CWI Compass Connect - June 12, 2018
Spotlight
CWI welcomed future students to campus today for New Student Orientation. New this year, students enrolling for fall semester had the opportunity to meet with advisors, register for classes, learn about services and resources available and engage with staff and faculty. In addition it’s a great way to meet fellow incoming students and visit campus before classes start.
News Highlights
Pilot Program for Welding Students
The Welding Summer Bridge pilot program, developed by Idaho Career and Technical Education (ICTE), is giving 14 high school seniors the opportunity to become certified welders in a shortened amount of time. The idea is to “bridge” the 10 credits the students earned in high school with the credits required for their first-year of college, during the summer after high school graduation. Students completing the summer program will then be able to register for fall courses as a second-year welder.
The program is designed to tackle two issues – getting more students into postsecondary CTE programs that were cohort model programs and getting skilled workers into the workforce to meet the skills gap in high-demand occupations.
The program was opened as a pilot to high school concentrators in welding pathway programs across the state to assist students with continuing their career journey. Students shared interest by reaching out to their teachers and contacting a college transition coordinator. To be eligible, students had to pass their Technical Skills Assessment (TSA), their Postsecondary Assessment (PSA), and attend a student/parent orientation to learn more.
Students selected for the pilot program will attend classes at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵÍø and College of Southern Idaho June 4 through July 27.
Recruits Learn to Battle Flames
Flames spilled from drip torches as wildland firefighter recruits completed hands-on training, during Basic Fire School, hosted annually at Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵÍø (CWI) in Nampa.
Eric Gordon, a veteran firefighter with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and a CWI alumnus, kept a watchful eye on the eight recruits as they used torches, fusees, and other devices crews use to fight fire with fire. Sixty students spent an intense week from, May 21-25, training and learning how to battle wildland fires. Most of the work was in the classroom, but on Wednesday, they moved through six stations outside of the College’s Nampa Campus Academic Building. Gordon, who transferred to Boise State University, reflected on his time at CWI.
“I knew I wanted to get my degree in biology, so I took as many courses as possible at CWI,” he said. Gordon enjoyed the smaller class size at CWI, “I was able to make the classes more rigorous!” He felt his classes with Brian McClain, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Dusty Perkins, Associate Professor of Biology; prepared him to excel in higher level courses at Boise State.
The new recruits learned about fire engines, first aid, and fire shelters as they made their way from station to station on CWI’s 100-acre campus.
“Having all of this space, where we can spread out and hike a little between stations, is fantastic,” said Eric Rayborn, of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and coordinator of Basic Fire School.
Recruits from around the region, who will mainly work for the BLM, USFS, and Idaho Department of Lands, attended the school to learn and sharpen their skills to fight wildfires.
Curtis Sharp, a recruit with the USFS from Idaho City, grew up on land with a mountain in his backyard. “Coming from personal experience I wanted to help stop these blazes, we get a lot of wildfires around Idaho City that threaten the homes and land of family and friends.”
Fire school wraps up on Friday, May 25. Following a written test, the new firefighters will receive an Incident Qualifications Card, also known as a red card, and head to the stations they will be working at this summer — ready to combat the flames from the next wildfire.
Business Students and Faculty Shine
It was a banner year for Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵÍø (CWI) Business students and faculty. Students shined in the nationwide business exams from Peregrine Academic Services — performing better than their peers in the region. In addition, the faculty and program were recognized by a national accreditation body.
"We are extremely proud of our business students," said Shelly Moore, Department Chair for Business. "They continue to outperform because of strong commitment to succeed and their willingness to work hard to achieve their goals."
Known as the Business Administration Comprehensive Exam, the tests cover several topics including, Accounting, Business Fundamentals, Economics, and Statistics. CWI's business students were measured against students at public and private, four-year universities and colleges, as well as community colleges that also had regional accreditation. CWI Business students achieved five to 15 percent higher scores in each category of Business Administration.
The Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Associate Degree Board of Commissioners awarded CWI accreditation of its Business program. The accreditation evaluates aspects of leadership, strategic planning, relationships with stakeholders, quality of academic programs, faculty credentials, and educational support to determine whether or not the program offers a rigorous, educational experience and demonstrates continuous, quality improvement.
“Ä¢¹½ÊÓƵÍø has shown its commitment to teaching excellence and to the process of quality improvement by participating in the accreditation process,” said ACBSP Chief Accreditation Officer, Dr. Steve Parscale, who will present the Certificate of Accreditation at the ACBSP Conference 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 10.
Degree Plans Support Student Success
Student Advising and Success has been hard at work and proud to report 100 percent approved degree plans for students enrolled during Spring 2018 semester! Approved degree plans provide students a pathway to their academic and career goals and are tailored to fit each student’s unique situation.
Students work with a Student Success Advisor specializing in their specific major to create a plan that will allow them to optimize their academic journey. Approved degree plans help facilitate registration as required courses are mapped out for each semester. Students can also view a timeline for degree completion, update their plan as needed, and clearly track which courses are remaining. The creation of degree plans to support student success is an awesome addition to the student experience. Student Advising and Success is looking forward to continuing to work with students in developing their plans and realizing their educational dreams.
