CWI News—Nov. 5, 2021
In the Spotlight
The College has initiated a Campus Development, Visioning, and Planning process to inform, guide, and prioritize campus improvements to meet the needs of students and our growing community. Your input is needed! Please take a few minutes to participate in the survey by Nov. 15.
Bold Appreciation
It’s time for another President’s Office ticket giveaway!
If you are reading this, we want to thank you for being a faithful CWI News reader. If you want to be in-the-know, CWI News is where it’s at! The last several giveaways, which were only communicated via this newsletter, had less than 50 entries. This means the chance of winning yourself some tickets to the Nov. 12 Boise State Football game against University of Wyoming is REALLY good!
Enter for your chance to win by entering a number between 1 and 500. The two employees closest to a number, chosen at random, will each receive two tickets to the game. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8. Winners will be announced Tuesday, Nov. 9.
Members of President’s Cabinet, the Executive Operations Team, and past winners are not eligible. Limit one entry per CWI employee. Contact Janice McGehee, Executive Assistant in the President’s Office, at janicemcgehee@cwi.edu with questions.
News Highlights
Spring 2022 Registration
Go BOLD, and register for classes this spring at College of Western Idaho (CWI)! With a variety of resources, flexible course options, and caring instructors, CWI is here to help you on your pathway to success every step of the way.
Continuing Students
Priority registration at CWI for the Spring 2022 semester begins Monday, Nov. 8. Priority registration allows continuing students a chance to enroll in classes ahead of open registration, helping students stay on track for graduation.
Following are a few tips for current students:
- Be sure to meet with your Student Success Advisor prior to registering. Once advising is completed, students can register online any time on or after their assigned registration time.
- Registration times are assigned based on cumulative credits earned. Students can check myCWI and their CWI email for their assigned time.
- Continuing students are considered those who enrolled and attended classes any semester since spring 2020.
- Dual Credit students will register during open registration.
New and Returning Students
Open Registration for all students, including new and returning, begins Monday, Nov. 15.
- All new, degree-seeking students must participate in New Student Orientation prior to registering for classes.
Contact One Stop Student Services or visit us online to learn more about applying to CWI, orientation, and registering for classes.
Taylor Named October Staff of the Month
Congratulations to Dean Taylor, College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Staff of the Month for October 2021. Taylor is a Shop Assistant for the Automotive Technology program and has been with the College for nearly a decade.
Taylor’s love for the automotive industry began as a teenager growing up in New York.
“I have worked on cars and trucks since before I started my job as a gas station attendant when I was a junior in high school,” he said. “I joined the Air Force right out of high school and spent 20 years traveling the country working as a mechanic in many places and in several countries, including at my own auto repair center.”
As a Shop Assistant at CWI, Taylor spends his time assisting students in the lab and maintaining and repairing hand and power tools, program equipment inventory, and supplies.
“I was drawn to CWI by a friend who worked here at the time. He spoke highly of the school and how rewarding his job was. Looking back, it was the best decision I could have made. I didn't know it then, and it didn't take long to realize, but I found that CWI had some pretty lofty goals when it came to making student success its number one priority. During my time here, I have grounded myself in the belief that if I am a successful part of the team, it will be that much easier for the students to achieve success also.”
“Dean deeply cares about his students,” said Lab Materials Specialist, Kelly McDaid. “He is always eager to go the extra mile to make sure everyone’s needs are met. His efficiency benefits all involved! Dean is a huge asset to CWI; the school of Industry, Engineering, and Trades; and our Automotive Technology program.”
“When I think of Dean, I think of a human filing cabinet – organized and fully functional,” said Assistant Professor of Automotive Technology, Eric Anderson. “He is amazing and does it all with a smile.”
“My job is not monotonous to say the least,” said Taylor. “The people I work with are some of the most talented, gifted professionals I have ever known. Their dedication and loyalty are infectious, and I believe the success of the students who pass through our programs year after year are the proof of these efforts. Because of CWI, I have a place where my experience and knowledge is put to the best use possible as part of a team truly dedicated to achieving goals and ensuring the success of every student.”
Outside of the shop, Taylor enjoys hunting, fishing, and anything related to motorsports. He is a crew member on a local sprint car racing team that travels to and races at tracks throughout the Northwest.
myCWI Upgrade
A new and improved version of myCWI is coming soon! College of Western Idaho (CWI) will be upgrading and rebranding myCWI. The updated platform will make accessing myCWI easier, more secure, and more mobile friendly.
What can you expect to see once the upgrade takes place?
- An updated look and feel based on our new branding guidelines
- Changes to the location of the main navigation
- The current My Toolkit menu structure will be replaced with a button that takes you to your SelfService Toolkit.
Further communication will be sent as we get closer to launch, so be on the lookout!
Walk Into Fall 21-Day Challenge Winners
Thank you to all who participated in September’s Walk Into Fall 21-day challenge. Fifty-one participants walked a total of 3,004 miles between Sept. 1 and 21.
Congratulations to the following employees who won prizes for their participation:
Walking Backpacks
- Gary Thomas
- Jennifer Pope
- Hailie Martell
Walking Stick
- Noel Bolduc
Tree City Juice and Smoothie Café Coupon
- Julia Kaufmann
- Kim Reed
- Glenn Karn
- Shannon Grimsley
“I tried to take a break in the middle of the day and walk for 10 or 15 minutes,” said Mathematics Support Faculty, Eric Knowles. “It was good for me to get out and move, but honestly, I think it did even more for my mental health than it did for my physical health.”
“My pug dog and I are getting thinner… slightly,” said General Education Coordinator, Greg Wilson.
“Although I am unable to fit in a daily dedicated walk where I am able to track the miles & time,” said Math Solutions Center Manager, Carol Crothers, “this has become a regular part of my life since last year's challenge.”
“This challenge was great,” said Human Resources Coordinator, Toen Phothisane. “Working in an office environment, we sometimes forget to get up and move around. This challenge was a nice daily reminder.”
“I learned that when I feel crunched for time with work, I DO NOT make the time to get up and move,” said Social Work instructor, Annie Estvold. “I get so focused on my screen, and the hours fly by. That being said, the days I scheduled time in my calendar to walk, I would actually do it and noticed a HUGE change in my overall mood when going back to my office. I bought a cheap pair of running shoes to keep in my office at all times. My goal is to now schedule 30 minutes of walking when I am on campus. I will have to use the mantra, ‘The work will always be there’, while I am doing it, but at least I will be moving.”
Scholarships Open for Spring 2022 Semester
The College of Western Idaho (CWI) Foundation scholarship application period for the Spring 2022 semester opens Nov. 1. One application makes applying for scholarships at CWI easy providing students automatically-generated scholarship matches, in addition to allowing students to self-select scholarships of interest. More than 200 scholarships have already been awarded to students in both academic and career-technical programs at the College for the 2021-2022 academic year!
Students interested in applying for scholarships must have the CWI admission application completed, be accepted, and have myCWI login information. The application closes Nov. 30, 2021.
Visit the Grants and Scholarships page to learn more or apply.
2022 Connections Project Logo Contest
Calling all aspiring artists, designers, and creatives! Current College of Western Idaho students are invited to share their talent and skill by designing a logo for the 2022 Connections Project. The Connections Project, an annual event put on by the College each spring, is dedicated to showcasing student work and accomplishments.
For those ready to take on the challenge, original logo designs must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 19, at 11:59 p.m. Submission instructions as well as a style guide are available on Blackboard in myCommons/Engage/Connections Project. The winner will be announced at the beginning of spring semester. The winning logo will be used for marketing efforts surrounding the event, and the designer will receive a $150 cash prize!
Contact Karen Brown at karenbrown@cwi.edu with questions or more information.
13th-Annual Giving Tree
Help bring holiday cheer to children in the Treasure Valley by participating in College of Western Idaho’s 13th-annual Giving Tree. This year, the College’s Psychology Club, Psi Beta, Veteran’s Association, Criminal Justice Department, and Social Work Club are partnering with CASA of Southwest Idaho, an independent non-profit organization representing the best interests of children in foster care.
Unwrapped gifts will be collected now through Dec. 9 at trees located near the security desks at the following campus locations:
- Ada County Campus Pintail Center (APIN)
- Canyon County Center (CYNC)
- Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB)
- Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building (NASP)
Contact Heather Schoenherr at heatherschoenherr@cwi.edu with questions or to learn more.
