Greetings,

This is the fifth in a series of bulletin columns on the topic, "Here's Where We Stand." This month, I'd like to focus on the successes of our educator preparation programs. As many of you have no doubt heard by now, the Washington Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) granted program approval to both the residency teacher preparation program and the master's level program in school administration (principals and program administrators) at CWU through 2013. They also commended both programs for their strong commitment to improving the programs and ensuring student success, and for the collaborative and open process for measuring student work. Reviewers were impressed that faculty, students, and alumni-everyone-knew about and understood the assessment system.

This outcome is the result of the combined efforts of students, faculty, administrators, and staff. Students contributed by learning about and utilizing the LiveText system for maintaining artifacts and rubrics related to prescribed competencies. Faculty contributed by identifying artifacts and rubrics, entering assessment results into LiveText, and reviewing program data for the purpose of identifying areas and means for program improvement. Administrators contributed by developing organizing principles for our self-study and for the assessment system, one part of which is LiveText; and staff members participated by supporting the online presentation of our evidence and helping with arrangements for the April visit. It was truly a team effort, and each of those who participated earns part of the credit for our success. I also want to commend Drs. Connie Lambert, dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies, and Jim DePaepe, director of the Office of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment in the Center for Teaching and Learning for their leadership in this important initiative.

The teacher preparation and school administrator preparation programs are also nationally accredited, having earned accreditation with conditions from the nation's largest accrediting agency, the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in fall of 2007. NCATE will conduct a focused visit in 2009 to review our progress on several recommendations that resulted from the 2007 visit. CWU's master's programs in school counseling and school psychology were granted continuing accreditation by NCATE and program approval by the PESB in spring of 2007.

We are proud to continue our tradition of providing Washington's P-12 schools with outstanding educators. Central's undergraduate education program is one of the largest in the U.S. and our graduate programs in school psychology, school counseling, and education administration have been preparing professional educators since the 1940s when Governor Monrad C. Wallgren approved the first master of education degree.

Our graduates change the lives of our state's young people through their outstanding service. This year, six of the ten state teacher-of-the-year candidates were Central graduates. In fact, the teacher and the principal of the year in Washington State for 2008 also are alumnae of Central Washington University. Laura Jones, the state teacher of the year from Pasco High School, earned a bachelor of arts in public relations at CWU and later returned to Central to earn a teaching degree. Stacey Locke, who is currently the principal at Eisenhower High School in Yakima, earned a bachelor of arts degree in education and a master of arts degree in education administration, both from CWU.

Congratulations to all who have worked so hard in all of our education programs.

Sincerely

Jerilyn S. McIntyre
President

CWU TOP STORIES

2008 CWU DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORS NAMED

At its May 2 meeting, CWU's Board of Trustees announced the winners of the annual Distinguished Professor awards: Drs. Martha Kurtz, chemistry; Scott Lewis, mathematics; and Chenyang Li, philosophy.

• Kurtz, dean of the College of the Science, was named the Distinguished Professor-Service. Among the activities noted by nominators and recognized by the selection committee were her support for individuals, university groups, professional organizations, and the community at large. It was also noted that Kurtz brings service learning activities into her courses and, through her efforts, the Science Education Program is recognized as one of the University's most highly respected academic service unit.
• Lewis was honored as the Distinguished Professor-Teaching. The selection criteria include demonstrated breadth and depth of knowledge, clear methodology, organization of materials, and effective presentation. Besides having expertise in mathematics, Lewis is knowledgeable in the fields of astronomy, biology, history and geology, and he incorporates those subjects into his interdisciplinary mathematics lectures. This interdisciplinary background allows Lewis to also serve on the faculty of the Douglas Honor College, in addition to teaching math.
• Li, chair of the philosophy department, was selected as the Distinguished Professor-Research. Li has compiled a scholarly body of work that is impressive for its quality, quantity, variety, and broad dissemination throughout the United States, Canada, China, Europe, India and beyond. A renowned and amazingly productive philosopher/scholar whose research engages colleagues and students worldwide, the quality, content, and interest of Li's research papers are evidenced by their routine acceptance by world-renown journals.

Each distinguished professor will receive a plaque and a $2,500 honorarium at the Honors Convocation in McConnell Auditorium
on June 6.

2008 CWU EASTSIDE/WESTSIDE COMMENCEMENTS

U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings will address CWU's 2008 graduating class at Central's 117th graduation ceremonies on Saturday, June 7, at Tomlinson Stadium.

Graduates of the College of Education and Professional Studies and College of Business will be awarded their degrees at the first ceremony, which begins at 9:30 a.m. A second ceremony, for graduates of the College of Arts and Humanities, College of the Sciences, and interdisciplinary and individual study majors, will begin at 1:30 p.m.

Hastings, who studied business administration at CWU, is in his seventh term representing Washington's Fourth Congressional District, which includes Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Franklin, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Yakima, and parts of Adams and Skamania counties. After eight years in the Washington State Legislature, Hastings was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994. He is now the third ranking Republican on the House Rules Committee, and the ranking Republican on the House Ethics Committee.

On Sunday, June, 8, CWU will host its annual Westside commencement in Seattle. Bill Grinstein, chair of the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board, will deliver the commencement address at that event, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Benaroya Hall in the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium. This ceremony is for students receiving their degrees from CWU-Des Moines, CWU-Lynnwood, and CWU-Pierce County.

Grinstein, a retired senior executive with Battelle's Pacific National Northwest Laboratory, serves as a member of the Washington State Economic Commission, chairs the board of the World Affairs Council, and is board vice president for the Washington Technology Alliance. He is also on the board of the Washington Biotechnology & Biomedical Association, Seattle Central Community College, and The Rainier Club, whose members include business, cultural and civic leaders, diplomats, dignitaries, and other professionals.

Tickets are not required to attend the Eastside commencement ceremony, which may include graduates from all CWU campuses including the Westside University Centers along with graduates of CWU-Moses Lake, CWU-Wenatchee, and CWU-Yakima. Tickets are required for the Westside ceremony and are available only from students taking part in that ceremony.

CANADIAN CONSUL MAKES HISTORIC VISIT TO CWU

Recently, the Canadian Consul made an historic first visit to CWU. Consul Kim Blanchett who heads the consulate general's political, economic, and public affairs division, Academic Officer Kevin Cook, and intern Brian Ogilvie met with CWU President Jerilyn S. McIntyre and Dr. Michael Launius, executive director of the Office of International Studies and Programs (OISP).

The consul later hosted a luncheon for university faculty and staff, and made a presentation promoting United States-Canadian relationships and study abroad, grant, and scholarship opportunities.

Citing the social, commercial, and technological similarities between the two countries, Blanchett said that the Consulate General in Seattle was particularly interested in creating partnerships and opportunities for collaboration.

Cook said that the purpose of the consul's visit was to acquaint the CWU community with all the resources available through the Consulate General's offices, such as grants for individual faculty as well as to the University itself for research, classroom activities, or for traveling in Canada, as long as the activities could be related to Canadian studies. Noting the range of areas of study represented by the attendees at the luncheon, Cook pointed out that numerous opportunities exist for faculty and students of all disciplines.

The Consul's office also provided display and information tables about Canada, and its wealth of commercial, educational, and recreational activities.

Faculty and students wanting to learn more about scholarship opportunities with the Canadian Consulate General's office in Seattle should contact OISP at ext. 3612.

2008 SOURCE AWARDS PRESENTED

The 13th annual Symposium on University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) showcased an array of scholarly and creative endeavors from more than 275 student, faculty, and staff presenters encompassing a variety of disciplines.

The goal of SOURCE is to foster an awareness of, and appreciation for, the high quality scholarly and creative endeavors from across academic levels and departments. SOURCE 2008 continued this tradition with oral and poster presentations, as well as musical and theatrical performances and artistic works. This year's SOURCE award winners were:

KNIRCK NAMED APRIL EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH

The university's Civil Service Employee Council has named Mari Knirck, reference specialist, Brooks Library, April's Civil Service Employee of the Month. At a recent surprise ceremony, she received a certificate and $125 from the president's discretionary fund, through the CWU civil service employee recognition program. Those nominating Knirck noted:

• "One co-worker remarked that 'on her own initiative' Mari learns other aspects of the library. For example, she has assisted in the archives department and has even expressed a desire to learn how to mend books."
• "She has stepped up and taught an introductory library class rather than having the class canceled."
• "Mari is the first to volunteer to test new software in the testing and development environment before going live."
• "If asked about an unfamiliar topic, Mari will start researching and digging to find out all she can. She offers one-on-one office appointments to help students learn how to better navigate the Internet and how to find appropriate books, reports, and articles for their research papers."

University students, faculty, and staff, along with members of the Ellensburg community members, are encouraged to nominate civil service employees, who are doing exceptional work, for Employee of the Month recognition. A new, streamlined nomination form is now online at www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/eotmnominate.html.

NOTICE CORNER

CWU CONTINUES TO REACH OUT TO CHINA EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS
CWU is continuing its effort to aid victims of the recent earthquake China. Following word of the May 12 quake, a campus relief fund was quickly established, with proceeds being donated to the Chinese Red Cross and other earthquake relief organizations.

"It's often overwhelming and bewildering to try to find appropriate places to donate funds for national disasters, especially those that take place overseas," said Mei Chun, CWU Chinese language professor. "We wanted to create a local fund for donations so that Ellensburg residents would have somewhere they could send their gifts."

Donations to the "China Earthquake Relief Fund" are being accepted at the CWU Foundation in Barge Hall 402. Credit/debit card donations can be made by calling the ext. 2760, or made online at www.mycentral.cwu.edu. Approximately $2,500 already been donated to the relief fund.

NEW CWU HISTORY BOOK RELEASED
Since its doors opened September 6, 1891 as the Washington State Normal School, Central has witnessed and experienced a myriad of changes. Those changes are now documented in a beautiful new hardback book, By Teaching We Learn: The Evolution of Central Washington University.

Although this isn't the first book to be published about the university's history, it is the first to be completed since Samuel Mohler's The First Seventy-Five Years, written forty years ago. Central's newest history book emphasizes the years since Mohler's book was published.

In 2003 President McIntyre established the History Book Committee to oversee the development of the project. The committee, chaired by Judy Miller, executive secretary to the president, developed the concept for and managed the execution of the book. Five years and 5,000 copies later, it is an engaging survey of the people and events that have shaped the institution's history.

A variety of contributors had their hands in bringing the project to fruition. Glen Bach, graphic design professor and program director, served as the book's art director. Research and interviews, conducted by Karen Blair, professor and Department of History chair, served as the foundation for the book's text. Elizabeth Street, chief planning officer and psychology professor, compiled statistics, wrote narratives, and provided fact checking. Editor Jennifer Collier Jennings skillfully blended all of the research into a cohesive narrative and W. David Smith lent his skills as a writer, editor, and proofreader. Many others provided photos, facts, and stories.

A limited supply of By Teaching We Learn: The Evolution of Central Washington University is now available through the Wildcat Shop, for $29.95 each. A couple of images from the book can be viewed at the Wildcat Shop Web site at www.cwu.edu/~store.

WILDCAT SHOP SUMMER HOURS TO BEGIN JUNE 9
The Wildcat Shop will observe its summer schedule beginning June 9. The store will be open weekdays 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. It will be closed weekends and on the Independence Day and Labor Day holidays.

WILDCAT BATTALION TO HOST ANNUAL COMMISSIONING
The CWU Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) Wildcat Battalion will host its 2008 Spring Commissioning Ceremony on Friday, June 6, at l0 a.m., in the Music Building Concert Hall. Eighteen CWU military science students will be commissioned as U.S. Army second lieutenants at that time.

They are: Gerrit Bode, Michael Boitano, Brian Boyd, Marcus Casey, Anthony Catalano, Raymond Crone, Michael Freeman, Jenniffer Goulet, Richard Helsham Jr., William Klein, Bao Le, Thomas Lorenson, Joshua Luttman, Jeshua Rogers, Steven Sanford, Ryan St. Jean, Charles West, and Shannen Wilson.

ESL PROGRAM SEEKS "HOME STAY" PARTNERS
Every summer, the university's English as a Second Language (ESL) program arranges short-term language and culture programs for groups of students from our partner institutions overseas. The University of Shimane Junior College (USJC) in Matsue, Japan, has been sending groups of their students here since 1990.

One of the most exciting and memorable aspects of these students' experiences in Ellensburg is a weekend "home stay," which gives them an opportunity to see what an American home is like. Conversely, it allows local residents to interact the Japanese students, while providing an opportunity to also show them many positive aspects of the community.

Home stay opportunities are needed for 15 USJC students from 5 p.m. on Friday, August 8, to 5 p.m. on Sunday, August 10. Most students are placed in pairs. To offer a home stay, or for more information, contact Steve Horowitz, ESL director, at ext. 2512 or by e-mail at horowitz@cwu.edu.

SHARED LEAVE DONATIONS NEEDED
The following CWU staff members are in need of shared leave: Nancy Jo Tutino, accounting; and Connie Bennett and Gayle Mothershead, facilities management.

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 forms section of the Human Resources home page at 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 forwarding to HR and are subject to approval by your department head and Human Resources.

CENTRALIGHTS

Kimberlee BARTEL, Information Technology and Administrative Management, has been selected to serve as one of twelve trustees for The Agnew Group, an endowed national think tank and research organization headquartered at New York University. Each member of the handpicked group serves between five and ten years, in an effort to help focus, create, and guide business education over the next 30 years at both the K12 and post secondary levels. Bartel's tenure begins next fall.

Robert CARBAUGH and David HEDRICK, economics, were published in the May/June 2008 issue of Challenge: The Magazine of Economic Affairs. Their article was titled "Losing Faith in the Dollar."

"Me and Immortality," a story by contemporary Russian author Vyacheslav Alekseevich Pyetsukh, translated by Dinara GEORGEOLIANI, foreign languages, and Mark HALPERIN, English (emeritus), appears in the current issue of Absinthe: New European Writing, 9. The translators have now published translations most of the stories from Pyetsukh's cycle of stories, Me and So Forth, and continue to seek a publisher for a volume of the complete series.

Mike JACKSON and Sharon ROSELL, physics, along with members of the CWU student Astronomy Club and Society of Physics Students Physics Club held a workshop for the Girl Scouts on May 9. More than seventy Brownies, Juniors, and Cadets participated in different events to earn their astronomy merit badges.

Four undergraduates from CWU's food science and nutrition program won the sixth annual Nutrition College Bowl held April 19 at California State University at Northridge. Central's team emerged top from a field of eleven teams including teams from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; Cal Poly San Luis Obispo; California State University, Fresno; CSU Long Beach; CSU Los Angeles; CSU Northridge; CSU San Bernardino; San Diego State University; University of California, Berkeley; and UC Davis. In a single elimination format, the CWU squad defeated teams from CSULA 40-30, UC Davis 70-10, and CSU Northridge 75-35. Having previously won the competition two years ago, the 2008 victory made CWU the first two-time champions of the event. Members of CWU's team were Chelsea MURPHY, Kylie OTTMER, Bret RUST, and Michelle WALTON, Mt. Vernon. Nutrition graduate student Carissa SUNDSMO, who was a member of the 2006 championship team, coached this year's squad.

James NIMNICHT, human resource management, was named the 2008 SHRM Foundation Faculty Advisor of the Year. As winner of the prestigious national award, based upon student nominations, he will receive a $1,000 educational stipend. Nimnicht will be honored June 21 in Chicago during the Society for Human Resource Management's 60th Annual Conference and Exposition. Advisors from all university chapters of SHRM, which number about 450 around the world, are eligible for the competition. Nimnicht is now a two-time winner of the award, which he also received in 2002. More than 20,000 human resources professionals are expected to participate in this year's conference. In addition to Nimnicht, the two CWU students who nominated him for the award, Mike MITCHUSSON and Bjorn BONHOLZER, will be among those in attendance.

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Wayne QUIRK has announced the recipients of the 2008 Equipment Grant competition. They are:

• Wendy BOHRSON, Chris MATTINSON, and Jeffrey LEE, geological sciences, for Upgrading the Research and Teaching Microscope Facilities in the Department of Geological Sciences;
• Lisa ELY, Charles RUBIN, Carey GAZIS, Karl LILLQUIST, Patrick LUBINSKI, Anne JOHANSEN, and Anthony DIAZ, geological sciences, geography, anthropology, and chemistry, for Laser Particle-Size Analyzer for Environmental and Chemical Applications;
• Jack GUMAR, industrial and engineering technology, for Protoboard Workstations for CWU Electronic Engineering Technology (EET) Laboratories;
• Anne JOHANSEN, Carey GAZIS, and Kevin NEMETH, chemistry, geological sciences and continuing education, for New Ion Chromatograph; Water and Wine Testing;
• Linda RAUBESON and Lucinda CARNELL, biological sciences, for Thermocyclers: Essential Equipment for Biological Sciences;
• Timothy SOREY and the chemistry department faculty for General Chemistry Laboratory Computer Interface Equipment Proposal; and,
• Gabriel STRYKER and Holly PINKART, biological sciences, for Real-time (Quantitative) Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) System.

CWU's 2008 Student Employee of the Year, Ravae ROSSMAIER has been honored as the 2008 Washington State Association of Student Employment Administrators' Student Employee of the Year, which includes a $100 savings bond. Rossmaier, who is majoring in business administration and psychology, has been employed at the College of Business (CB) pre-major advising center since September 2006, where she helped develop and implement CB's group orientation and advising sessions, and assisted with coordinating the annual Economic Outlook Conference. She also served on the Dean's Council as the student liaison for events. Rossmaier has maintained a 3.8 grade point average and is planning for a career in management.

The university chapter of Phi Kappa Phi has named Jeffrey SNEDEKER, music, as its 2008 Scholar of the Year. The annual award is presented to a faculty member who has shown excellence in teaching, research, public outreach, and contribution to the university. Snedeker, CWU horn professor and principal horn chair for the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, has been a member of the CWU faculty since 1991. He spent three years (2004-2007) as the music department's associate chair, where he was responsible for the graduate advising and coordination. For five years, Snedeker also served as editor of The Horn Call, an International Horn Society scholarly journal, founded the Northwest Horn Society. He has been a member of the CWU Faculty Senate's executive committee.

Junior music major Christi WANS won the young artist brass division at the recent Musicfest Northwest "Tomorrow's Stars Today" festival in Spokane. She received the gold medal, a $600 cash prize, and an opportunity to solo with the Spokane Symphony. Henderson was also honored with a certificate of merit in the sight reading, solo, and concerto divisions. She is the student of John HARBAUGH, CWU trumpet professor. Between 1,200 and 1,500 young musicians and dancers participate annually in Musicfest Northwest, which began in 1946. It's considered to be the largest festival of its kind in the U.S.

CWU EMPLOYEES
Civil Service new hires: Erin Bledsoe, Library and Archives Paraprofessional 1, Brooks Library; Chandra Hill, General Bookstore Supervisor, Wildcat Shop; Jocelyn Robinette, Secretary Senior, Geological Sciences; Willie Pride, Custodian 1, Facilities Management; Catherine Gibb, Office Assistant 3, McNair Scholars Program.

Civil Service job changes: Crystal Wang, Information Technology Specialist 4, Information Technology Services/Applications; Kerrie Nelson, Forms and Records Analyst 2, Business Services and Contacts.

Exempt new hires: Michoan Spoelstra, College of Education and Professional Studies Development Officer, University Relations.

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