CWI News – Sept. 16, 2022
Spotlight
CWI Foundation Director, Michael Jensen, and CWI Human Resources Vice President, Ryan Herring, getting ready to "tee it up" with their golfing partners at Bank of Idaho's Swing for the Green Charity Golf Tournament at Banbury Golf Club in Eagle. Proceeds from the tournament will benefit CWI and scholarships for students.
President's Message
Greetings CWI Community,
College of Western Idaho (CWI) strives to be a community that welcomes and respects all people.
Our community is made up of over 30,000 students and more than 1,200 employees. Each person's lived experience is unique, and we value the diversity inherent throughout our campus.
I want to acknowledge there are individuals on our campus who feel marginalized. To each person and group that feels this way, on behalf of CWI, I say we hear you, we value you, and we welcome you.
CWI welcomes people from many backgrounds to our campus – from the LGBTQ+ student to the veteran student to students of various faiths and so many others. We encourage all groups to celebrate who they are in a way that is respectful of and civil towards others. CWI’s culture is to be respectful, inclusive, and to provide a safe learning community that honors diverse perspectives and ideas.
With all of this in mind, I am asking each of you—students, faculty, and staff—to join me in building a community that truly does welcome all.
We may not always reach a campus-wide consensus on our actions, but my expectation is that we all commit to making College of Western Idaho a place that welcomes all students, providing access to affordable, quality education that leads to employment and empowerment.
With this commitment upheld, I know we will see CWI flourish for years to come thanks to our shared efforts.
Respectfully,
Bold Appreciation
It's time for another employee ticket giveaway!
College of Western Idaho employees are invited to enter a drawing to win tickets to the Flipside Fest 2022 by entering a number between 1 and 500 via the link below. The six winners who come closest to guessing the correct number, chosen at random, will receive two passes each, which includes admission, to the three-day music and mural festival in Garden City, Idaho from September 23 - 25. The tickets are good for all weekend and all events!
Entries must be received by noon on Wednesday, Sept. 21. Winners will be announced the afternoon of Wednesday, Sept. 21.
Members of President’s Cabinet, the Executive Operations Team, and work-study students are not eligible. Limit one entry per CWI employee.
Email hr@cwi.edu with questions.
News Highlights
Finding His True Calling through College of Western Idaho
As Wade Kindberg eases into another year at College of Western Idaho (CWI), he reflects on the many opportunities he’s been able to have to learn new skills and trades.
“CWI has been the best thing for my future,” Kindberg said.
The 21-year-old is no stranger to CWI. This fall marks his fourth year at the College, where he has earned his Associate of Science degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), a Basic Technical certificate in Advanced Mechatronics Engineering Technology, and is currently working on obtaining a certificate in Machine Tool Technology.
“CWI has provided great opportunity for me as I have met, and continue to meet, amazing mentors and students with the same level of inspiration to create and help better this world.”
Originally, Kindberg came to CWI as a STEM major. It was there he was able to get experience with engineering courses, learn more about electronics, and discovered the Mechatronics program on campus. However, it wasn’t until the pandemic where he began to shift his focus and made the decision to pursue mechatronics.
“I was supposed to transfer to a university for an Electronic Engineering degree after I completed my degree in STEM, but COVID-19 messed up my scheduling. It was then I decided to go into Mechatronics so I could have a broader experience in the workforce where they have tons of machines, increase workflow productivity, and deal with robots and programming them.”
Kindberg was awarded a $3,500 Nagel Foundation scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year as he continues to learn and work toward a future career.
“I am so appreciative of the Nagel Foundation for expanding my education as I will always be a student to the teachings of the technology this world provides. With their help I am able to spend more time and focus on my education, my true interests in life.”
He believes through instructors and resources around him, like the scholarship, he has been able to find his calling at CWI.
"This education will help me reach my dreams of being able to produce the tools and parts of my own and others’ designs for creations to help others and businesses. For me, this education is very important as it increases my ability to manufacture with materials at hand.”
While he is not completely set on what he wants to do after CWI, Kindberg does know one thing; he wants to be involved in electronics and machines.
“I like to work on that type of stuff in my own free time. A career would just be a bonus for me."
The scholarship period for the 2022-2023 academic year is open through Nov. 15, 2022.
Calling All Farm to Fork Volunteers
This year’s Farm to Fork fundraiser dinner is just around the corner, and we’re looking for volunteers to help at this fundraiser benefiting the CWI Campus Garden and students.
We are looking for students and staff to help assist with this year’s Farm to Fork Event. The volunteers will help make this event a rousing success!
Volunteer opportunities on Friday, Sept. 23:
- Set-up from 2 to 4 p.m.
- Serve and Assist with Event from 4:30 to 8:00 p.m.
- Tear Down 8 p.m. until we’re done
Volunteers will also learn why it is good to support local, how good food should taste, and give back to your CWI community!
To volunteer for this year’s event, contact Andrea Schumaker at andreaschumaker@cwi.edu. She would love the help.
Can't volunteer but want to still support the CWI Campus Garden? Tickets are NOW on sale! Grab yours before we sell out!
CWI Psi Beta Members Honored with National Award for Research
Congratulations to Kenna Cole, Gabby Peck, Cristina Synder, and Mercades Nelson, members of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Psi Beta Honor Society, who recently received the Emerging Researcher Award from the Psi Beta National Office.
Professor of Psychology and Psi Beta Advisor, Heather Schoenherr, said she and others within the CWI Psychology department wanted to help their students get the same type of research experience students at universities have. To do so, they created research-based set of courses that exposes students to university level coursework and projects.
Schoenherr, who also serves at the regional Psi Beta Vice President, said the award was created to recognize community college students who have showcased their research skills early on in their college careers and meet the following criteria: conduction research, research ethics, communication, and service.
“This award recognizes the full picture of what goes into a research project,” said Schoenherr. “All four students went above and beyond to achieve this award. To not only have this recognition, but to have completed their projects is tremendous. Our students are amazing, and they work very hard.”
Each student worked on their own research project and focused on topics like the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on people to mindful meditation on college students.
“I think it is so cool to have been given this recognition and the opportunity to work on something I am so passionate about,” Peck said. “I am proud.”
“This award means I was recognized for my hard work and determination,” said Snyder. “I was able to express that through my knowledge gained at College of Western Idaho. I was fortunate to have great professors who took the time to teach me and inform me of opportunities available for students, such as the Emerging Researcher Award. I feel honored and thankful to have been able to receive this award and want to encourage others to go for what they want because you never know unless you try.”
To participate in Psi Beta, students must be interested in psychology, have completed 12 college credits and one psychology course with a B or above, and have a GPA of 3.5 or higher. For more information about joining Psi Beta, please email heatherschoenherr@cwi.edu.
Southwestern Idaho Bridges to Baccalaureate Program Applications Open for CWI Students
The Southwestern Idaho Bridges to Baccalaureate program (SWID B2B) program is NOW accepting applications for the 2023 and 2024 cohorts of Bridges Undergraduate Student Researchers.
This long-term program is made possible by support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH has awarded the College of Western Idaho (CWI) and Boise State University a five-year grant extension to provide long-term support for underrepresented students transferring to Boise State pursuing a Biomedical Research career path. These are paid positions!
If you plan to graduate from CWI in May of 2023 or 2024, then now is the time for you to apply.
Preference will be given to those students having completed Principles of Chemistry I (CHEM 111), Introduction to Cell Biology (MMBS 260), Genetics (MMBS 280), and/or Ethics in Science (SCIE 102) by graduation in Spring of 2023.
Students must meet certain eligibility and demographic requirements and be transferring to Boise State as a full-time student. If you have questions about the program, pre-requisite coursework at CWI, or your eligibility, please reach out to Stephanie Sevigny at stephaniesevigny@cwi.edu.
Check out the news on our current B2B students.
Math Placement Testing Now at Math Solutions Centers
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Math Solutions Center (MSC) and Testing Services have big news! Beginning Monday, Sept. 19, all math placement testing, including the Math Diagnostic and Math CASAS, will be conducted through the Math Solutions Centers, located in Ada County Campus Pintail Building (APIN) room 1307 and Nampa Campus Academic Building (NCAB) room 116. Formerly, Testing Services provided this assessment for students.
The scheduling button on the Placement Testing page has been updated with new individualized scheduling links to direct students where they need to go. Online test proctoring and coaching options are available for students who are outside of the area.
Additionally, MSC faculty will be meeting with every student who takes the Math Diagnostic for one-on-one coaching. This added service is helping to set students on the right pathway for success in math. Math Coaches continue working with students through the completion of their GEM 3, Mathematical Ways of Knowing, requirement.
"For almost a year, the MSC has been running a small pilot where a handful of MSC faculty have been assigned to meet with interested students following their initial attempt on the math diagnostic," said Math Solutions Center Manager, Carol Crothers. "In addition to guiding students toward an understanding of their math pathway options, the one-on-one time with the students has allowed math coaches to help each student better understand their own mathematical strengths. Administering the math diagnostic within the MSC will allow the potential for MSC faculty coaches to support essentially all students who take the math diagnostic."
“I can’t say how monumental this change will be for students. I have been in Student Services for going on five years, and the Math Placement has always been a huge source of anxiety for students. They will now have experts helping them every step of the way,” said Assistant Director of Testing Services, Witney Davis.
During this transition semester, Testing Services is ready to assist any student who shows up to take the Math Diagnostic. Math Solutions Center and Testing Services hopes to make this transition as seamless as possible.
For those with questions or need additional information about the Math Coaching program, please reach out to Carol Crothers via email, carolcrothers@cwi.edu
