CWI Compass Connect - December 20, 2016
In the Spotlight
College of Western Idaho's (CWI) Fall 2016 Facts at a Glance is now available. The annual publication provides a statistical overview of the College and is a valuable resource for learning more about CWI. The information included in Facts at a Glance supports the messages being shared about who the College serves and the impact CWI is making in the community. Visit cwi.edu/info/facts-glance to view Facts at a Glance online or email communications@cwi.edu to request hard copies.
News Highlights
CWI Closing for Upcoming Holidays
College of Western Idaho (CWI) will be changing its hours of operation surrounding the upcoming holidays.
Here are some important dates:
Dec. 23-26 – closed
Jan. 2 – closed
For more information on CWI’s hours of operation please visit cwi.edu/info/hours-operation.
Holiday Greeting from President Glandon
As we approach the end of 2017, it is a good time to look back on a successful year at College of Western Idaho (CWI). Yet again, it was record-setting as the College served more than 28,000 students – helping them achieve new heights in their educational endeavors. The new year presents an opportunity to continue the mission of the College and I’m excited for what 2018 will mean for CWI and our students!
I wish you a joyous season and hope you get an opportunity to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones before we start a new semester in January. Happy Holidays!
Bert Glandon
CWI President
Partnership Expands Opportunities for Hispanic Students
The effort to expand educational opportunities for a group of students who will never receive federal financial aid is getting a boost. On Friday, Dec. 9, College of Western Idaho (CWI) was invited to participate in a check presentation at the Consulate of Mexico in Boise. During the event, the Consul of Mexico, Celso Humberto Delgado Ramirez, presented CWI with a $10,000 contribution that will help support scholarships for Hispanic students.
CWI is one of four institutions chosen to receive funding from the Institute for Mexicans Abroad Scholarship fund. This marks the fifth year the College has received the funding. Last year, seven students attending CWI were awarded scholarships through the program.
“It is an honor for us to be able to help students like this,” Consul Ramirez said. “We know there are many in need. Just know we appreciate what you are doing here for education.”
Libna Luevanos, a Biology-Healthcare Program student at CWI, is one of this past year’s scholarship recipients. She is studying to become a doctor, and works two jobs to help her pay for school.
“It feels so great when people say, ‘Hey, I’ve got your back. I believe in your dreams,’” she said.
CWI has been actively working to increase its Hispanic community outreach initiatives for the past few years. Hispanic students currently make up 22 percent of CWI’s student population. More than half are credit/degree-seeking students. The remaining students are enrolled in the College’s Basic Skills Education program; learning English as a Second Language and other college prep and life skills.
Luis Caloca, CWI’s Director of Enrollment Management, says the College is consistently working on new and creative ways to reach the Hispanic community. So far, the efforts are working, but Caloca says more can always be done.
Caloca attended the presentation with David Shellberg, CWI’s Vice President for Instruction and Student Services.
CWI Butterfly Defies Odds, Makes History
Her scientific name is B-3930. But as of today, she may as well be called “Miracle.” A Monarch butterfly—raised at College of Western Idaho (CWI) from a caterpillar—is making history in the Pacific Northwest scientific community. Not only is she the first Monarch tagged from Idaho to show up in an overwintering colony since the program started in 2012, she holds the record for being the latest tagged and released butterfly to be spotted 537 miles away in California.
“This butterfly’s recovery is significant not only locally, but regionally,” Assistant Professor Dusty Perkins, who leads CWI’s Monarch butterfly conservation efforts, said. “Not only is she the first Idaho butterfly from recent tagging efforts to be spotted after migration, she also holds the record for the latest departure of an individual from our latitude that has successfully migrated.”
Miracle was released at Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge in Nampa on Oct. 29. It happened during a public event on a very cold, windy day. At the time, many doubted she would make it very far if she even made it at all. Vance McFarland, the CWI Biology program student who raised her and served as the project’s student lead, knew recovery was slim, but held on to strands of hope saying it was well worth trying.
“I was there, and I’m the one who let her go,” McFarland, who has worked closely with the project for the past two years, said. “I kept her at my house for a few days hoping the weather conditions would improve, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen anytime soon. I figured this is what it’s like in nature, so I just let her go.”
Miracle was released with another butterfly; B-3931. This past fall, Perkins and fellow instructor Hollie Leavitt engaged more than 50 CWI students and community volunteers in tagging efforts, milkweed and Monarch mapping, and seed collection efforts. These were the last two butterflies raised, tagged, and released through CWI.
“When I let her go, she took off right away,” McFarland said. “B-3931 hung out for a while, but (Miracle) seemed antsy to leave. Now I see why. I’m beyond happy she made it.”
Thirty-two days later, Miracle was spotted in a tree at Lighthouse Field in Santa Cruz by John Dayton; a butterfly enthusiast in California. He snapped a few pictures of her that helped Monarch watchers identify her as one of CWI’s butterflies through her wing tag.
“Our project would not be possible without a lot of regional collaboration and support,” Perkins said. “Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge has allowed us the opportunity to conduct extensive field research over the past two years, and Dr. David James at Washington State University provided the tracking tags that allowed us to be part of this larger western Monarch migration study.”
Miracle will spend the winter in California. By early spring, she will hopefully mate and lay her eggs on several milkweed plants. From there, the eggs will hatch, develop into caterpillars, and transform into adult butterflies that will complete the journey back to Idaho. By the time that happens, McFarland will have completed his education at CWI. He says the experience has changed his life. The combat veteran, who once trained bomb-sniffing dogs as an infantryman in the U.S. Army, is now hooked on butterflies. He plans to continue his Monarch research when he transfers to Boise State University.
The Monarch Butterfly Conservation Project was one of three grant-funded projects at CWI through the National Science Foundation and the Idaho EPSCoR program.
CWI Enrollment and Student Services Leadership Named
College of Western Idaho (CWI) has named Patrick Tanner its Assistant Vice President of Enrollment and Student Services. Tanner’s official start date is Jan. 25, 2017. His responsibilities will include overseeing CWI’s Admissions and One Stop, Registrar, Financial Aid, Advising and New Student Services, and Student Affairs and Programs.
“I couldn’t be more excited to join the team at CWI,” says Tanner. “All of the work that the campus community has put into creating the initial accreditation application and the strategic plan make it clear that student learning and success are the primary priorities of the institution. This viewpoint fits perfectly with my values and expectations regarding leadership in higher education.”
Tanner says his passion for student learning and success has emerged from engagement in diverse areas of higher education across the United States. He comes to CWI from Penn State University, where he has served as the Director of Student Affairs at the university’s campus in York, Pennsylvania. His professional experience also includes housing and residence education through graduate studies at Grand Valley State University, and then full-time positions at the University of Denver and Roger Williams University.
He earned a bachelor’s degree at Geneva College while studying theatre arts and communications.
Tanner is married and has three children.
Criminal Justice Club Sponsors Local Family
A group of College of Western Idaho (CWI) students helped brightened the holidays for a local family recently, collecting gifts to deliver for Christmas. For several years, the CWI Criminal Justice Club has partnered with the Canyon County Juvenile Probation Department to adopt a family for Christmas. This year the club worked with students from CWI’s Law Enforcement program to wrap and deliver the donated gifts. They surprised the family with the gifts on Wednesday, Dec. 14.
Thank you to all the CWI students and employees who helped donate, wrap, and deliver gifts. The family was truly surprised and thankful for all of the presents.
Carter Receives December Staff Award
College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) December Staff of the Month award has been given to Megan Carter.
December marks Carter’s two year anniversary at CWI. She worked as a One Stop Specialist in e-campus for a year and a half before transitioning to the Ada County Campus One Stop Student Services location. She is currently co-chair of the Inclusive Excellence Committee and the advisor for the Queers and Allies student club. Prior to joining CWI as an employee she served as a leader in student government, UROC, and Speech and Debate.
Carter is finishing her associate degree in Liberal Arts. She plans to transfer to Boise State University for a bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies.
The nomination notes that Carter demonstrates the core values, leaving a legacy of learning and serving all in an atmosphere of caring. It also states, “I witness the amazing job Megan does every day helping our students. She takes the time to really listen to the student and their concerns. She has a unique gift of making them feel comfortable and they leave with all of their questions answered. She never just gives them a flyer and sends them on their way. She wants them to be successful and better themselves through education. Not only is she amazing with the students, she is truly a team player. She is always willing to step up and help when needed. Ada County One Stop has many new team members lately and she is an amazing teacher and mentor. She doesn’t just give them the answer but shows them where they can find them. She is very patience and kind to everyone."
Carter lives in Boise with her partner and two year old daughter. She is highly involved with local human rights activism.
Please join in congratulating Megan. Thank you for providing such incredible, dedicated support for CWI’s students.
Honorable Mention:
Dana Hoyer Turnbull
Timberlake Selected Faculty of Distinction
Martha Timberlake was selected by College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Faculty Recognition Committee as CWI’s December Faculty of Distinction.
Timberlake was nominated by a colleague who appreciates the work she has done in establishing both a robust service learning component in the Psychology department and the CWI Connections Project, which allows students to showcase their work. As the chair of the Social and Human Relations Department, Timberlake has guided three new associate degrees through curriculum design and acted as a fantastic liaison for the Psychology department. She really listens to the input and ideas of her faculty, and acts as a facilitator to help them achieve their goals.
Timberlake grew up in Los Angeles, California and received a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Southern California. She then went to the University of Utah and earned a masters and doctorate in Counseling Psychology. Timberlake enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters, as well as long walks, travel, and a variety of creative pursuits. Her goal as a teacher is to help students realize their goals through education, personal discovery, ingenuity, and effort.
Congratulations Martha on this well deserved honor.
