To date, general wireless (WiFi) network access at Central Washington University has been limited to a single access point in the Brooks Library, along with access points in the Samuelson Union Building that could only be accessed with 10 laptop computers available for checkout. But, things are changing - and changing fast. Students, faculty and staff with CWU network accounts will be going online wirelessly this fall at many locations around campus, using university equipment or their own personal laptops.

Last spring, the university's Information Technology Services (ITS) department began a project to install wireless networking in areas key to the university. With input from the university information technology advisory committee, key academic buildings on campus were prioritized and, last May, Phase I of the "Wireless Network Project" began.

The initial phase includes providing wireless capability throughout the Brooks Library, science building, Shaw-Smyser, Japanese Garden and the campus green between the garden and the language and literature and science buildings. In addition, wireless access will be available in the new music education facility and parts of Bouillon, while the wireless networking in the SUB will be converted to general access.

"This phase of the project is going extremely well, and should be completed around the same time that students return for fall classes," Carmen Rahm, ITS senior director, says. "Our goal is to gradually expand WiFi access across the entire university over the next two years as a way to increase the mobility of our faculty, staff and students. Access to information online shouldn't be confined to an office, a classroom or a lab."

Information on where wireless is available on campus, what it takes to get connected and instructions for "going unplugged" will be available on the web at www.cwu.edu/~wireless.

Key individuals on the project include Roland Tollefson (project manager and director of networks and operations), David Hart (network engineer), Kerry Green (client services), Tom Rockey (testing and implementation), Ken Young (ITS help desk and Web support) and members of the Telecom Group for network installation, according to Rahm.

Phase II, expanding wireless to Black and Hebeler halls and the psychology building, begins in October, with completion scheduled for early next year. Wireless access will also be available throughout the new student union building/recreation center when those facilities open in 2006.

Cynthia Kuhlken, chemistry department lab manager and safety officer, has been named the CWU civil service "Employee of the Month" for August.

Those nominating Kuhlken said:

• She is one of the best examples of efficiency in action that I have seen. She is responsible for supervising three civil service employees, ordering for laboratories (both teaching and research), maintaining our electronic chemical inventory, maintaining and recommending updates to our computing facilities, budgeting our student fee account and researching and recommending safety policies to department faculty. Somehow she manages to accomplish all her work error free and with good humor.
• She has more contact daily with representatives from outside the university than the rest of the chemistry faculty and staff combined. Our reputation is, in large part, formed by her interactions. It's a comfort to know that such a dedicated and pleasant individual plays this role in our department. Our reputation is enhanced by her professional manner.
• Cynthia is also a self-motivated, self-starter. I can count on her to meet and almost always beat any deadline I give her. I know the other faculty in our department feels the same way.
• She is a responsible and efficient employee and a compassionate and effective supervisor.

During a surprise ceremony, Kuhlken received a certificate and $100 from the president's discretionary fund, through the CWU civil service employee recognition program.

Initiated by employee council, recognition goes to employees who foster a personalized environment that supports members of the university community as well as the mission of Central.

University students, faculty and staff, and Ellensburg community members, are eligible to make nominations - signed or anonymously - for employees of the month. Nomination forms are available from the CWU human resources office, employee council representatives and on-line at: www.cwu.edu/~hr/ec.

On Sept. 1, Julie Cloninger assumed the post of CWU senior director of development.

"She will help us advance Central by leading the university's development efforts and through implementing creative, new fund-raising strategies and initiatives," Dr. Paul Baker, university vice president of university relations, says.

Cloninger's areas of responsibility will include annual giving, major gift solicitation and capital campaigns. She says her short-term goals at Central are to make the most of the university's development team and increase giving to the annual fund.

"Long-term goals include a capital campaign and endowment funding through planned giving and bequests," she points out. "In between, we need to help meet university needs through such things as naming opportunities in the new student union building."

From 2002 to '04, she served as vice president for advancement at Heritage University in Toppenish, Wash., where she directed the school's individual and corporate fund-raising efforts and developed an integrated marketing plan to increase revenue and recruitment.

From 2000 to '02, Cloninger worked as development director and major gifts officer for the Montana State University Foundation, where she successfully led and completed a $15-million campaign.

Before that, she spent two years as owner of "Community Consulting," a firm that developed fund-raising strategies and expanded public relations efforts for non-profit clients in McAllen, Texas.

In addition, Cloninger worked in event coordination and fund raising for U.S. Senator Max Baucus of Montana and was an assistant to the executive director of the Montana Community Foundation, a philanthropic services organization.

Cloninger, a 1993 graduate of Carroll College, Helena, Mont., with a bachelor's degree in history, says she became interested in the CWU position because of the size of the school and her familiarity with the local community.

"I think that smaller universities are more personal, there's more of a sense of community and they're much more student oriented," she says. "We came up here a lot for events at the Ellensburg Children's Activity Museum and Jazz in the Valley. We really like Ellensburg because it's small and I think it will be a good place to raise a family."

Cloninger arrived in Ellensburg with her husband, Jeff LaValley, and four children, Emma, 6; Hadley, 4; Liam, 2; and Ava, 7 months old.

The CWU football team will take on archrival Western Washington in the 2004 Wells Fargo Battle in Seattle, presented by Comcast, Saturday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m. at Qwest Field (Seahawks Stadium) in Seattle.

This year's game is expected to be just as exciting as the inaugural event last year when 16,392 people saw CWU win 29-20. That crowd set a new Pacific Northwest small-college attendance record.

Tickets are now available through TicketMaster on-line (www.ticketmaster.com) or by phone at (206-628-0888), Qwest Field box office in Seattle and the CWU University Store.

In June, Mark BABBITT, music, won the 2004 Washington Awards Tour Solo Competition sponsored by the Seattle Ladies Musical Club. As part of the prize, he will present a recital tour through out Washington in September. He is the first trombonist to win this competition intended to promote soloists in the early part of their career. Also in June, Babbitt presented a clinic, conducted the CWU and Ithaca College Alumni trombone choirs, at the 2004 International Trombone Festival in Ithaca, N.Y.

Marc FAIRBANKS, a senior geology major from Cle Elum, with the assistance of geography's geographic information systems (GIS) lab and Bob HICKEY, geography and land studies, has published "The Taneum and Manastash Trail Systems: Mountain Biking in Kittitas County, Washington" guidebook. Copies are available at the CWU University Store. All proceeds go toward a GIS scholarship and the GIS lab.

Martha KURTZ, chemistry and science education, attended the Teacher of Teachers of Science meeting in Pullman on June 3-5. The meeting brings together science education faculty from across the state. Kurtz presented a Web-based discussion activity in a session on the use of technology in the classroom. In addition, Kurtz participated on a statewide committee to develop criteria for field investigations to be used in the state's Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). The committee met June 15-17 at Islandwood on Bainbridge Island.

Patrick LUBINSKI, anthropology, is the current editor of the Association for Washington Archaeology Newsletter, and has published Spring 2004 and Summer 2004 editions. He also has been acting as a manuscript reviewer for Journal of Archaeological Science and International Journal of Osteoarchaeology.

Carin THOMAS is the principal investigator and major author of a proposal funded by the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust in August 2004 for $225,000. The proposal seeks to initiate a program of science honors research at CWU and is titled, "Scientific Discovery Through Inquiry-Based Research: Establishing the Science Honors Research Program at Central Washington University."

SEATTLE SYMPHONY TICKETS

CWU will present the Seattle Symphony in concert Wednesday, Oct. 13, at 7:30 p.m. in the university's music education facility. The performance is sponsored by Cave B Estate Winery, Coca-Cola, Puget Sound Energy, Lydig Construction and the associated students of CWU (ASCWU) board of directors.

Assistant conductor Christian Knapp will lead the orchestra in a program that includes Tchaikovsky's Serenade in C major for Strings, Op. 48; Stravinsky's Suite from Pulcinella; and Mozart's Symphony No. 41 in C major, K. 551, "Jupiter."

Founded in 1903, the Seattle Symphony is the oldest and largest cultural institution in the Pacific Northwest.

Tickets for the performance are $25. They're available at the SUB ticket counter, weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or by calling extension 3513 weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door (cash or check only).

DON'T LOSE ACCRUED VACATION LEAVE

All employees who accrue annual leave (paid vacation time) are reminded that any hours in excess of the maximum allowable 240 (30 days) will be erased from the record on the first day of the employee's leave anniversary month (see below). For example: if your leave anniversary month is May, your annual leave balance as of May 1st must be at or below 240 hours. If your annual leave balance exceeds 240 hours after your accrued time for April is added in, any hours above 240 will be erased from the record.

Leave balances are printed on the pay stub or pay advice. Note that the leave balance that appears on the check on the 25th is your leave balance as of the 16th of the month. It includes your accrual for the previous month and any leave taken between the 1st and the 15th of the month. It does not include the leave you will accrue for the current month, nor does it include any leave taken after the 15th of the month. The leave anniversary month is also printed on the pay stub or pay advice.

If you are concerned about your anniversary and annual leave balance, please be sure to resolve your questions before reaching the 240-hour maximum. It is the employee's responsibility to monitor his/her leave balances and know his/her leave anniversary month.

LEAVE ANNIVERSARY MONTH

Classified staff - The month in which the employee began the latest period of continuous employment at CWU (or state employment for inter-institutional or intersystem transfer employees).

Exempt Employees - The month in which the employee began his/her latest period of continuous employment in a vacation leave eligible position at CWU.

Questions concerning leave balances and anniversary dates should be directed to the leave record keeper in your department. Policy or procedural questions may be directed to the Human Resources Office at extension 1202.

CWU EMPLOYEES

Civil Service new hires: Toni Burvee, Program Manager A, Business Services and Contracts; Lynn Whitacre, Program Coordinator (Database Coordinator) Career Services.

Civil Service job changes: Daarl Hutton, Cook Lead, Dining Services; Sheryl Grunden, Credentials Evaluator III, Registrar Services.

Exempt new hires: Kari Lampkins, Assistant Athletic Trainer, Athletics; Lauren Fortune, Development Officer, Development Office; Dusti Young, Residence Hall Coordinator, University Housing and New Student Programs; Tricia Rabel, Residence Hall Coordinator, University Housing and New Student Programs; James Wagner, Residence Hall Coordinator, University Housing and New Student Programs; Sheryn Forrest, Assistant Athletic Director Academics and Compliance, Athletics; Seth Miller, Residence Hall Coordinator, University Housing and New Student Programs.

Exempt job changes: Flor Lucatero, Project Coordinator, College Assistance Migrant Program; Barbara Hodges, Administrative Assistant /Executive Secretary to Provost, Provost; Michael Chinn, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Humanities.

SHARED LEAVE DONATIONS

If you have leave you can't use, consider donating your leave to a fellow employee. Leave can be donated to those out because of serious accident or illness.

Without significantly increasing the cost to the state for leave, the purpose of the Washington State leave-sharing program is to permit state employees to come to the aid of another state employee:

1. who is suffering from or has a relative or household member 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,
3. 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 leave, accrued sick leave, or personal holiday.

• Donations are normally processed in blocks of eight hours, with a minimum total donation of eight hours required;
• Do not contribute annual leave hours which would reduce your balance to less than 10 days (80 hours), or the prorated equivalent if you are less than full time, or contribute any excess annual leave hours that you would otherwise be unable to use because of an approaching anniversary date;
• Do not contribute accrued sick leave hours that would reduce your balance to less than 167 hours. (Exempt employees on the sick leave accrual plan are the only exempt employees who are eligible to contribute sick leave. Disability Leave Bank hours may not be counted toward the minimum balance or donated for Shared Leave use.); and,
• All or part of your personal holiday may be donated.

To donate, download the form available at: www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms and return it to human resources.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Soccer: CWU vs. The Evergreen State College, 3 p.m., CWU soccer complex

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Soccer: CWU vs. Northwest Nazarene, 3 p.m., CWU soccer complex

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
"Movers and Shakers," 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., CWU residence halls

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Wildcat Welcome Weekend: For new CWU students, all day, various campus locations, through Sept. 19

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Volleyball: CWU vs. Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18
Volleyball: CWU vs. Western Washington, 6 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
Fall quarter classes begin

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Soccer: CWU vs. Western Washington, 3 p.m., CWU soccer complex

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
Football: "Battle in Seattle," CWU vs. Western Washington, 6 p.m., Qwest Field (Seahawks Stadium, Seattle)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
"Go Bananas" introductory event for university clubs and organizations, 11 a.m., SUB Pit

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
State of the University address, 1 p.m., McConnell Auditorium

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
Soccer: CWU vs. Seattle Pacific, 3 p.m., CWU soccer complex