To the Campus Community:

As we approach the midpoint in this year's legislative session, I wanted to update you on our progress and also let you know about some exciting projects we are working on with our federal legislative delegation.

State Supplemental Budget: In keeping with the spirit of the supplemental session budget process, CWU submitted budget requests that reflected emergent or continuing issues for which we were seeking relief. We submitted four proposals.

• Tuition Waiver Funding: We requested $1.3 million in base funding to support the increased waiver authority the legislature granted in the last session. When funded, the increased waiver authority will bring us more in line with our sister institutions in the state and allow us to increase the number of tuition waivers we currently provide to our students.
• Energy: We requested $1.3 million in one-time funding to cover unanticipated increases in natural gas costs.
• Disability Support Services: We requested $361,000 in base funding to support unanticipated increases in the number of students who require disability support services.
• Chiller: We requested $2 million in the capital budget to replace an aging chiller.

In addition, we have an interest in several other potential funding streams, most notably funding for high-demand enrollments. As you know, CWU has competed successfully for high-demand funding that has been made available in previous legislative sessions and is prepared to assist the state in meeting the needs of students and employers for high-demand programs.

The governor, the Senate and the House have now released their budgets, and we are beginning to get a sense of likely funding scenarios. None of the budgets provides the level of funding we had requested. All three provide some relief in response to our energy proposal, with the Senate budget providing the most at $333,000. The House budget is the only one that includes support for tuition waivers at $660,000. None of the budgets includes funding for our disability support services proposal. Both the House and Senate budgets provide funding for high-demand enrollments, but we are concerned that the House budget restricts applications for these funds to the research universities.

We also are watching carefully and with some concern language that would expand WSU-Tri Cities, support the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to contract with four-year schools to provide baccalaureate degree programs on their campuses, and fund a "University Contracts" model in Snohomish County to expand baccalaureate degree programs in that area.

Federal Efforts: On the federal level, we have been working with our federal delegation on a number of initiatives. Last Wednesday, members of our staff and faculty participated in a biofuels forum sponsored by Sen. Maria Cantwell's office. They showcased current research interests of our faculty and students and also identified ways in which existing programs could support local efforts to develop alternative energy sources. I am especially grateful to Drs. Jim Huckabay, Tim Dittmer, Chad Wassel, Anne Johansen and Bill Bender as well as to recent graduate Roger Beardsley and Bill Vertrees, assistant vice president for facilities management, for informing the public about important work the university is doing and the resource it provides to the community.

We also will be seeking support from our federal delegation for an expansion of our very popular World Wine Program. Kevin Nemeth and Amy Mumma are the inspiration behind the Wine Quality Testing and Education Initiative, a program to improve wine quality by providing training to employees in vineyards and wineries and in the distribution, retail and hospitality businesses. Participants would become knowledgeable about the chemical and physical nature of wine faults, their sources and causes, and detection protocol. In addition to providing education and training, staff propose to conduct research on wine faults common to regions of the country and to provide laboratory analysis of wines. Chemist Anne Johansen would oversee the research and laboratory analysis components of the program.

We will keep you posted as we learn more about the state budget and our federal initiatives.

Sincerely,

Jerilyn S. McIntyre
President

The CWU Board of Trustees (BOT) is expected to review a tentative collective bargaining agreement with the United Faculty of Central (UFC) at its March 3 meeting at CWU-Yakima. If ratified by the BOT, it would mark the first such agreement reached under the state's new collective bargaining law covering four-year faculty.

On Feb. 16, UFC members approved the tentative agreement, under which faculty members would receive cost-of-living increases of 8.25 percent over the next two years, a one-time $600 payment to all full-time faculty, plus a 1 percent merit bonus for qualifying faculty.

The contract also provides CWU with the ability to more accurately track the workload of individual faculty members, includes new language supporting academic freedom and denouncing discrimination and harassment, and establishes clear criteria for tenure decisions.

More than a mile long and made from 12-million cubic yards of concrete, Grand Coulee Dam is the largest concrete structure in the United States and the third largest hydroelectric project in the world. Providing electricity, irrigation to and flood control for the Columbia River basin, it helped to reclaim roughly half a million acres of barren land in eastern Washington.

That may never have happened without the intervention of Rufus Woods, publisher of "The Wenatchee World" newspaper.

CWU has received an archive gift and $30,000 from his son Wilf Woods, chairman of the board of "The Wenatchee World" and former CWU board of trustees member, and grandson, Rufus Woods, the newspaper's current editor and publisher.

The archive documents and photographs detail the impact that the elder Woods had on the controversial proposal for developing Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia Basin Project, a fight that lasted nearly 25 years. To be housed in the CWU Brooks Library, it includes a variety of black and white photographs of the era along with letters, documents and western history journals that document the story.

The original idea for damming the Columbia below the Grand Coulee is credited to Ephrata attorney William Clapp in 1918, an idea taken to press by Woods. Initially, it was thought building the dam was too costly. But, Woods, who took a personal interest in the project, persevered and would go on to serve as president of the Columbia River Development League.

Preliminary feasibility studies were conducted, but the Grand Coulee project was in conflict with another proposal being seriously considered for a canal to carry water down from the Pend Oreille River in northern Idaho.

Woods efforts continued through 1933. That was the year when $63 million was appropriated by Congress for dam construction, through President Franklin Roosevelt's "New Deal" Public Works Administration program designed to lower unemployment, in part, through construction of large, public infrastructure projects.

Completed in 1941, the dam's irrigation mission began 11 years later. Rufus Woods Lake, down stream from Grand Coulee Dam, was subsequently named in his honor.

CWU is receiving statewide exposure through a new partnership with TVW, "Washington State's Public Affairs Network." In February, it began airing "CWU Conversations," a monthly one-on-one interview program hosted by George Cole, CWU College of the Sciences development officer.

The 30-minute program, which will air at various times throughout each month, can be seen in 1.5 million households in Washington. TVW is carried by 98 percent of the state's cable TV outlets.

ALSO ON THE TUBE...
For the third consecutive year, Mike Reilly, CWU associate vice president for enrollment management, is hosting the KYVE TV "Apple Bowl," the only televised high school quiz competition in Washington. The 2006 series, the show's 26th season, features 25, three-person central Washington high school teams competing for savings bonds provided by local and regional underwriters.

The programs are being videotaped in CWU's state-of-the-art digital television studios in Bouillon Hall.

KYVE, a Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) affiliate, airs science, nature, history, travel, arts, children's and instructional programming to more than 200,000 people living in central Washington.

Two CWU student teams are getting ready to represent the university at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Pacific-West Region HR Games April 7-8 in Honolulu.

The Central squads qualified for the regional tournament after placing first and second at the Northwest Human Resource Management Association (NHRMA) championships earlier this month in Seattle. CWU teams actually took four of the top five spots in the competition.

The Pacific-West Region competition includes teams from schools in the region, which encompasses Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada and Wyoming.

If a CWU team places among the top two at the regional competition, it would advance to the national HR Games finals June 25-28 in Washington, D.C., which will be held in conjunction with the SHRM national conference and exposition.

During its Dec. 2 meeting, the CWU BOT approved the following course fees for the university's fee schedule effective spring quarter:

"Kolya," a story by Alexander Genis who is considered one of Russia best essayists, appears in the current issue of the "Northwest Review" (Vol. 44, No. 1). Dinara GEORGEOLIANI, foreign languages, and emeritus faculty member Mark HALPERIN, English, translated it from Russian to English. The story is one of a linked series that make up the novel "Jersey," recently published in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Barbara HODGES, assistant to the provost/senior vice president for academic affairs, has been elected president of board of directors of the CWU Federal Credit Union. The announcement was made at the credit union's annual meeting on Feb. 22. She replaces John EBENAL, accounting supervisor, who has served as the organization's president for the past seven years. Hodges will head the credit union's seven-member volunteer board, along with directing its credit and supervisory committees. She is also spearheading the credit union's 2006-2011 strategic planning efforts.

Robert KUHLKEN, geography and land studies, has written a new book, co-authored with Philip Jackson from the Oregon State University geosciences department. Titled "A Rediscovered Frontier: Land Use and Resource Issues in the New West," the book addresses the social, economic, political and geographical realities of land use in the West today. It also features cartography by CWU resource management graduate student, Ian GRAY. The book describes the changing landscapes taking hold in the rapidly growing western United States and examines the range of community responses, paying special attention to the previously unexplored area of private lands planning and local growth management. It begins by exploring the meanings of the term New West and then highlights prototypical land use patterns found throughout the region. In addition, it examines the spatial circumstances of rural and small town growth patterns and provides examples of the kinds of development that could occur elsewhere in areas having similar geographic situations. The book also takes a closer look at recent challenges to Oregon's statewide planning approach to managing growth and concludes by offering a forward-looking, cooperative approach to comprehensive planning. It is intended as a text for college students taking courses in land use planning, a sourcebook for land use planning and environmental management professionals, as well as anyone who cares about western environments. It is now available in both hardback and paperback from the publisher, Rowman and Littlefield.

Martha KURTZ, chemistry and science education, and Ian QUITADAMO, biology and science education, presented a paper at the Association for Science Teacher Education in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 12. The paper was titled "Writing to Improve: Critical Thinking Performance in General Education Biology."

Vijay SINGH, music, guest conducted the Oregon All-State High School Honors Jazz Choir in Eugene, Ore., during the last week of January then joined CWU music faculty members John PICKETT and Diane REICH to perform compositions written by Pickett at Nordstrom Hall in Seattle. Singh also adjudicated choirs and performed as a guest artist at the Northern Arizona University Jazz Festival and the Kiwanis Jazz Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia in February.

Bill TURNQUIST, business administration, recently received notification that two of his students, John BENNETT and Lucas SOLTMAN, were named the national winners in the Undergraduate Division of the D.W. Fogarty Student Paper Contest, sponsored by APICS: The Association for Operations Management. The title of their paper, which was written as part of Turnquist's advanced operations management class, was "Hospitals: Increased Efficiencies Using RFID (radio frequency identification)." In addition, four other CWU students -- Mike OSBORN, Justin VIPOND, Kris WEBER, and Lauren BEST -- had papers that were winners at the contest's local level.

CWU EMPLOYEES
Civil Service new hires: Madeline Hillwig, Building Coordinator 2, Campus Life - Student Union Operations; Cody Sims, Recreation Coordinator Supervisor, University Recreation; Mary Tosch, Fiscal Technician III, Student Financial Services; Cari Callahan, Bookstore Supervisor, University Store; Kathy Pitts, Program Assistant, Provost/Senior VP Academic Affairs; Kimberly Graham-Roseburg, Office Assistant 3, Gear-Up; Steven Mohr, Program Assistant, University Store; Sarilyn Paschen, Program Assistant, Student Employment; David Cordner, Scientific Instructional Technician II, Geography and Land Studies.

Civil Service job change: Camie Hedrick, Secretary Senior, Flight Technology; Marisa Nielson Office Assistant 3, Alumni Relations; Rebecca Huss, Program Coordinator , University Housing and New Student Programs; Susan Haberman, Information Technology Specialist 4, Information Technology Services; Kathy Vincent, Media Technician Senior, Multimedia Technology and Instructional Support.

Exempt new hires: Rhodene Hubbard, Development Officer, University Relations.

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

The CWU Diversity Education Center is initiating a "Safe Space" program on campus. The goal is to create an atmosphere on campus of acceptance, equality and inclusion for all persons regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Two informational workshops have been scheduled for staff and faculty who'd like to participate in the program. They're slated for Wednesday, March 1, and Thursday, March 2, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in SUB 208. Space is limited to 20 participants at either session. Because of space limitations, those intending to participate are encouraged to RSVP to the Diversity Education Center (ext. 1685). Diversity Education Center staff will also do other training for individuals or group unable to attend these sessions.

Those who take part will be given a "Safe Space" sign for their office or work area. Persons displaying the sign are indicating a commitment to equal treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning persons and offering a "SAFE SPACE" to talk about issues related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender or ally populations.

Since 1992, "Warm Up America!" has promoted, organized, implemented and assisted in creating afghan blankets, made by volunteers, which are then distributed to the needy and homeless through social service and governmental agencies.

Locally, the CWU Residence Hall Association and Associated Students of CWU are now co-sponsoring "Warm Up Ellensburg!"

The goal is to knit or crochet the squares for 20 blankets by the end of spring quarter. So far, just two blankets have been completed. A total of 902 7-by-9-inch squares are still needed to complete all 20 blankets. Campus and community participation is encouraged. To get involved, contact the ASCWU at ext. 1698.

The CWU Federal Credit Union is now offering certificates of deposit to its members. Interest rates are reviewed monthly. The minimum deposit is $1,000 per CD, which are offered with six-month, 12-month and 24-month maturity dates. The dividends accrue daily, post at the end of each month and are available at maturity. A penalty is charged for early withdrawal. For more information call ext. 1995. The credit union's office (Barge 111) is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

JACK KENT COOKE GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM DEADLINE NEARS

CWU can nominate two students to be considered for the Jack Kent Cooke (JKC) Graduate Scholarship program. Recipient of one of the 65 scholarships may receive up to $50,000 per year for up to six years for tuition, living expenses, books and other fees.

Current students, who attained senior status by last Dec. 31, and recent alumni, who graduated in May 2001 or after, with grade point averages of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale who plan to pursue graduate or professional degrees full-time starting in fall 2006 are eligible for the scholarships. Nominees must be accepted to or on a waiting list for acceptance at an accredited university by May 1, and plan to start their graduate degree full-time next fall. Students already enrolled in graduate programs, those who already have a graduate degree and students who have been nominated for the Graduate Scholarship Program in the past are not eligible.

The JKC Foundation lists the selection criteria as: academic achievement and intelligence, unmet financial need, the will to succeed, leadership and public service, critical-thinking ability and a strong appreciation for or participation in the arts and humanities.

Applications forms and guidelines are available at www.jackkentcookefoundation.org in the Scholarships section. CWU faculty are urged to contact qualified students and have them submit their applications to Roger Fouts, director of university research, office of graduate studies, research and continuing education, at ext. 3101 by March 15 to be considered for the competition.

The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is soliciting nominations of faculty for the 2005-06 Phi Kappa Phi Scholar of the Year Award. Each year, Phi Kappa Phi honors a faculty member who exemplifies scholarship according to the following criteria: a long term and noted scholarly record at CWU, visibility in fostering interest in his or her field, and a devotion to learning which places a strong emphasis on intellectual breadth.

The nominee must be able to make a public presentation of his or her work to a general audience sometime in May. The Scholar of the Year does not need to be a member of Phi Kappa Phi prior to the award, and will be inducted into the Society at the June award ceremony.

Nominations, with a general letter including reasons for your recommendation together with the nominee's vita should be sent to Barry Donahue, mail stop 7409, or via e-mail to donahue@cwu.edu, by March 10.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1
Music Concert: CWU Wind Ensemble, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

THURSDAY, MARCH 2
Music Event: Wind Ensemble Festival, all day (through Saturday, March 4), Music Building
Film Presentation: "Northwest Connection," rock climbing film, 7 p.m., recreation center pit

FRIDAY, MARCH 3
Central Theatre Ensemble Production: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," 7 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $7 general admission, $5 students

SATURDAY, MARCH 4
Central Theatre Ensemble Production: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $7 general admission, $5 students
Student Recital: Christina Wareham, voice, 8 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SUNDAY, MARCH 5
Central Theatre Ensemble Production: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," 2 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $7 general admission, $5 students
Joint Student Recital: Matt Woodford, tuba, and Mike Lundquist, trumpet, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Music Concert: CWU Symphony Orchestra, 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Guest Concert: Rebecca Pennys, piano, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

MONDAY, MARCH 6
Music Event: Orchestra Festival, all day (through Tuesday, March 7), Music Building

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8
Music Concert: CWU Percussion Ensemble, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

THURSDAY, MARCH 9
Music Performance: Jazz Nite II, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

FRIDAY, MARCH 10
Softball: CWU vs. Seattle, 1 p.m., 3 p.m., CWU softball field Central Theatre Ensemble Production: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," 7 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $7 general admission, $5 students Music Performance: Jazz Nite I, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

SATURDAY, MARCH 11
Central Theatre Ensemble Production: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., McConnell Auditorium, $7 general admission, $5 students
Graduate Recital: Geoff Gilbert, trumpet, 2 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Sarah Spurgeon Gallery: reception and opening of art installation by visiting Dutch artist Anna van Suchtelen, 3-5:30 p.m., with artist lecture at 4 p.m., Randall 117, (exhibit on display through April 16)
Student Recital: Kelly Moore, viola, 4 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall
Music Recital: CWU Guitar Ensemble, 7 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

SUNDAY, MARCH 12
Music Concert: Second Sunday Faculty Series, 4 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Music Concert: CWU Chamber Players, 6 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall
Guest Recital: Jeffrey Brooks, clarinet, 8 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall

MONDAY, MARCH 13
Study Day/Faculty Development Day
Music Recital: Preparatory String Program, 6 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

TUESDAY, MARCH 14
Concert:Final exams begin

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 17
Winter quarter ends

SATURDAY, MARCH 18
Baseball: CWU vs. Saint Martin's, noon, 2 p.m., CWU baseball field
Softball: CWU vs. Humboldt State, noon, 2 p.m., CWU softball field

SUNDAY, MARCH 19
Softball: CWU vs. Humboldt State, 10 a.m., noon, CWU softball field

TUESDAY, MARCH 21
Baseball: CWU vs. Whitman, 1 p.m., CWU baseball field

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22
Baseball: CWU vs. Pacific Lutheran, noon, 2 p.m., CWU baseball field

SUNDAY, MARCH 26
Baseball: CWU vs. Hawaii Pacific, noon, 2 p.m., CWU baseball field

MONDAY, MARCH 27
Baseball: CWU vs. Hawaii Pacific, noon, 2 p.m., CWU baseball field

TUESDAY, MARCH 28
Spring quarter begins
Baseball: CWU vs. Hawaii Pacific, noon, CWU baseball field
Guest Concert: Luther College Orchestra, 7 p.m., Music Building Concert Hall

FRIDAY, MARCH 31
CWU Wine Trade Program Class: "Inside Italy - Piedmont & Veneto," 5:30-7:30 p.m., Grupe Center, $35, pre-registration required, ext. 1504
Student Recital: Valerie Freese, voice, 4 p.m., Music Building Recital Hall