlight
College of Western Idaho's Machine Tool Technology program students got in the Halloween dress up spirit Monday morning by cutting out leather eye masks!
Second-year Machine Tool Technology program student, Rick Faubert, used skills he learned at the College to design the mask and used a laser engraver to cut them out. Rick also has a laser engraving business he started with CWI student, Kase Baker. All the students in Machine Tool Technology learned how to use the laser engraver to cut out their own masks.
President's Message
Dear CWI Community,
It has been a few weeks since my last message, it’s amazing how much can transpire in a short amount of time, and I hope you are having a fantastic semester.
We have had an exciting month with several highlights including Opening Doors, Farm to Fork and Swing for the Green events, as well as Strategic Planning and CWI’s request to the Permanent Building Fund to support campus development.
I want to thank Andrea Schumaker, Department Chair of Agricultural Sciences, and her students, faculty and staff who all volunteered to make Farm to Fork such an amazing success. Also, I congratulate our Foundation team for raising more than $250,000 to support student scholarships. Additionally, I want to give a shout out to Alexis Malepeai-Rhodes, Executive Director for Institutional Effectiveness, for leading her team in our efforts to maintain accreditation by ensuring our new Strategic Plan stays on track to roll out in 2023.
Another important highlight of our work to support and empower students is the addition of student success coaches to help augment the work of our academic advisors and faculty. I am happy to report the onboarding of our student success coaches has been completed, and the targeted outreach efforts are in motion. I want to recognize those who are dedicating time and energy to getting these coaches in touch with the right tools and resources to assist our students in completing and finding success through their journey here at CWI.
This Tuesday, Nov. 8, is election day and I want to encourage all of you to get out and exercise your right to vote. Visit the Idaho Secretary of State’s Office website for more information about voting.
Thanks again for all you do to support our students and community, and I hope you have a great weekend.
Respectfully,
News Highlights
Explore Advanced Mechatronics Classes & Careers
Explore a future in Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology by attending a Program Exploration Event at College of Western Idaho (CWI). Current and future students and community members are invited to learn more about the program, meet faculty and industry leaders, tour the College, and more.
“This program is for someone who likes to work with their hands, has an interest in electronics and technology,” said CWI Advanced Mechatronics student, Jacob Schott. “There are tons of new technology and tools coming out, which the College always tries to bring into the program, especially the equipment we will use in the industry.”
The term mechatronics is a combination of “mechanisms” and “electronics,” but a degree in mechatronics incorporates so much more. CWI's mechatronics engineering technology program gives you a broad range of knowledge and skills, such as basics of electricity, electronics and motor basics, automation controllers, mechanical adjustments, wireless communications, and more.
Mechatronics engineering technologists use a combination of mechanical, electrical, computer, and software skills to work with smart technologies, such as robots, automated guided systems, and computer-integrated manufacturing equipment.
Advanced Mechatronics’ Program Exploration night will have those in attendance learn about possible future careers, understand the importance of education in this career field, introduce the program and what to expect from faculty, tips on how to prepare for a successful start, and a personal tour of the lab space and technology.
“Our instructors help set us up for success,” said CWI Advanced Mechatronics student, Mark Rust. “[CWI Engineering Department Chair] Robert Novak will bring in companies to present what they do, what they sell, or manufacture. It gives us opportunities to get interviewed and learn skills for interviews. If we want to pursue this career instructors help give us connections. Our faculty’s goal is to have every student have a job offer and a successful job career ahead of them after graduating.”
Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology hosts several Program Exploration Events throughout the year at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center. Visit the program page or contact Robert Novak at robertnovak@cwi.edu to learn more and RSVP.
Find Out More About CWI Programs through Exploration Events
Get the job you want! Join us to explore your future career with industry leaders at College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Program Exploration Events. Learn about the programs available at CWI, get a feel of the program lab space and technology, and get tips on preparing for a successful start.
The upcoming Program Exploration Events will highlight Powersports and Small Engine Repair, Automotive Technology, Heavy Duty Truck Technician, Heavy Equipment Technician, and Collision Repair Technology programs at the College. Events are scheduled in October and November at the Nampa Campus Micron Education Center (NMEC) to learn more about these programs.
CWI Assistant Dean of Industry, Engineering, and Trades, Alex Beal, helps run the Programs Exploration events. He is excited to have industry leaders in each of these programs meet with students and share tips on how to enter the workforce and have a successful career.
“Students are able to listen and chat with industry leaders who explain what is going on in their career right now, the nature of the job, the type of earnings they can expect to make, and how they would move upward in the career,” Beal said. “I think when you bring in an employer who shares what they’re looking for when they’re hiring, it means a lot to students. It’s almost like an opportunity to have an impersonal interview with a potential employer.”
Visit the Program Exploration page for dates, times, locations, and to reserve your spot. For those needing more information or have questions, contact Alex Beal at 208.562.2413 or alexbeal@cwi.edu.
Horticulture Technology Students Helping Restore Land Along Boise River
College of Western Idaho (CWI) students and instructors have begun work to help restore acres of land along the Boise River.
CWI's Horticulture Technology program is involved with the Boise River Re-WILD project, which is a grassroots effort that seeks to protect and revitalize the habitat of more than 50 acres of land along the Boise River by 2023. The project is led by Golden Eagle Audubon Society, a local chapter of the National Audubon Society.
“Boise has changed a lot since 1840, with all types of development along the river,” said Boise River Re-WILD Project Lead, Sean Finn. “Over the course of those years we’ve lost a lot of biodiversity, particularly in our plant communities because of neglect. We’ve lost pollinators, our wildlife communities have become less diverse, and much more. We wanted to give people a way to get engaged to get some of that biodiversity back and give back to the river.”
CWI’s Horticulture Technology program is one of 100 community organizations that have adopted a half-acre plot and are working to remove invasive species, grow, plant, and maintain native plants, and monitor project outcomes.
The program’s plot of land is located at 5657 E. Warm Springs Ave., Boise, ID 83716, which is on Idaho State Parks and Recreation land, near the Idaho Shakespeare Festival.
The College’s Horticulture Technology program hosted Restoration Week to kick off their two-year-long community service project. The week-long event brought a lineup of industry experts and guest speakers, an exploration of the program’s plot of land, and a department-wide planting day.
“One of my favorite things about this project is we are practicing good ecological and environmental stewardship within an urban setting,” said CWI Horticulture Technology Instructor, Casey O'Leary. “It is a really unique place to do restoration work. It’s easy to think about nature being a place we have to travel to in order to take care of. It's really cool to be a part of a project where we get to do this work right here in our own community where urban people have access to this, and urban wildlife can be supported by this.”
Over the course of two years, multiple classes within Horticulture Technology program will visit the plot of land and take part in various restoration activities, like removing invasive species, planting, weeding, watering, and working to make sure plants are able to survive long after the project’s completion.
Horticulture Technology program students and instructors were able to plant around 900 plants on Thursday, Oct. 27.
“Before we started on the land it was just a field of weeds and an empty plot,” said Horticulture Technology student, Jaimon Strickland. “We’re bringing awareness to restoring native landscapes because through development and climate factors, we're losing a lot of landscapes. We are here to show the community what’s possible with a native landscape of restoration.”
CWI students will also engage in data collecting on the land to monitor the success of the project. They will take photos throughout the years and check in on their restoration efforts and experiments to see what is working. It will allow them to see what types of species will do well on their own after their restoration work is complete.
Those with questions or in need of more information about this project or Horticulture Technology, contact Casey O’Leary at caseyoleary@cwi.edu.
Spanish Class Celebrates Día de los Muertos
A tradition College of Western Idaho (CWI) Associate Professor of Spanish, Janel Holt, has incorporated with her students since 2014 is back after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. Holt and her Elementary Spanish class (SPAN 101) celebrated the Mexican tradition of Día de los Muertos, or known as Day of the Dead, by constructing an altar and placing ofrendas, or offerings, to memorialize those who have died.
In the weeks leading up to Día de los Muertos, which is traditionally celebrated Nov. 1 and 2, Holt’s students learn about the rites, traditions, and beliefs connected to Day of the Dead in Mexico.
Students then paint skulls, which is an activity central to the celebration, and they exhibit them here on the altar, another important element of the holiday. They also translate passages explaining the customs of this holiday from Spanish to English, which are displayed on the altar.
“As Spanish instructors at CWI, we try to incorporate culture into our classes whenever possible,” Holt said. “Painting skulls is a great way for students to connect to the practices of the festival as well as compare attitudes surrounding the concept of death in Mexico and the United States.”
Holt enjoys sharing information about Day of the Dead each year because of how festive, unique, and popular it is with students. She believes teaching her students about cultures and traditions encourages them to look into their own more.
“It can be very difficult to understand your own culture without the lens of comparison. By exploring these customs and celebrations, students not only learn about the practices of other countries or regions, but they can also begin to question and experience a deeper understanding their own.”
OTA Students Help Boise Students Get in Halloween Spirit
Students with College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA) program got Boise students in the Halloween spirit with a Pumpkin Walk activity Friday, Oct. 28.
OTA students spent a few hours each week throughout the semester at the Madison Early Learning Center in Boise School District (BSD). The students work with a BSD occupational therapist to implement and develop school-based occupational therapy services for children aged three to five years old, many of whom are on the autism spectrum. This work is part of OTA program’s Level I Pediatric Fieldwork experience.
Over the last few of weeks, several students with CWI’s OTA program helped the Early Learning Center's occupational therapist develop a new obstacle course for the annual Pumpkin Walk and assist the students through the course during the festivities.
The pumpkin walk had various obstacles the children had to go through like entry ways with ghosts attached, a scarecrow maze, balance beams, pop-up play tunnels, and more. At the end of the course the children were able to pick out their own pumpkin to take home.
OTA students also created materials designed for use by teachers in the classroom as part of pre-teaching activities to better prepare the students for any changes to their daily routines, as well as developing new treatment interventions with instructions that the OT can utilize during daily interventions and activities at the school.
"The CWI OTA program develops fieldwork collaborations within the local community each semester that align with the populations our students are learning about so students can gain real, hands-on experience and better apply the concepts learned in the classroom to the practice of occupational therapy," said OTA program Academic Fieldwork Coordinator and Instructor, Angela Zaugg. "Providing students with this hands-on experience during fieldwork better prepares them for their future clinical rotations as well as helping them determine which populations and settings they might prefer to gain employment in once they graduate.”
For more information on CWI's OTA program, contact Program Director and Instructor, Mel Henderson, at melhenderson@cwi.edu.
Best Halloween Costumes of 2022
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Culture and Employee Engagement Committee’s (CEEC) 2022 Halloween costume contest saw a SPOOK-tacular number of entries from staff and faculty. Congratulations to the winning entries and thank you to all who participated!
Best Individual Costumes
- First place – Kayla Adams
- Second place – Julia Kaufmann
- Third place – Connor McComas
Best Group Photos
- First place – "Back to the 80’s" submitted by Human Resources
- Second place – "Super Mario Bros." submitted by One Stop Student Services
- Third place – "Care Bears" submitted by One Stop Student Services
Prizes for first, second and third places in both categories will be distributed soon. Look for an email from CEEC with details on how to pick up your prize.
Upcoming Job and Career Fairs at CWI
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is providing opportunities over the next month for students to make connections which could lead to employment and internships.
The College is hosting several career fairs in November that invites students to meet face-to-face with potential employers and network. This is also a great exercise for students to practice their interview skills and discover what employers are looking for in an employee.
Participating employers are looking for various positions to be filled in careers such as, secretaries, administrative assistants, and more!
Administrative Specialist Job Fair
Employers:
- Onsemi
- St. Alphonsus Health System
- Sparklight
- Pre-Com
- Cordova Outdoors
- Johnson Thermal
- US Ecology
- Tadem Diabetes Care
- FedEx
- Regence
For those with questions or in need of more information, contact Center for New Student Affairs Coordinator, Roberto Trinidad, at robertotrinidad@cwi.edu or 208.562.2150. Those interested in learning more are also welcome to visit Work-Based Learning Center's page.
CWI 2022 Fall Fire Drill Results
Fire drills have been completed at each of College of Western Idaho's (CWI) campus locations for the Fall 2022 semester.
Each campus evacuated quickly and efficiently utilizing the evacuation routes specific to their area. The Floor Captains did an outstanding job of clearing their assigned areas and reporting to the centralized location in a calm professional manner.
Fire drills are used to identify various elements in our process, such as:
- Allowing occupants to familiarize themselves with drill procedures, location of fire exits and the sound of the fire alarm.
- Allowing occupants to familiarize themselves with exit routes and safe assembly areas.
- Identifying problems with the fire alarm components.
- Identify any weaknesses in the evacuation strategy, communications, and procedures.
- Determining if additional equipment is necessary in certain areas of the building.
- Monitoring individual’s response time to the alarms.
- Observe any hazards that were overseen.
- Observe if additional training is needed to individuals.
- Monitoring the amount of time, it takes to evacuate a building.
- Observe which exits are generally used.
- Note any suggestions/ideas for future drills.
These drills are to prepare students, faculty, and staff for an organized evacuation in case of a fire or other emergency.
CWI Fall 2022 Fire Drill Results
Familiarize yourself on how to respond to other emergencies by reviewing the Emergency Handbook.
