To the Campus Community,
I look forward to a time when these messages can begin without even a brief mention of the budget crisis we are facing. We're not there yet, but I'm encouraged by the thoughtful process each division is using to identify cuts that will have the least impact on students and educational programs. Throughout this process, we've made every effort to protect the academic core of the university and the faculty and staff who contribute to the student experience and who are cited by students and their parents alike as CWU's most important asset.
Even as we focus on the budget, I've directed members of cabinet to move forward on other initiatives that are timely and that promise better service to students and other citizens of the state. Among those being developed by the Division of Academic Affairs are working with the Faculty Senate in a review of the curriculum to ensure that programs students seek and employers need are available in ways that meet students' needs; continuing work already begun to strengthen the liberal arts and sciences foundation of the baccalaureate degree as it is embodied in the general education program; and ensuring that students can complete their degrees in a timely manner. Academic Affairs is also reviewing our mechanisms to provide synchronous and asynchronous electronically mediated instruction, continuing to develop our university centers as hubs of traditional and virtual instruction, developing ways to improve participation in and completion of CWU's various honors options, and seeking ways to strengthen research and service in the public interest.
We'll also be looking for ways to strengthen integration between the Divisions of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and Academic Affairs in recruitment, retention, and timely graduation of students.
As state support for public higher education wanes, it becomes increasingly important to raise private funds and access government support for scholarships and faculty initiatives. We are mindful of the increasing importance of our advancement efforts to this end, including communication, branding, and marketing. It's also why we will soon initiate planning for our next comprehensive gifts campaign and developing state and federal legislative agendas that help us achieve our institutional goals.
I understand that the relationship between the Ellensburg campus and the surrounding community is better than that in some other small towns that host colleges and universities, and we need to build on this foundation of good will. It is important to identify and resolve areas of conflict and to focus on initiatives that will bring mutual benefit to all parties. This includes active participation by the university in the community's economic development.
The hubbub surrounding WWU's decision to drop football has resulted in a closer inspection of the role and effectiveness of our own athletic programs. As many of you are aware, I'm an enthusiastic advocate for intercollegiate athletics as well as intramural athletics and club sports and I have no interest in dropping athletics. In addition to their role in building the university community, athletic programs at schools like ours tend to produce a net recruitment, retention, and graduation gain and athletes are, on the whole, very good students. However, we need to revisit the findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission that President McIntyre established, discover new ways to make athletics financially solvent, and determine if we have the right mix of athletic options on the campus.
Our management information systems operate in the background of the everyday life of the campus but they require regular attention to maintenance and updating. Current efforts to complete an integrated position control system will allow greater budget flexibility, transparency, and projection, and the selection and installation of a data warehousing module will improve access to data of all sorts.
We've been engaged in strategic planning for many years, and there has been some integration of effort across and within units. Still, I hear from many of you that we need to further strengthen the connection between planning, assessment and evaluation, and resource allocation.
There is also more work to do to ensure that all members of the university community feel included and that previously underrepresented students have equal access to all of the benefits the university has to offer.
All of this is to say that in a time of limited resources, we'll all be called on to work smarter and with greater efficiency. We'll all need to keep to our core values at the same time we reexamine how we do this very important work. I invite you to join me in this critical effort.
Sincerely,
Jim Gaudino
President
CWU TOP STORIES
DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORS ANNOUNCED
On May 1, the Board of Trustees announced the recipients of the 2009 Distinguished Professor awards. They are:
Dr. Robert Holtfreter, accounting, Distinguished Professor--Service
Holtfreter's service includes membership in the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, which honored him for his Outstanding Achievement in Accounting, and the Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants, from which he received a similar outstanding professional service award. Holtfreter has also held high-level leadership positions in several other national organizations, served on the editorial boards of fourteen journals, co-chaired the City of Yakima's budget strategy team, and chaired the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's upland game advisory committee and served on its advanced hunter education advisory committee.
Dr. Roxanne Easley, history, Distinguished Professor--Teaching
Easley has taught an incredibly wide and diverse range of courses, both within and outside the history department. Among the twenty different classes she has developed and taught are general education courses such as World History I, II, and III, and an array of upper division offerings, including Medieval Europe, Renaissance/Reformation Europe, Imperial Russian History, Russian Revolutionary History, Soviet History, and East European History.
Dr. Joseph Powell, English, Distinguished Professor--Artistic Accomplishment
Powell's scholarly and artistic reputation is evident in his numerous publications, and most recently as recipient of a coveted 2008 National Endowment for the Arts creative writing grant. Powell has published eight books: six books and chapbooks of poetry, a collection of short stories, and a handbook on poetic meter for students and practicing poets. In addition, he has three manuscripts ready for publication: two poetry books and a collection of literary essays.
Dr. Matthew Altman, Douglas Honors College/philosophy and religious studies Distinguished Non-Tenure Track Faculty--Teaching
As a teacher, Altman has received exceptionally strong endorsements from his students in introductory and advanced courses such as Introduction to Logic, Introduction to Ethics, Social and Political Philosophy, and the Philosophy of Art. Judging from his evaluations, students find his teaching informative, compelling, and exciting. Outside of the classroom, Altman is a generous mentor to students, offering academic advice as well as constructive critiques of writing samples.
The Distinguished Professors will receive their awards at the annual Honors Convocation on June 12.
GAUDINO TO ADDRESS GRADS AT EASTSIDE/WESTSIDE COMMENCEMENTS
Dr. James L. Gaudino, CWU president, will be the featured speaker at all of Central's commencement ceremonies on June 13 and 14. To accommodate the growing number of graduates and their families, two ceremonies will once again be held on the Ellensburg campus. The early ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be for all graduates in the College of Arts and Humanities, College of the Sciences, Interdisciplinary Study, and Individual Study majors. The 1:30 p.m. commencement will be for all graduates in the College of Education and Professional Studies, and the College of Business. Both ceremonies will be held in Tomlinson Stadium. The annual westside ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m., on June 14, at the Benaroya Hall at the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium in Seattle.
CWU will award three honorary degrees at this year's ceremonies. Moses Squeochs, General Council Chairman, Yakama Nations, will receive a Master of Natural Sciences, while Judy Yu, former chair of CWU's Board of Trustees, and long-time State Representative Helen Sommers will each receive a Master of Humane Letters.
BROWNE, VINCENT ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE MONTH FOR MARCH AND APRIL
The university's civil service employee council named Susan Browne, grounds and nursery supervisor/specialist; and Kathy Vincent, media technician senior, as the Employees of the Month for March and April, respectively. At recent surprise ceremonies, they each received a certificate and $125 from the president's discretionary fund, through the CWU civil service employee recognition program.
Those nominating Browne said:
- [She] is one of the hardest working and conscientious employees on campus. As the grounds and nursery supervisor/nursery specialist, Susan leads her grounds crew in creating a beautiful and functional green space for the entire community to enjoy.
- Susan's work is also her passion and her study. She applies her vast knowledge of horticultural practices to her position every day, whether it is during planting season or while managing a particular landscaping task, Susan knows the best way to do it. In particular, the rose gardens on campus bloom magnificently because of her care and attention. One nominator believes that Susan's improvements and work on various planning committees have contributed to Central's overall retention of students.
- Susan is not only a top-notch worker in a physically and mentally demanding job, but an exemplary supervisor, as well. Nominators who work for Susan praised her patience in training, her courteous and upbeat personality, and her professionalism.
- Susan is a role model to her employees, and perhaps to all women hoping to attain similar positions, because she was the first, fulltime female gardener hired by CWU.
Those nominating Vincent said:
- Without her, no DVDs would play, no PowerPoint would illuminate concepts and keep faculty on track, no smartboard would be, well... "smart." To put it best, one nominator explained Kathy as "...an asset to our department and the university, whom I hope we never lose."
- Kathy is smiling and personable, and uses that gift to make strong connections throughout campus, gaining the respect of many whom she helps. One nominator said that Kathy takes on your "problem" and makes it her "priority." All the while she imparts this technical advice without being demeaning or "talking down to" the user.
- Kathy is also very considerate with taxpayers' resources. She has years of experience in school districts, and has experience setting up entire classrooms. This experience shows in her ability to provide support, monitor problems, perform equipment exchanges, recommend updates or replacements for major media systems or components, and aid the media engineers in system installation and planning.
- [Everyone] commented on how fortunate they felt to work with her and how lucky CWU is to have her in their employ.
University students, faculty, and staff, as well as Ellensburg community members are encouraged to nominate civil service employees who are doing exceptional work for Employee of the Month recognition. A nomination form is available online at www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/eotmnominate.html.
PREPARE FOR FISCAL YEAR END PURCHASING
June 30 marks the end of another fiscal year and the Purchasing Office is preparing for a smooth transition into the next fiscal year. With the fiscal year's end there are a number of considerations to take into account regarding the procurement of materials and services. The Purchasing Office has prepared a memo regarding "Fiscal Year-End Purchasing Reminders and Considerations," which can be found at: www.cwu.edu/~purchase/EOY_fiscal2009_memo.doc.
The memo includes information about encumbrances, pre-planning, purchasing card year-end, standing orders for the new fiscal year, blanket orders for fiscal 2010, end-of-year requisitions, and after-the-fact orders. If you have any questions or need clarification, call ext. 1002.
SPRING COMMISSIONING CEREMONY HELD JUNE 12
The CWU Army Reserve Officers' Training Corp Wildcat Battalion will hold its Spring Commissioning Ceremony at 10 a.m., June 12, in the Music Building Concert Hall. During the ceremony, thirteen members will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the US Army. Those planning to attend are asked to call ext. 3518 before June 5.
LEARN TO GROOVE WITH ITS
CWU computer users can now have access to a new software tool, Microsoft's Groove, which is an aid in collaborating with others on group projects. Groove comes with Microsoft Office 2007 and allows users to collaboratively work on projects while keeping everyone in the group aware of the most recent version of documents. It also has other abilities to aid groups working on common tasks. Many users already have Groove installed with their versions of Office 2007. However, if you don't see Groove in the list of programs on your computer, contact the ITS Help Desk for assistance in having it installed. Please note that Groove is not available for those using Mac-OS and Office 2008.
SWINE FLU UPDATE
In May, a 21-year-old Central student, who has since recovered, was diagnosed with swine flu. While it was the first case of influenza A (H1N1) in Kittitas County, there have been more than 500 confirmed cases statewide. The Kittitas County Health Department has determined there was no direct risk to CWU. In the event of a direct risk, notifications will be made through CWU Alert! The Kittitas County Public Health Department and the CWU Health Center have been working with the student, who lives off campus, and the student's family and other close contacts.
Health authorities say the swine flu virus appears to act very similarly to existing seasonal flu viruses. If you are ill with flu-like symptoms, it's recommended that you stay home from school or work, and do not attend public gatherings, including church or sporting events.
For more information about swine flu visit the Kittitas County Public Health Department Web site, www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health/h1n1.asp, or call the Washington State Department of Health Hotline at 1-888-703-4364.
POET ADRIENNE RICH TO SPEAK ON JUNE 3
Award-winning poet, feminist, and noted social activist Adrienne Rich will address the CWU campus on June 3 at 7 p.m. in McConnell Auditorium. In an appearance hosted by the Douglas Honors College, Rich will read, discuss, and answer questions on her rich and diverse literary work. Since the 1951 publication of her first work, A Change of World, Rich has received national attention and many awards for her poetry and nonfiction writing, including a 1974 National Book Award. For more information or for get tickets, contact the Douglas Honors College at ext. 1445 or e-mail dhc@cwu.edu.
LIMBER UP WITH YOGA
Yoga instructor Lori Chandler will be offering four different yoga classes beginning in June. Yoga For Beginners, Lunch Hour Yoga, Yoga for Seniors, and Yoga Practice will be held throughout the summer. Participants may register at the first class. For more information, contact either Chandler at 509-3738 or by e-mail (loriwchandler@hotmail.com), or Sandy Bach at ext. 1526 or via e-mail (bachs@cwu.edu).
In March Cari CALLAHAN and Joanna HUNT presented an educational session titled "Dynamic Displays: Putting Some Spice in Your Life," at the National Association of College Stores annual meeting and trade show in Anaheim, California, showcasing the Wildcat Shop's innovative displays and merchandising.
Anthony DIAZ, chemistry, was awarded a $150,000 National Science Foundation grant to study energy losses at the surfaces of nano particles. Diaz's work will be featured in an article in the upcoming edition of Central Connections.
On May 18, Kathy GAER-CARLTON, interim director of admissions, was honored for being a patriotic employer. Beverly Allenbaugh, a member of the Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR), was on hand to present Gaer-Carlton with the ESGR award, which recognizes employers who best support military employees who must leave their civilian job to serve their country. Lt. Col. Bruce Simpson, United States Air Force Reserve, who is a CWU transfer admissions coordinator, nominated Gaer-Carlton for the honor.
President Gaudino named Dr. Ellen HALL, interim vice president for University Relations, Administrator of the Year. Hall has been at the helm of the division for the past year.
Steve JEFFERIES, physical education, recently led a discussion on the topic of "Physical Education Teacher Education" at the national convention of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance in Tampa, Florida. At the convention Jefferies was named President of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). Following the convention, Jefferies represented NASPE at the NFL Draft held in Radio City Music Hall in New York City. He then attended NASPE Lobby Day in Washington DC, visiting with legislators and advocating for proposed legislation that impacts school physical education and active lifestyles.
Terry MARTIN, English, was first-place winner in the Allied Arts Regional Poetry Contest and has poems in the latest issues of Oregon East, Cascade, and The Great American Poetry Show. This spring, she has performed readings in Ashland, Oregon and on Whidbey Island for the Brave New Words poetry festival. Her recent presentations include "Call & Response: Poetry and the Gift Exchange" at the Richard Hugo House in Seattle and "Making a Book: Manuscript Development, Selection, and Publication" co-presented with Kim-An Lieberman at Yakima Valley Community College.
Cynthia MITCHELL, professor, communication, wrote the cover story, "First Things First," in the spring issue of College Media Review. The article is about the lessons learned while producing the year-long First Amendment Festival at CWU. Read it at www.collegemedia.org/files/cma_img/CMR/09CMA46_3.pdf
The CWU Chapter of the PUBLIC RELATIONS STUDENT SOCIETY OF AMERICA (PRSSA) received an award as Downtown Partner of the Year from the Ellensburg Downtown Association (EDA) on May 28. The PRSSA received the award for its work with the EDA throughout the past academic year to help promote revitalization efforts and downtown success stories. The group's work has helped build awareness about EDA's efforts and successes both on and off campus, including a feature story in the March/April issue of NW Travel magazine touting three downtown Ellensburg restaurants.
CWU alumna Nancy WORDEN (BFA, '77) will have an exhibit, Loud Bones: The Jewelry of Nancy Worden, at the Tacoma Art Museum June 27-September 20. Her work has been described as "forceful, unapologetic, demanding, and gripping."
Bang-Soon YOON, political science, published an invited article, "Public Education Strategies of Dokdo Island Issues via Global Academic Networkings and the Media" in the Dokdo Research Journal, Winter 2008, Vol. 4. The journal is published by the Korea Maritime Institute, South Korea's leading think tank on the Dokdo Island territorial dispute and marine resource development.
CWU EMPLOYEES
Shared Leave Requests
The following individuals are in need of shared leave: Gini Silva, University Housing and New Student Programs; Melissa Anderson, Student Health & Counseling; Steven Mohr, KCWU Radio; James Bertella, Dining Services; and Kitty Stoffle, Campus Life.
CWU employees may donate annual or sick leave to a fellow employee. For more information and eligibility criteria, call Human Resources at ext. 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.
CIVIL SERVICE NEW HIRES
Scott Morfield, Custodian 1, Campus Life; Patricia Phillips, Office Assistant 3; CWU-Wenatchee; Lauren Lutz, Site Director (Program Specialist 2), CWU-Kent
CIVIL SERVICE JOB CHANGES
Erin Bledsoe, Library and Archives Paraprofessional 2, Library
To view current job openings at CWU, go to www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.