Happy New Year!

The winter solstice has passed and the days are getting longer just in time for all of us to return to a new year and a new quarter. I hope you were able to relax and enjoy the company of family and friends during the holidays.

The new year also means the beginning of the Washington state legislative session. We've been planning our legislative agenda for this supplemental session for some time now and I want to share it with you. As you may remember, the supplemental budget allows agencies and institutions to request funding for emergencies not anticipated in the biennial budget. This year, we are requesting funding for three initiatives in the operating budget and one (and perhaps two) in the capital budget.

• Tuition waiver equity ($1.3 M). You may recall that we were granted increased tuition waiver authority - from 8 percent to 11 percent - in the last legislative session, but funds commensurate with the increase were not appropriated. We are requesting $1.3 million in funding associated with the authorization.
• Disability Student Services ($361,000). The university has experienced an unexpected and unprecedented increase in the number of students requiring accommodations for disabilities. We serve twice as many disabled students as Eastern Washington University and only 100 fewer than the University of Washington, primarily because of our outstanding reputation for providing services that assist disabled students in the university's academic and student programs. We are joined in this request by the state's other public baccalaureates and by the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges
• Natural Gas Price Increases ($1.3 M). In accordance with the governor's stipulation, this request is for one-time funding to respond to unanticipated increases in the price of natural gas. All institutions of higher education, K-12 schools and other state agencies that are affected by the volatility of natural gas prices are submitting this item as a coordinated request.

We are forwarding a single supplemental capital budget request in which we ask for $2 million to support purchase of a new central plant chiller. We experienced a major mechanical failure of our primary air conditioning unit last summer. Although our backup was adequate to meet our needs, new buildings that have recently come online and those that will be open soon will put an increased load on the capacity of our system. System failure places at risk the health and comfort of students, staff, faculty and some costly equipment, and potentially compromises the health and safety of laboratory animals.

Although we didn't forward it as part of our official supplemental capital budget request, we are currently in discussion with legislators and their staffs about their interest in an alterative energy initiative at CWU. We are continuing to work on a proposal that could not only benefit energy conservation at CWU, but could also become one of a few projects we are considering as part of a university/community partnership to establish a business/research park. We'll keep you posted on developments as they occur.

For the first time in many years, CWU is establishing a federal legislative agenda separate from its federal grants and contracts initiatives. We will be working with our federal delegation and appropriate congressional committee chairs to seek support, including both legislative language and legislative appropriations, for a limited number of initiatives. We are fortunate to have good working relationships with the offices of Rep. Hastings and Sens. Murray and Cantwell. We are also meeting with the offices of Reps. Larsen and Smith, who represent districts where our centers are located, when matters of interest to center students are under discussion.

This is a friendly reminder that prior to making contact in your official capacity with state or federal officials or their staffs or responding to questions from them, CWU employees are to coordinate contacts or responses through the government relations office (Ann Anderson) and the president's office (Libby Street). Typically, contacts with or responses to government officials are also vetted with the president's cabinet. If you believe the university should engage with government officials on a matter that isn't already a part of the university's government relations agenda, you are advised to talk first with your division head and ask them to bring the matter to the attention of the cabinet.

We recognize that some employees already have a clearly specified role with government officials; this request is not intended to alter those relationships. However, even those employees are encouraged to share official CWU reports and responses with both Ann and Libby prior to submitting them and to keep both offices updated about issues that are under discussion. All of this helps to ensure that we have clear communication within the university about our legislative agenda and that we stay within the boundaries of the Public Disclosure Commission's guidelines on lobbying by state employees.

Of course, these guidelines extend only to contacts in which employees are representing the university.

Best wishes for a wonderful (and not too cold) winter quarter.

Jerilyn S. McIntyre
President

The CWU office of continuing education has received a $30,000 grant from the Educational Assistance Foundation to better prepare high school students for college. The Cornerstone Reach Project is an extension of the Cornerstone Program, which offers courses for CWU credit taught at high schools by high school teachers who have been approved as university adjunct faculty members.

Though Cornerstone has already benefited hundreds of students, a major challenge remains. Many students, even those with intentions to attend college, are not prepared or interested in taking pre-calculus in their senior year. Lacking other options, many do not take mathematics their senior year. The Cornerstone Reach project represents a comprehensive approach to implementing an innovative, advanced math curriculum for high school seniors.

Partner schools and the CWU mathematics department are piloting the first of two new courses. They are Math 101, being taught during the current academic year, and Math 132, which is being developed this year for implementation in fall 2006. Both courses are standards-based with projects that connect students to real-world learning. Two mid-year teacher workshops will provide teachers with an opportunity to share their experiences, concerns and successes with each other and the CWU mathematics faculty. A summer workshop will allow university staff to join teachers for standards-based, project driven, pedagogical training for the Math 132 course. The experience is fostering additional collaboration between high school teachers and university faculty. After the pilot period, the training and new courses will be made available to all Cornerstone partner schools.

Gordon Althauser, CWU facilities management systems operator, has been honored as the university's November civil service "Employee of the Month."

Those nominating Althauser said:

• "Gordon's work ethic really stands out as you are around him. He willingly goes to campus, on a moment's notice, to look at a problem or work with others to find and/or solve the problem."
• Gordon has undertaken the burden of identifying, testing and fixing air distribution problems in some of the academic buildings on campus. He is inspired to do this because of the potential energy savings involved as well as providing enhanced client comfort that results from his efforts.

During a recent surprise ceremony, he received a certificate and $125 from the president's discretionary fund, through the CWU civil service employee recognition program.

University students, faculty and staff, along with Ellensburg community members, are encouraged to make signed or anonymous nominations 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/index.html.

Beginning in January, the CWU visual art teaching program will offer Friday afternoon art classes for students in the 3rd through 7th grades. Three sections will be taught by art education majors under the supervision of Dr. Shari Stoddard and graduate assistant Becky Dietsch. Lasting five consecutive Fridays, from Jan. 27 until Feb. 24, from 3-5 p.m., the three sections will each focus on a different theme.

"Lights, Backdrop, Action," taught by Dannette Blackburn and Jessica Cochran, will teach students about stage design and create theatrical stories. Lots of group work, a fun journal and a mini field trip will also be part of the class.

"Op to Pop," led by Lori LaBissoniere and Alyssa Skiles, will focus on optical and pop art through artists like Andy Warhol and M.C. Escher and students will be able to create their own works.

"Living Your Future Now! (Designing the World When You Grow Up)," taught by Jaclynn Claudon and Jacob Greene, will explore what the future may hold for cars, clothes and homes. Students will craft their ideas through sculpture, architecture, design, clay and collage.

Students enrolled in the program will experience discipline-based art education that includes art history, art criticism, aesthetics, along with producing art. At the close of the fifth session, families of the participating students will be invited to attend an exhibition celebration.

A nominal fee of $25 for the five-week program will be charged to cover supplies and the final celebration refreshments. Class sizes are limited. Enrollment in the classes will begin Jan. 9.

Nancy HULTQUIST (geography and land studies) attended the National Council for Geographic Education annual conference in Birmingham, Ala., the week of Oct. 10, where she presented a workshop, "American Landscapes from Afar," with Paul Baumann, geographer, State University of New York, Oneonta. In addition to an introduction of the history and basics of aerial photography, they presented an instructional unit on "Louisiana's Red River's Changing Morphology," using images from 1948 to 2004.

On Oct. 24, Nancy HULTQUIST accompanied CWU student Rebekah LaBar to the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA) to accept a $1,000 GITA scholarship awarded to LaBar. They participated in the full first day of the conference, listening to presentations and meeting geospatial professionals from the Pacific Northwest and Canada, including several CWU graduates. After accepting her award, LaBar presented a summary of her work with GIS, GPS and climate/meteorological research done at CWU and, last summer, in Oklahoma at a National Science Foundation-sponsored research program, "National Weather Center's Research Experiences for Undergraduates." LaBar is geography major, with physics and math minors.

HULTQUIST and Gina BLOODWORTH (geography and land studies) attended the Association of Washington Geographers meeting on Oct. 22 at Shoreline Community College. HULTQUIST presented a paper on "Using Blackboard/Respondus for Learning Assessment and Teaching Resources." Hultquist was elected association treasurer at the meeting.

With Russell Brooker from Alverno College, Todd SCHAEFER (political science) has co-authored a new textbook, "Public Opinion in the 21st Century: Let the People Speak?" Published by Houghton Mifflin, as part of the company's "New Directions in Political Behavior" series, it is a comprehensive look at public opinion, along with an analysis of public beliefs and how they are related from constituents to the government. The book also features interactive learning components.

Three members of CWU GEAR UP, Beverly VIVIAN (director), Nancy BUDNER (mathematics coordinator) and Jesus "Chui" Martin (parent outreach specialist) served as presenters at the July National GEAR UP Conference in San Francisco. In September, BUDNER led a poster session at the University Continuing Education Association (UCEA) West Regional) Conference in Portland, Ore. The next day she flew to St. Louis to give a talk to the National Concurrent Enrollment Conference. The focus of all three presentations was the collaborative effort to improve quantitative literacy for high school seniors and as incoming university freshmen involving GEAR UP, the CWU Cornerstone program and the university mathematics department. BUDNER will also present a lesson in mathematics at the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Conference in St. Louis next April.

Civil Service new hires: Roxanne Rogala, Food Service Worker, Early Childhood Learning Center; Shandy Hardan, Data Control Technician II, Admissions.

Civil Service job change: Jamie Thomas, Secretary Senior, Business Administration; Judith Robinette, Program Coordinator, Teacher Certification Program; Laurie Wirt, Food Service Manager A, Dining Services; Susan Bentley, Office Assistant 3, Student Affairs; Barbara Bisson Program Support Supervisor I, Financial Aid.

Exempt new hires: Julie Grinold, Director, Gear-up, Graduate Studies, Research, and Continuing Education; Cuiping Li, GPS Data Analyst, Geology.

Exempt job change: Richard DeShields, Director, University Housing and New Student Programs, University Housing and New Student Programs.

To view current job openings at CWU, go to http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.

SHARED LEAVE DONATIONS NEEDED

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.

The following individual is in need of shared leave: John Delashaw, Facilities Management.

You may donate annual (vacation) and sick leave in eight-hour blocks. A minimum balance of 80 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. The 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: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/index.html or requested from the HR office by calling 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.

MONDAY, JANUARY 2
Holiday: New Year's Day (observed)

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4
Winter quarter begins

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6
Guest Recital: Amos Yang, Seattle Symphony cellist, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SATURDAY, JANUARY 7
Student Recital: Abra Conitz, violin, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
"Musica Antiqua" series: "To Drive the Cold Winter Away," stories, songs and dances from Medieval and Renaissance bardic traditions, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

SUNDAY, JANUARY 8
Music: Second Sunday Faculty Concert Series, 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11
Faculty Recital: Dan Lipori, bassoon, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

THURSDAY, JANUARY 12
Student Recital: Patricia Crispino, clarinet, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Women's basketball: CWU vs. Alaska Anchorage 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion, $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, $2 under 12

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14
Women's basketball: CWU vs. Alaska Fairbanks, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion, $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, $2 under 12

MONDAY, JANUARY 16
Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18
Student Recital: Kimberly Roy, viola; Michelle Rushton, violin, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

THURSDAY, JANUARY 19
Men's basketball: CWU vs. Seattle Pacific, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion, $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, $2 under 12

FRIDAY, JANUARY 20
Music: Moawad Invitational Jazz Festival, all day, Music Building

SATURDAY, JANUARY 21
Men's basketball: CWU vs. Northwest Nazarene, 7 p.m., Nicholson Pavilion, $5 adults, $3 students and seniors, $2 under 12
Music: Moawad Invitational Jazz Festival, all day, Music Building

MONDAY, JANUARY 23
Presidential Speaker Series: Martin Luther King III, "My Father's Dream, My Mission," 7 p.m., Lynnwood (Wash.) Convention Center, $10 general admission, $7 students

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24
Guest Performance: Pacific Lutheran University orchestra, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25
Concert: Contemporary Chamber Players, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

FRIDAY, JANUARY 27
Music: Mozart's 250th Birthday Party and Concert, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

SUNDAY, JANUARY 29
Graduate Recital: Bruce Walker, cello, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

MONDAY, JANUARY 30
Performing Arts Series: The Chieftains, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall, $35 general admission, $20 students

For other January 2006 calendar items, visit: http://www.cwu.edu/wv3_cal