Greetings,
This is the eleventh in the series of columns we began in February on the topic "Here's Where We Stand."
Realizing that many of you may have questions about news reports that have appeared within the past couple of days in the Seattle Times and other media about potential and significant cuts to higher education in the face of the downturn in the state's revenue estimates, I want to devote this month's column to what we know about the cuts and what we're doing to respond.
As I have reported on several occasions to a variety of groups on campus, including the Faculty Senate and the Senate Executive Committee, we've been anticipating a budget cut based on revenue projections and the worsening national economic outlook. The perceptions we had at Central originated in conversations with legislators as early as last spring, and were reinforced more recently during meetings with staff of the Higher Education Coordinating Board and the Office of Financial Management. Although we have not received official notification of the impact of the most recent revenue forecast and may not until the governor's budget is released near the end of the year, we are hearing unofficially that we may be asked to take cuts in the next biennial budget approximating 20 percent of our state-funded budget. If this scenario comes to pass, it would mean that our state-funded budget of approximately $60 million would be reduced to about $48 million. This predicted scenario is complicated by the fact that there are other reports that there may also be a supplemental budget cut in the current fiscal year.
Because the economic outlook was already pessimistic in April of this year, our university budgeted conservatively for the current fiscal year. That's why we were able to absorb centrally the 3 percent cut the governor already asked us to take earlier this fall. But as the latest projections--which are much more dire--began to circulate in Olympia within the past few weeks, I immediately asked members of the President's Cabinet to work with their divisions to plan for cuts both for the current fiscal year and for the upcoming biennium. These conversations are just beginning, and will continue as we learn more from the governor about the actual size of the cut that we may have to prepare for. Obviously they will ultimately involve more campuswide consultation, and will be directed by CWU's new president, Dr. James Gaudino.
At the same time, the presidents of the public baccalaureates and the community and technical colleges are soliciting support for higher education among legislators and are working together to build a compelling case that investments in higher education stimulate the economy in both the short and long term. We also are reminding them that many of our students simply cannot afford to take on more of the burden of the cost of higher education through increased tuition. We'll continue to press our case with legislators and other government officials.
This is not the way we had hoped the state would welcome our new president to the campus. I am confident, however, that the conversations we're now having will set the stage for him and will continue after he arrives. He is fortunate that he will find here a resilient campus that has withstood other crises and emerged even stronger as a result. I encourage you to work with me now to develop options through which the university can transform itself in response to the current situation and then to stand behind Dr. Gaudino as he guides you through this transformative process.
Sincerely,
Jerilyn S. McIntyre
President
CWU TOP STORIES
GAUDINO NAMED CWU'S NEW PRESIDENT
Dr. James L. Gaudino, dean of the College of Communication and Information at Kent State University, has been named the fourteenth president of Central Washington University by the university's board of trustees. Gaudino, who was the first person to serve as dean of the College of Communication and Information at Kent State, will begin his presidency on January 5.
In a recent interview, Gaudino said that he "couldn't be more excited by this opportunity," adding, "I can hardly wait to get out there." During his five years at Kent State, some of Gaudino's accomplishments included establishing a new master's degree program in health information management, developing recruitment and articulation programs with area community colleges and high schools to enhance diversity in his college; and creating the university's most successful on-campus Living Learning Community.
Prior to his work at Kent State, he served for fifteen years as executive director of the National Communication Association (NCA) in Washington, D.C. It is nation's oldest and largest national association representing the academic discipline of communication.
Gaudino holds a doctorate in communication from Michigan State University, a master's degree in management from Troy State University, and a bachelor's degree in humanities from the U.S. Air Force Academy.
DEAN HALL REOPENING CEREMONY SCHEDULED
All members of the university community are invited to attend the reopening ceremony for Dean Hall, which is scheduled for Thursday, December 4, at noon, in the first floor lobby. Dean Hall was originally constructed in 1968 and is named for Dorothy Dean who was professor of chemistry at CWU for forty years.
The extensively renovated building will house the Department of Anthropology and Museum Studies, and the Department of Geography and Land Studies, as well as the interdisciplinary graduate resource management program. It will also provide a new home for the dean of the College of the Sciences and for the recently renamed Museum of Culture and Environment.
President McIntyre and others who have been involved in planning for this renovation will make brief comments. In addition, Moses Squeochs, representing the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, will bless the museum space in recognition that CWU sits on ceded lands of the Yakama Nation. Light refreshments will be available in the third floor lounge following the ceremony. The building is expected to be fully furnished and occupied in time for the beginning of spring quarter.
Entrance to the ceremony will be from the east side of the building, off of the campus green.
CWU ALUMNUS NAMED ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
The Washington Association of Secondary School Principals, a component board of the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), selected 1999 CWU graduate Mike O'Donnell, assistant principal for Cle Elum-Roslyn High School, as the 2009 Washington State Assistant Principal of the Year.
O'Donnell was acknowledged for his efforts in building a supportive, respectful, and productive school environment. O'Donnell will be honored at AWSP's Assistant Principal of the Year luncheon in February in Vancouver, Wash.
He will also represent Washington State in the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) State and National Assistant Principal of the Year Program, which honors a single winner each year from each of the fifty states, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity schools. NASSP will honor all State Assistant Principals of the Year at an awards banquet in Washington, D.C. and award the 2009 National Assistant Principal of the Year a $5,000 grant.
HOLIDAY GIFT PROJECT GIFTS DUE DECEMBER 8
All CWU employees are encouraged to tap into their inner Santa and take part in CWU's Holiday Gift Project. Through the project, gifts are purchased and wrapped by sponsoring CWU employees, collected in the Office of the President and then distributed through Head Start/Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, the state Department of Social and Health Services' Division of Children and Family Services, and CWU's Early Childhood Learning Center, in Brooklane Village, and Rainbow Center, in Michaelsen Hall.
For more information, call Kristy Magdlin, project coordinator at ext. 2154. Presents must be delivered to the President's Office by December 8.
COMBINED FUND DRIVE STILL ACCEPTING CONTRIBUTIONS
For the past 24 years, the Washington State Combined Fund Drive (CFD) has helped "enable Washington State employees to improve their world, their state, and their communities by making it easier for them to support charitable organizations." The CFD has been very successful, annually raising more than $5.5 million.
Through the CFD, Washington State employees can select from among more than 2,000 charities, from environmental, human service, and animal-focused charities. Last year, CWU's donations totaled $21, 392. This year, Central has set a donation goal of $25,000, including both one-time gifts and renewed donations.
Current statistics for the 2008 Combined Fund Drive at CWU are:
- Number of donors--101 (EWU has 109; WWU has 159)
- Total donations--$17,404 (EWU = $24,300; WWU = $51,151)
CWU's CFD chair, Geoff Foy says there is still time to make a difference to the charity of your choice. Online donations will be accepted at www.cfd.wa.gov through December 25. If your department did not receive a CFD Charity Guide and donor forms, contact Foy at ext. 1528.
PERFORMING ARTS AND PRESIDENTIAL SPEAKER SERIES PRESENTS THE NUTCRACKER: TWO FACES
Central's Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Band I will present two varied interpretation of the holiday favorite The Nutcracker. Directors Nik Caoile, director of orchestras, and Chris Bruya, director of jazz studies, will lead the CWU music ensembles in both classical and jazz renditions of Tchaikovsky's musical masterpiece. Dancers from Ellensburg's Stage Door Dance Studio will be performing select pieces.
The Nutcracker: Two Faces will be performed Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday, December 14 at 2 p.m. at the Music Building Concert Hall. To order tickets, visit www.cwu.edu/president/series/2008/, go to the Student Union and Recreation Center ticket counter, or call ext. 1301. General admission tickets are $14 and students will be admitted for $7.
KCWU AIRS MCINTYRE INTERVIEW, CENTRAL CONNECTION SEGMENTS
KCWU-TV will be airing two campus-produced programs throughout December. Conversations is a three-part, in-depth interview with President Jerilyn S. McIntyre, as she reflects on her years at Central and her plans for the future. Central Connections On-Air highlights some of the stories in the current edition of Central Connections. Featured guests are Dr. Leo D'Acquisto, Dr. Jack Horsley, and Amy Mumma. Robert Lowery, director of Publications, hosts the show. Go to www.kcwutv.org for scheduling details.
CORONA RETIREMENT RECEPTION HELD DECEMBER 3
Richard Corona, vice president for Business and Financial Affairs, is retiring December 31, after twenty-four years of service to CWU. To celebrate his many contributions to the Central community, a reception in his honor will be held on December 3 from 3 to 6 p.m. in Sue Lombard Dining Hall. The program will start at approximately 3:45 p.m.
Lucy Rolfe, administrative assistant, Business Auxiliaries and Public Safety and Police Services, is seeking contributions for a memory book, and asks those with a special memories or photos of Rich, to e-mail it to her at lrolfe@cwu.edu. For more information, call Rolfe at ext. 2956.
SOAR GRANT DEVELOPMENT AWARD DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15
The Faculty Development and Research Committee has established a limited number of competitive Scholarly Opportunities for Academic Researchers (SOAR) Grant Development Appointments to promote grant writing by Central faculty members. The SOAR Grant Development Appointment provides reassigned time to develop a grant proposal for a clearly identified target-funding source supporting research, scholarship, creative activities, teaching, and/or program development.
The SOAR Grant Development Award is a one-quarter reappointment during the academic year or an $8,500 stipend for summer session.
Two of the important requirements for SOAR are identifying a funding source and contacting a program officer for feedback on your proposal/idea. First-time researchers should contact Julie Guggino, gugginoj@cwu.edu, or Roger Fouts, dean of Graduate Studies and Research, foutsr@cwu.edu for more information. The application for this competition is at: www.cwu.edu/~masters/forms/html/soarGdaInfo.html. The deadline for the next round of applications is January 15, 2009.
CALENDARS AVAILABLE FOR CREDIT UNION MEMBERS
The CWU Federal Credit Union (CWUFCU) is now offering 2009 wall calendars and pocket calendars. CWUFCU members are invited to stop by and pick one up. And, just in time for the gift-giving season, the CWUFCU offers competitive rates on lines of credit available for quick-and-easy holiday cash. For more information, stop by the CWUFCU, in Barge 111, visit www.cwu.edu/~cwufcu, or call ext. 1995.
STUDENTS PROMOTE SHARING AND CARING DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
Students from the Don and Verna Duncan Civic Engagement Center are coordinating with their peers across campus and members from the local community to promote caring and sharing programs throughout December.
- Winter Warmth: Twenty-five CWU students enrolled in the Students in Service AmeriCorps program are coordinating a drive for winter clothing (e.g.: hats, gloves, sweaters, coats, boots) at fifty different locations throughout the campus. Donations can be made through December 8.
- Holiday Giving Tree: Gift tags, indicating special gifts for more than 350 children and their families throughout Kittitas County, are on the Holiday Giving Tree in the Student Union and Recreation Center. Gifts must be delivered to Student Union and Recreation Center (SURC) 256B by December 4.
- Stocking Stuffers: Gift bags are available in the SURC to benefit 400 K-5 students throughout the Ellensburg and Mattawa school districts. The gift bags must be returned to SURC 256B by December 4.
- Holiday Extravaganza: Children, accompanied by their parents, are invited to the SURC on Saturday, December 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to create holiday memories through hands-on activity with the assistance of more than 100 CWU student volunteers.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETES HELP STUDENTS READ TO SUCCEED
Two CWU students through involvement with the Don and Vera Duncan Civic Engagement Center have launched a new program designed to inspire students to read.
"Read to Succeed" is the brainchild of CWU education major Erin Mahnke and Kyle McCorquodale, a public relations/marketing and athletics major. Each quarter, CWU student athletes will participate in morning reading sessions with K-5 students at Valley View Elementary School in Ellensburg. Fourteen football athletes participated in the program fall quarter.
For more information about the program, call ext. 1643 or visit the Don and Vera Duncan Civic Engagement Center in SURC 256B.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN IT'S TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL?
The onset of colder weather means that all CWU employees should be prepared for potential closures or class cancellations. All employees are to seek information when severe weather conditions indicate that suspended operations may be in effect. It is the responsibility of each employee to become familiar with the Suspended Operations (Emergency Closure) policy prior to an emergency closure and to know if they have been designated as "essential personnel." The policy is available at: www.cwu.edu/~pres/policies/part2-2.35.pdf.
When an emergency closure, delay, or cancellation of classes is necessary, the public relations office will post a message to the university Web site at www.cwu.edu, the campus emergency information line at ext. 2345, and will request that a message be broadcast via appropriate media outlets. All division heads will also receive the appropriate message and will notify employees as soon as possible through each division's emergency phone tree.
Employees with questions should contact their supervisor, manager, or Human Resources at ext. 1202.
DON'T LOSE VACATION LEAVE
Employees who accrue annual leave (vacation) will lose hours, in excess of 240 hours, on the first day of the employee's leave anniversary month. For example: if your leave anniversary month is December, your annual leave balance as of December 1st must be at or below 240 hours. If your annual leave balance exceeds 240 hours after your accrued time for November is added in, any hours above 240 will be erased from the record.
Leave balances can be found with your current paycheck information by logging into the Wildcat Connection, selecting Employee Link, and then Self Service (or https://portal.cwu.edu/nps/servlet/portal?render=on). Once logged into Self Service, select "Self Service," then "View Paycheck," then scroll to the bottom of the page showing your latest paycheck.
All CWU employees are asked to resolve questions regarding possible loss of vacation before reaching the 240-hour maximum. It is the employee's responsibility to monitor their leave balances and know their leave anniversary month. For more information about annual (vacation) leave, view the appropriate link:
- Classified Employees: www.cwu.edu/~hr/leave/vacremindcs.html
- Exempt Employees: www.cwu.edu/~hr/leave/vacremindex.html
Questions concerning leave balances and anniversary dates should be directed to the employee's departmental timekeeper. Policy or procedural questions may be directed to the Human Resources Office at ext. 1202.
For the second year in a row, Central's ARMY ROTC WILDCAT BATTALION ALPHA TEAM has taken first place at the annual Task Force Cascade Ranger Challenge, held in early November. The challenge began with a written test, and continued with the Army Physical Fitness Test, hand-grenade throwing, weapons assembly/disassembly, team rope-bridge construction, land navigation orienteering, and a ten-kilometer full combat gear foot march. Central competed against teams from Eastern Washington University, Seattle University, Washington State University, Oregon State University, and the University of Oregon.
CWU Publicity Center staff member and 2008 alumnus Justin BECKMAN has been awarded the 2008 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award for his installation, Homestead. CWU professor of sculpture Donna Stack sponsored Beckman's nomination. The award was given as part of a partnership between Grounds For Sculpture, a sculpture park in Hamilton, N.J., and the International Sculpture Center. Beckman is the founding member and board president Seattle's PUNCH gallery.
Michelle BENNETT, law and justice, earned her EdD from Seattle Pacific University. Her dissertation was on the efficiency of an anti-bullying program for middle school students. Bennett is also a captain with the King County Sheriff's department.
Sarah BRITTO, law and justice, recently published two articles: "High School Private Security Programs: The Wave of the Future?" in Security Journal; and "Women's Status and Risk of Homicide Victimization: An Analysis with Data Disaggregated by Victim-Offender Relationship" in Homicide Studies. Britto was also recently appointed to both the American Society of Criminology and the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Program Committees.
Alexandra S. CHANEY, CWU alumna and current graduate student, was recently honored at the Larson Gallery's Fifty-Third Annual Central Washington Artists' Exhibition. Chaney won the Best of Show title for her unique four-piece jewelry collection, Repel: Aprilophobia, Repel: Fumiphobia, Repel: Tetanophobia, and Millet Ruff: Wearable Birdfeeder. Her work will remain on display at the Yakima gallery through December 6. For more information call the gallery at 509-574-4875.
CWU's Ethics Bowl team received a third place trophy at the Intercollegiate Regional Competition held November 15 at Boeing Field in Seattle. The purpose of the Ethics Bowl was to sharpen students' moral reasoning ability by having them defend a position and critique others' positions. Composed of majors in philosophy and religious studies, the team included Mike DERHEIMER, Phillip DOWNES, Casie DUNLEAVY, Ashley GOO, Brandi LANDIS, Christian MECHAM, Mike MOCERI, and Patrick O'BRIEN. Matthew ALTMAN, philosophy professor and director of the William O. Douglas Honors College, coached the CWU team. Central finished ahead of teams from the University of Washington, Washington State University, and Seattle University, among others. The third place win means that the team may be invited to participate in the national competition, to be held in Cincinnati in March.
1998 Central alumnus Justin GIBBENS was the recipient of a 2008 Artist Trust/Washington State Arts Commission Fellowship. The award "recognizes an artist's creative excellence and accomplishment, professional achievement and continuing dedication to their artistic discipline." As part of this honor, Gibbons will receive an unrestricted cash award of $7,500. His latest collection, Birds of Paradise, was most recently featured in Seattle's G. Gibson and PUNCH galleries.
Faculty and students in CWU's physical education program attended and presented at the recent Washington Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (WAHPERD) annual conference in Seattle. Dr. Heidi HENSCHEL-PELLETT and Leanne SEMPRIMOZNIK, with assistance from undergraduate students Rebecca SCHERER and Carli TRIPP, presented on "Enhancing Students' Word Power in Physical Education." Therese YOUNG presented a dance session titled, "Fun and Easy Movement Combinations to Engage Your Students" and was also voted as vice president elect for Dance. Stefan WARD, Henschel-Pellett, and Semprimoznik organized and facilitated the "The First Annual Student Superstars Competition." More than twenty students from the second year of the physical education major attended and Katie GRONOWICK was elected as the alliance's student vice president elect. Dr. Steve JEFFERIES was named WAHPERD president for 2008-09.
During the Association of Washington Geographers' Annual Fall Conference in Auburn in October, Nancy HULTQUIST, geography; and Lorinda ANDERSON, director of the Don and Vera Duncan Civic Engagement Center, presented "Geography and Civic Engagement at Central Washington University: It Makes a World of Sense." Naomi Jeffery PETERSEN, education, also presented "The Road to Civility: Structuring Maximum Cooperation and Courtesy in Students and Chaperones on Field Trips."
Nancy HULTQUIST, geography, co-presented a Computer Image Processing Workshop on October 10 at the National Council for Geographic Education's Annual Meeting in Dearborn, Mich., on "The Dearborn/Detroit Heat Island."
Music professors Linda MARRA, Gayla BLAISDELL, Sidney NESSELROAD, and Mia SPENCER attended the Inland Empire District of the National Association of Teachers of Singing annual meeting and Student Auditions November 8 at Whitman College in Walla Walla. Music professor Elaine ROSS and Ellensburg pianist Rhoda BARBER provided piano accompaniment for the CWU vocalists. Elijah BLAISDELL was a first place winner, Courtney VANWINKLE was a second place winner, and Jared ICE was a third place winner in their respective age groups. Jordan COWART was also awarded honorable mention. Blaisdell, VanWinkle and Cowart are students of Marra, and Ice is a student of Nesselroad. Marra presided over the meeting as the chief officer of the organization of approximately forty teachers from colleges, universities, and private studios in Washington and Idaho. There were 120 students who competed. Prize money was awarded to each of the placing finalists.
The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) announced that 1978 CWU alumna Terri MORSE as the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Service Award for dedication to the SWE's mission, supporting it externally and internally, at all levels of the organization, while fostering the growth and vitality of the sections and regions. Morse is director for engineering, operations, and technology technical excellence at Boeing.
Krystal NOGA, law and justice, published a book review in the September issue of Criminal Justice Review of Andrew Taslitz's Reconstructing the Fourth Amendment: A History of Search and Seizure, 1789-1868. Noga is also a volunteer attorney with the Northwest Justice Project's Coordinated Legal Education, Advice and Referral system, Family Law division.
Charles REASONS, law and justice, recently published "A Tale of Two Cities: Homicide in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia," in Criminal Law Quarterly.
Delphine TSINAJINNIE, resource management graduate student, received first place and a $500 prize in the Graduate Student Poster Competition, sponsored by Boeing and Proctor & Gamble, at the 2008 National Conference of the American Indian Science & Engineering Society for "Acceptance of Unconventional Word Order and Use of yi-/bi- Affixes in Nihookáá' Dine'é Creative Writing."
CWU EMPLOYEES
Shared Leave Requests
The following individuals are in need of shared leave: Gini Silva, University Housing and New Student Programs; Mark Walker and Connie Bennett, Facilities Management; and Troy Brenner, Center for Disability Services.
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 being forwarded to HR and are subject to approval by your department head and Human Resources.
Civil Service New Hires
Ojus Bathla, Database Administration, Information Technology Services; Crystal Boothman, Office Assistant 3, Law and Justice; Kelly Brennan, Office Assistant 3, Office of the Provost; Jennifer Ford, Office Assistant 3 (Help Desk Specialist), Human Resources; Tanya Gearhart, Assistant Director Communications, Admissions; Jennifer Steward, Information Technology Specialist 2, Financial Aid; Deborah Williams, Secretary, Testing and Assessment; Laura White, Food Service Worker Lead, Dining Services.
Exempt Job Changes
Catherine Scarlett, Director, Estate and Gift Planning, University Relations.
To view current job openings at CWU, go to http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.