Greetings,
This is the sixth in a series of bulletin columns on the topic, "Here's Where We Stand." This month, I'm pleased to report on the success of The Campaign for Central Washington University: Transforming Lives and to acknowledge the work of those who made it happen. Transforming Lives was the first comprehensive gifts campaign in Central's history. Scheduled to end on June 30, 2008, the campaign goal of $21 million was achieved a month early, and this last month has allowed us to exceed the goal. Although complete numbers won't be available until after the fiscal year ends, we currently have recorded $21.6 million in pledges and donations
We began planning for a major gifts campaign shortly after I arrived on campus in July 2000. The first years were directed toward assembling development staff who could manage the campaign, conducting a feasibility study to determine the university's readiness for the campaign, and setting a goal. The consultants who assisted us with the feasibility study reviewed our giving history at CWU and suggested we set an $18 million goal. It was with that goal in mind that the campaign began its "silent" phase in 2005. However, it soon became apparent that many alumni and friends of Central were eager for the opportunity to give back to the university. As a result, we revised the goal upward to $21 million.
The campaign centered on four themes—excellence, opportunity, innovation, and the personal touch—all of which resonated with alumni who talked to us about their experiences at Central. During the silent phase, we also agreed that the money raised during the campaign would be directed toward areas where it was most needed: scholarships and student life, faculty enhancement, and Central impact programs, including—among others—the James E. Brooks Library, athletics, and the Douglas Honors College.
By fall of 2007, we had achieved 90 percent of our goal and were ready to enter the public phase of the campaign. The development team had assembled a case statement and Chris Smart had produced a beautiful video in time for the Crimson and Black Gala that began the public phase in October of 2007. Less than a year later, on June 2, we topped $21 million and the total dollar amount continues to grow.
There are many people who played a significant role in our success. First and foremost, I want to thank the 8,000 donors who contributed in amounts ranging from $10 to $350,000 in outright cash gifts to $10,000 to $150,000 in major gifts and pledges to $5,000 to $5 million in planned gift expectancies. It was particularly gratifying to hear the wonderful stories many of our friends and alumni told of their association with Central in one or more of its iterations: as a normal school, as Central Washington College of Education (Sweecy); as a state college; and as a university.
We are also indebted to two distinguished alumni—Christine Day and David Coffman—who led the effort by serving as campaign co-chairs. Other members of the CWU Foundation Board of Directors played significant roles as well. Most especially, I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of Jen Gray, assistant vice president for development, and her team of development officers for their untiring dedication to the campaign. The development team was ably assisted by staff in the Departments of Alumni Relations and Public Relations and Marketing, by the college deans, by our seven volunteer advisory councils—COTS, CB, CEPS, CAH, Friends of the Library, Wildcat Club, and Gift and Estate Planning—and by numerous faculty and other members of the university community who connected us with alumni and friends and helped us tell our story.
Although he played a mostly "behind-the-scenes" role, I also want to acknowledge publicly the support of W. David Smith, who contributed expertise gained from his years as a development officer at a different university. We have already transformed the lives of those who have had the opportunity to support the university they know and love and now, thanks to their generosity, we are better positioned than we have ever been to transform the lives of our current and future students. Congratulations!
Sincerely
Jerilyn S. McIntyre
President
CWU TOP STORIES
CWU PRODUCER BRINGS HOME EMMY AWARD
Moments in American History, a series of educational mini-documentaries produced by Chris Smart of Multimedia Technology and Instructional Support, won the Emmy for Advanced Media—Children, Youth and Teens at the recent National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Northwest Regional Emmy awards ceremony held in Seattle.
As coordinator of media production and development, Smart produced the documentaries with the help of CWU alumnus Tom Christian, a former Thorp School District teacher who still works at the district as the director of the Teaching American History grant. The three-year, $1-million-grant was essential in producing the documentaries, Smart said
"It's an honor to be recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS)," Smart said. "It's important to note, however, that any success this project may have is a result of a collaborative effort between our department, the grant administrator (Christian), and the historians who participated in the documentaries."
Along with being selected in the Children, Youth and Teens category, the series was also nominated in the Informational/Instructional Feature/Segment category.
Recently the series was placed on Apple's iTunes. It can be found in the iTunesU category and downloaded for free. Moments in American History has also been distributed to every school district in Washington State, the Offices of the Superintendent of Public Instruction in all fifty states, and to approximately 300 universities nationwide. The DVD has also been sent to history teachers, museums, and libraries throughout the Pacific Northwest.
After more than four decades of service, Courson and Muzzall halls have been "deconstructed." Built in 1966, the "twin towers" were closed two years ago, when maintenance and upkeep expenses began to exceed the revenue the buildings generated. The nine-story halls, which had become obsolete, were not part of Central's long-range housing plans.
In their place, a new park is being developed along the banks of Wilson Creek. It will include landscaped seating and picnic areas, featuring a variety of trees and shrubbery, and a new university "Welcome Plaza." Full site development will be completed in summer 2009.
THIS I BELIEVE CHOSEN FOR ONE BOOK, ONE CAMPUS PROGRAM
Provost/Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Wayne Quirk has selected This I Believe: The Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men & Women, edited by Jay Allison and Dan Gediman, as the reading for the fourth annual "One Book, One Campus project."
Based on the National Public Radio series, This I Believe features eighty essayists completing the thought that begins the book's title. The list of contributors features the famous-including William F. Buckley Jr., Bill Gates, Colin Powell, Gloria Steinem, and John Updike-and the unknown, such as the thoughts of a Brooklyn lawyer, a part-time hospital clerk, a woman who sells Yellow Pages, and a man who serves on a state parole board.
Each essay compels readers to rethink their own personal beliefs and the extent to which they share them with others.
The shared reading experience is designed to explore issues and ideas that are relevant to our community and world, and to encourage lively discussions across campus. For more information, visit www.cwu.edu/~provost/one_book/.
HUSS NAMED MAY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
The university's Civil Service Employee Council has named Rebecca Huss, program coordinator for University Housing and New Student Programs, May's Civil Service Employee of the Month. At a recent surprise ceremony, she received a certificate and $125 from the president's discretionary fund, through the CWU civil service employee recognition program. Those nominating Huss noted:
- Becky is a key player in University Housing as she is responsible for assigning students to twenty residence halls. The halls range in size from 35 to 212 beds. With 2,480 beds in the system, she may be working with as many as 4,000 records when she is working in two academic years.
- When making room assignments, Becky takes into consideration deposit date, roommate requests, room type, building requests, and disability of a student. Becky also provides excellent customer service to students and parents in the office and on the telephone. She is compassionate towards the students and their needs, and works to provide the best possible living environment that is available at any given time. She consistently goes the extra mile.
- Her positive attitude, smile, and can-do spirit make her very approachable by the students and her co-workers. She focuses on a resolution in any situation for the best possible outcome.
- Becky's most amazing and appreciated characteristic is her ability to smile all day, even when there is a line of students out the door. She is the type of employee that every supervisor wishes to hire.
- University students, faculty, and staff, along with Ellensburg community members, are encouraged to nominate civil service employees, who are doing exceptional work, for Employee of the Month recognition. A new, streamlined nomination form is now online at www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/eotmnominate.html.
NEW WEBSITE MAKES HIRING EASIER
Human Resources has updated its search and hiring Web site (www.cwu.edu/~hr/search/index.html) to streamline the process of university recruitment and hiring. The new site breaks down the recruitment cycle into six steps beginning with when a vacancy occurs or a new position is created and concluding with the hiring of a new employee. On each of the pages are links to the forms needed to accomplish necessary steps in the process as well as informational links regarding interviewing, advertising, search files, and other useful information. For additional information contact Joy Carlson (carlsonj@cwu.edu, ext. 1260) or Brenda Reagan (reaganb@cwu.edu, ext. 2266).
MAMMOTH DIG SITE TO OPEN JULY 8
From July 8-31, the Wenas Creek Mammoth Project will be open for free, public tours. Visiting hours will be Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., with the last tour at 1:30 p.m.
The project focuses on the recovery of an Ice Age mammoth, and other associated animals and artifacts, while placing them in their physical geographic context. During its fourth field season, the site team will continue the excavation, using techniques drawn from archaeology, paleontology, and geography. This summer the crew of Central students and others expect to expose many more mammoth bones.
Wearing a hat, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes is recommended for visitors to the site, which is generally hot, dry, and dusty. For more information, visit www.cwu.edu/~masters/mammoth.html.
FITNESS AND BODY COMPOSITION ASSESSMENTS ARE AVAILABLE
Through July 24, CWU exercise science majors will conduct free physical fitness and body composition assessments. The free testing is available, by appointment, to CWU students, staff, faculty, and community members. To schedule an assessment, sign up at PE 202.
Body composition testing, which includes hydrostatic weighing and skin-fold measurements, takes about twenty minutes. The full fitness test, which includes muscular endurance, flexibility, and aerobic assessment in addition to body composition, takes up to an hour. Participants must provide their own swimsuit, towel, and exercise clothing.
CENTRAL TRANSIT ON SUMMER SCHEDULE
During the summer, Central Transit is operating seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Central Transit will resume its regular schedule and routes in September. For additional information, call ext. 2959.
WALNUT MALL CLOSED THROUGH AUGUST
Facilities Management crews are now installing steam utilities along Walnut Mall, which will be closed from the north side of the canal bridge to the southwest corner of Stephens-Whitney through August 31. The pedestrian detour will be along the "E" Street bridge, south of Brooks Library and east of Dean Hall. For questions or concerns, call ext. 2447.
SUMMER HOURS FOR STUDENT HEALTH, COUNSELING AND WELLNESS SERVICES
Student Health, Counseling and Wellness Services is open now through August 15 from 8 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m.- 3 p.m. For more information, visit www.cwu.edu/~hcws/.
SHARED LEAVE REQUESTS
The following individuals are in need of shared leave: Nancy Jo Tutino, Accounting; David Winters, Continuing Education; and Connie Bennett, Frank Metz, and Gayle Mothershead, Facilities Management.
CWU employees may donate leave to a fellow employee: 1) who is suffering from or has a relative or household member who is suffering from an extraordinary or severe illness, injury, impairment, or physical or mental condition; or, 2) who has been called to service in the uniformed services; and, where the fact of either 1) or 2) has caused or is likely to cause the employee to take leave without pay or terminate his or her employment.
You may donate annual (vacation) and sick leave in eight-hour blocks. A minimum balance of eighty hours of annual leave must be maintained. Excess annual leave (that over 240 hours) that will otherwise be lost may not be donated. A minimum balance of 176 hours of sick leave must be maintained. All or a portion of your personal holiday may also be donated.
The shared leave donation form can be downloaded from the HR forms section of the Human Resources home page (www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/shared_leave_donation_form.doc) or requested from the HR office by calling extension 1202. Requests to donate leave must be approved by your supervisor before forwarding to HR and are subject to approval by your department head and Human Resources.
Staci SLEIGH-LAYMAN has accepted the position of director of the CWU Office for Equal Opportunity. She holds a bachelor's and a master's degree from Central and has served in OEO for sixteen years, most recently as associate director, prior to assuming the interim director position in 2007. Sleigh-Layman has an established history of advocating equal opportunity for employees and students, earning the respect of colleagues at CWU and around the state, and has been active in statewide and national discussions about affirmative action and equal opportunity. She is one of four program directors who have established "Resource Central," a collaborative effort involving OEO, the Office of Internal Audit and Ombuds, and Department of Human Resources, to assist units on campus in preventing and resolving conflict.
Roger FOUTS has been named Interim Dean of Graduate Studies and Research. Fouts is internationally known for his work at the Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute. Since 2003, he has served as the university's Director of Research. Fouts joined the CWU Department of Psychology faculty in 1980. As part of his new assignment, he will also chair the Advisory Board of the newly formed Central Washington University Research Foundation.
Kirk JOHNSON has agreed to serve as Interim Dean of the College of the Sciences. Johnson was selected from a pool of internal nominees. He served as chair of the Department of Sociology/Anthropology at Washburn University before joining the Central faculty in 1997 as chair of the Sociology department. Johnson has been Associate Dean of the College of the Sciences since 2006.
Richard MACK, economics, presented "Tracking Changes in the Local Economy: The Importance of Looking at the Income Side of the Coin," at the Pacific Northwest Regional Economic Conference held in May in Tacoma.
Merridy RENNICK has accepted the new career counselor position at CWU-Des Moines. Rennick will deliver classroom presentations and workshops, offer internship assistance, career counseling, and career assessments to both CWU-Des Moines and Highline Community College students. She can be reached at ext. 3841 or by e-mail at rennickm@cwu.edu. Rennick was formerly Assistant Director of Career Services at Seattle University.
Ken BRIGGS, health, human performance and nutrition, was the featured speaker at the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest Service Centennial Conference at the Chelan County Fairgrounds on June 5.
Kirk MATHIAS, physical education program director, received the Crystal Apple Award for a faculty member in the College of Education and Professional Studies who has had a positive impact on the field of teacher preparation and CWU pre-service candidates. A member of the faculty for eight years, Mathias recently received a grant to construct a rock-climbing wall to be used in teacher preparation.
CWU EMPLOYEES
Civil service new hires: Lisa Schuster, Animal Technician 1, Chimpanzee and Human Communication Institute; Jennifer Hawks, Secretary Senior, University Writing/Math Center; Gregory Lyman, Instructional and Classroom Support Technician 3, Physics; Daniel Soules, Custodian 1, Business Auxiliary Custodial Services; Pamela Wellock, Office Assistant 2, University English as a Second Language; James McLean, Archaeological Field Leader (Natural Resources Scientist 2), Continuing Education.
Civil service job changes: Tina Conley, Program Coordinator, Financial Aid; Karen Hill, Secretary Senior, History Department; Roberta Lowe, Secretary Senior, Study Abroad and Exchange Programs; Lucille Rolfe, Administrative Assistant 3, Business Auxiliaries and Public Safety; Cindy Klein, Secretary Senior, College of the Sciences.
Exempt job changes: Gary Hyatt, Assistant Athletic Director, Compliance, Athletics.
To view current job openings at CWU, go to www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.