To the Campus Community,
A plan by the Obama administration to "stress test" banks caught my eye and turned my thoughts to the stress test we'll undergo in the next months and years as we come to grips with the economic picture for the state and the university. In our case, we'll be tested on our ability to maintain our first principles and our sense of community in the face of the inevitable stress that scarce resources create. By first principles, I mean our mission, vision, and values. These include our commitment to providing access and opportunity to higher education for the state's citizens; preparing students for responsible citizenship, responsible stewardship of the earth, and enlightened and productive lives; and conducting research and service in the public interest. By community, I mean our belief that we're all in this together and that we must all do our part to ensure that the entire enterprise remains healthy and vital.
I've already seen signs that we're ready for this test. As a group, you have a good handle on the university's primary mission and you are committed to it. Many of you have stepped forward with offers of personal sacrifice for the good of the institution. While you've clearly signaled to me that we need to evaluate every program for its value to achieving our mission, you've also mentioned that you want to do everything possible to preserve jobs for our faculty and staff. When I distributed a clarification of statements in the news about the potential impact of the proposed budget cuts on our operations, I heard from many of you who said you understood these are tough times that will require tough choices.
I've told you that, as of yet, we don't have a plan about how we'll move forward, in part because we're still unsure about how large the cut will be. That is still the case, but we can't continue in this limbo any longer. Given the likelihood that the final budget numbers will come quite late in the legislative session, I've asked all of you to adopt a frugal posture for the remainder of the current year. I've also asked each vice president to continue the bottom up planning process that President McIntyre initiated last year to identify activities we can streamline and efficiencies we can achieve.
Even as these plans begin to emerge, uncertainties about where lines will be drawn will continue. During this time when we'll be turning "what if" planning into "we will" plans, I anticipate that we will undergo another phase of stress testing and that our collective anxiety will be palpable. A fairly natural reaction is to become competitive. But I believe we are better than that and that we will take the opportunity this situation provides to be a model for the larger community that is undergoing similar testing. It's a perfect time for us to display the values of fairness and concern for our colleagues. It's a perfect time for us to speak honestly and behave in ways that are completely trustworthy. And it is a perfect time for us to consider how we can each be part of the solution through personal sacrifice. Maybe it's even the perfect time to believe in the adage, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger." Let's grow stronger together.
Sincerely,
Jim Gaudino
President
February 25 brought to a close the first phase of the legislative session during which legislators review bills that propose changes to public policy. By the 25th, bills died if they had not cleared the policy committees in which they originated, although no bill technically is dead until the end of the session. By March 2, bills must move out of budget committees and on to consideration by the full Senate or House. Then the committee review process begins again with the House considering Senate bills and vice versa.
Several bills that affect higher education have already received the approval of both chambers and the governor.
- HB 1694 cuts spending through June 30, 2009 about $300 million, not as deep a cut as the governor's supplemental budget proposed in December.
- SB 5460 reduces spending by about $100 million by freezing state hiring, salaries, travel, contracts, and purchasing through June 30. The bill exempts positions "directly related to academic programs" and activities at institutions of higher education ". . . if the costs are not paid from state funds or tuition." The salary freeze stays in effect through February 2010.
- Almost as soon as the ink was dry on SB 5460, Rep. Steve Conway introduced HB 2267, which amends SB 5460 to recognize salary adjustments granted through collective bargaining agreements that already have been negotiated.
Other bills that affect higher education and that appear to be moving forward include the following:
- HB 2021 consolidates all state-funded financial aid into a single "Opportunity Grant Fund."
- HB 1235 authorizes governing boards of the four-year institutions of higher education to set tuition and fees for all students except resident undergraduate students through academic year 2015-16.
- SB 5007 authorizes public technical colleges to offer associate degrees that prepare students for transfer to bachelor’s degrees in professional fields.
Lawmakers received a gloomy report on the state economy when they learned that the yawning two-year budget gap has grown to $8.3 billion. The new preliminary forecast gives Washington the dubious distinction of having one of the ten largest state budget deficits in the nation. The Senate, which is the next in the process to propose budgets, will not release budget plans until after the official revenue forecast on March 19. In mid-March legislators also will receive the "caseload forecast," which provides other critical budget information about how many students are expected to enroll in school and how many people the state must serve in social and health programs.
CWU TOP STORIES
ALUMNUS CHOSEN FOR OBAMA ADMINISTRATION
"I can't imagine anyone turning down the President of the United States, especially this president," said Ron Sims about his appointment to Barack Obama's administration.
CWU alumnus Sims, '71, was asked by President Obama to be the Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). He will manage the day-to-day operations of HUD's 8,500 employees and $39 billion budget. HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan has assigned Sims to oversee HUD's critical role in protecting economic prowess and improving the quality of life for the residents of metropolitan centers while cutting emissions and preparing for a warmer world. Sims' innovative work in King County, most notably his preparations for climate change and emphasis on green housing and construction, drew Obama's attention during the presidential campaign. Sims' appointment is subject to confirmation by the United States Senate.
Sims said his education at Central more than prepared him to meet the challenges awaiting him in the other Washington, adding that it was the foundation for the work he does today. Most recently he served twelve years as King County Executive and eleven years as a Councilmember. Sims is the 2006 CWU Distinguished Alumnus for the College of the Sciences.
FORMER WASHINGTON STATE PATROL CHIEF NAMED CWU TRUSTEE
Governor Chris Gregoire appointed Annette Sandberg of Davenport to the board of trustees at Central Washington University for a five-year term. Sandberg owns and currently serves as CEO of TransSafe Consulting in Virginia, where she provides consulting services to private and public organizations regarding transportation, public safety and security.
A Washington native, Sandberg received her bachelor's degree in Law and Justice from CWU in 1983, a law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law, and a master's in Business Administration from City University in Bellevue. In 1996, she was selected to attend the Government Executive Institute at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. She was also selected to attend the FBI's National Executive Institute in 1998. Sandberg is a member of the Alaska Bar Association and the Washington State Bar Association, as well as the Supreme Court Bar Association. In 1998, she was named CWU's Distinguished Alumna for the College of the Sciences.
A nationally recognized expert in law enforcement and public safety, Sandberg became the first woman in the country to lead a state police agency when she was appointed chief of the Washington State Patrol in 1995, a position she held for six years. Her career with the Washington State Patrol lasted for seventeen years.
BLOXHAM IS JANUARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
The university's civil service employee council named Sunny Bloxham, business auxiliary custodial services manager, January's 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 Bloxham said:
- "The quality of Sunny's work is crucial as all of our customers have other options to housing, dining and conference facilities. Her attention to detail in cleanliness and life safety in these facilities is first rate in every respect."
- "Excellent customer satisfaction is a direct result of Sunny's building inspection reports and her quick response to complaints or cleaning shortcomings that are brought to her attention."
- "She has written and compiled an employee manual that is the best of its type on campus. It is edited and updated annually and disbursed to all permanent, temporary and student staff to enable the most efficient operation possible."
- "Sunny consistently fosters teamwork by leading by example. She has taken a lead position in continually testing and reviewing new cleaning products. All the while she is keeping an eye out for safety, green, and sustainability concerns as well as the fiscal impact of these decisions."
University students, faculty, and staff, as well as Ellensburg community members are encouraged to nominate civil service employees who are doing exceptional work for Employee of the Month recognition. A nomination form is available online at http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/eotmnominate.html.
CHEF KC SEEKS SPOT ON TOP CHEF
In February, CWU executive chef Kevin Camarillo threw his toque into the ring to vie for a spot on the Bravo-TV hit reality show Top Chef. The show, casting for its sixth season, features chefs from all over the country who compete weekly for the title of Top Chef and more than $100,000 in cash and prizes.
In addition to completing a daunting twenty-three-page application, Camarillo also had to submit a video featuring, among other things, his cooking skills. His demonstration was filmed in the Holmes Dining Room kitchen, where he prepared his signature dish, "Shrimp, Scampi, Camerones," or shrimp, shrimp, and shrimp in English, Italian and Spanish – his twist on a classic Italian dish. He attended a casting call in Seattle with hundreds of other chefs. The selection of competitors for the show will be made later in the year.
Camarillo began his career by training on the job at various restaurants. He quickly realized he would need more formalized training to advance his career and earned a degree from Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona. Last year, he was hired as CWU's executive chef, and oversees the production of up to 2,500 meals per day. On special event dinner nights, he and his crew can prepare up to 1,000 meals in three hours! Chef KC also demonstrates his culinary finesse on the popular "Cooking with KC" show on KCWU-TV.
SCHOLARSHIP NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
The CWU Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2009-10 Departmental Scholarships. The Alumni Association provides a $1,000 award to the recipient of the scholarship, who will be recognized during Homecoming Weekend. A maximum of two nominations from a department or course of study will be accepted.
These scholarships are funded by the Central Washington University License Plate Revenue. The purpose of these awards is to honor upperclassmen who have shown exceptional aptitude in their area of specialization.
The application deadline is March 6. The Scholarship Committee of the CWU Alumni Association Board of Directors will select the recipients. For more information, please contact the office of Alumni Relations at ext. 2846 or e-mail alumni@cwu.edu.
KCWU-TV SEEKS INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS
The campus television station is looking to broadcast films by budding directors in the campus community. They will be showcased in a new KCWU-TV program called "Exposed: Filmmakers of Central Washington," created by producer Sharise Holt. Any format can be accepted, but DVD is preferred. For more information, contact Rick Spencer, KCWU-TV media productions and development, ext. 1235 or spencerri@cwu.edu.
'IMAGINE OUR MUSEUM' WORKSHOP MARCH 5
The Museum of Culture and Environment is holding monthly community discussion workshops to 'Imagine Our Museum.' In this second workshop, Emily Washines, CWU's Native American Liaison, will speak about self discovery and its place in the museum. This workshop will be held on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m., on the first floor of the newly renovated Dean Hall. The CWU Museum of Culture and Environment will open in the fall of 2009.
CWU CREDIT UNION SURPASSES $17 MILLION MILESTONE
The Central Washington University Federal Credit Union has loaned more than $17,254,379 since it was organized in 1962. This milestone was revealed at its annual meeting in February. The annual report also showed an increase in dividends to members in 2008 and an increase in membership. Board Chair Barbara Hodges said that while income from investments decreased, due to the national economic situation, the credit union remained sound, noting that the credit union has not had to borrow money to support operations in many years. She added that the credit union exists solely to support its members, and would continue to offer competitive services and consider new services when feasible. For more information about the CWUFCU, go to http://www.cwu.edu/~cwufcu.
YIN YOGA CLASSES OFFERED IN MARCH
The Office of Continuing Education is offering Yin Yoga classes this March. These classes will focus on postures that generally target the hips, legs, and lower back. There are two sections: Yin Yoga for Seniors and Yin Yoga Practice. They both meet on Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 17, 31, at the Mary Grupe Conference Center. Yin Yoga for Seniors meets 4:30-5:20 p.m.; the cost is $25 for the four-week session. Yin Yoga Practice meets 5:30-6:30 p.m.; the cost is $30 for the four-week session. Registration will take place at the first class of each session. Bring a beach towel along with your yoga mat. For more information contact Lori Chandler, instructor, 509-962-3738, loriwchandler@hotmail.com, or Sandra Bach, ext.1519.
STUDENT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS DUE MARCH 13
April is Student Employee Month in Washington State. All current CWU student employees are eligible for nomination. Nomination forms are due Friday, March 13. A committee will review nominations and select a campus winner, who will be entered in the Washington State Association of Student Employment Administrators Student Employee of the Year state competition. The nomination form can be found at http://www.wsasea.org/Events/seoty/seoty_nomination_form.pdf. A sample letter of recommendation can be found at http://www.wsasea.org/Events/seoty/sey_sample_reference.htm. For more information, contact Sarilyn Paschen, ext. 3059.
MENTORING BOOSTS SKILLS, PRODUCTIVITY
The new CWU Mentoring Program provides a structured and trusting relationship that brings people together to offer guidance, support, and encouragement to develop the competence and character of the mentee. Brief meetings are being scheduled for individual departments to provide more information about the Mentoring Program, and to sign up prospective mentors and mentees. Watch for upcoming announcements regarding the April 2009 Mentoring Orientation "Kick-Off." To become a mentor or mentee, or to schedule a brief informational meeting for your department, contact Michael Horne, Training and Development Administrator at ext. 2196 or go to http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/workforce/mentoring.html.
$50,000 IN TECHNOLOGY GRANTS AVAILABLE
The Student Technology Fee Committee is once again accepting applications for technology grants and has allocated $50,000 for this purpose. Applications will be accepted until 5 p.m. on April 3, 2009. Eligible projects must benefit general student use and cannot be for individual academic programs or personal technology needs.
An online application for the grants is available at http://www.cwu.edu/~techfee/req.html. Applications that benefit a larger group of students and/or have some matching funds will receive priority for funds. Applications will be evaluated in April with funding decisions and funds will be distributed in May.
Information about the Student Technology Fee Committee can be found at http://www.cwu.edu/~techfee.
SOURCE 2009 SUBMISSIONS DUE APRIL 15
The Symposium On University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) is a university-wide forum that showcases all genres of scholarly work by CWU students, faculty, and staff. Those engaged in scholarly or creative activity and want to share their results with the campus community are encouraged to participate. Examples of scholarship include scientific, historical, literary, or educational research, as well as creative writing, musical and theatrical performance, or artistic composition. To participate in the May 21 symposium, presenters must submit an abstract of their work before midnight on April 15. For more information, go to the Web site http://www.cwu.edu/~source/source2009.php or contact Clay Arango, arangoc@cwu.edu.
SEED GRANT OPPORTUNITY DEADLINE MARCH 17
The Program in Asia/Pacific Studies and the Office of the Vice President of Student Affairs has summer funding available for course development in the field of Asian American/Pacific Islander Studies. Three $3,000-grants are available for all faculty, tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure track, to develop courses on any aspect of the Asian American/Pacific Islander Community in the United States. Grantees will be expected to develop the courses over the summer, and then schedule/teach them within the next two academic years. Preference will be given to those proposals addressing or incorporating distance education. Application deadline for the course development funding is Tuesday, March 17. Applicants should forward a course description, proposed syllabus, and a current curriculum vita to dippmanj@cwu.edu. Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee, and decisions announced early in the spring quarter. For more information, please contact Dr. Jeffrey Dippmann via email or at ext. 1830.
NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR ONE BOOK, ONE CAMPUS PROGRAM
Read a good book lately? The OBOC Selection Committee has opened nominations for next year's campus-wide book selection. Please go to http://www.cwu.edu/~provost/one_book/nominations-webform.html# to submit nominations. Book selection criteria includes: exposure to important questions of our time; broad appeal to students and faculty; implications regarding ethical matters; literary quality; reading manageability; and adherence to the theme of the 2009-10 Performing Arts and Presidential Speaker Series, "Bridges and Beacons."
MCNAIR SCHOLARS PROGRAM APPLICATIONS DUE MARCH 11
The Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program, named after the African American astronaut who died in the space shuttle Challenger accident in 1986, is designed to recruit and prepare low-income, first-generation students and eligible minority students for doctoral study. The McNair Scholars Program accepts twenty-five promising undergraduate students each year. Applications to the CWU McNair Scholars Program are due March 11. To acquire or submit an application stop by Psychology Building, room 269 or visit http://www.cwu.edu/~mcnair.
DRIVER'S ED REFRESHER COURSE OFFERED
The Office of Continuing Education is offering a two-day course designed to assist experienced motorists, aged 55 and over, in the improvement and understanding of driving. Those who successfully complete the eight-hour AAA-approved course may receive an insurance premium reduction. Be sure to contact your current insurance agent to confirm if you are eligible for this reduction. In order to complete the course, one must attend the full eight hours. Certificates will be presented at the end of the class.
The course will be held in Black Hall, room 142, on Thursday, March 5, 5:30-9:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost is $14 for AAA members and $20 for non-members. For more information, contact Dr. Ron Hales at 509-925-6832 To register please call the Office of Continuing Education at ext. 1504.
REMOTE ACCESS NUMBER RETIRED
The employee remote access server at 963-8002 is being retired. Any faculty and staff requiring dial-in remote access service should now use the server at 963-8000. The old server at 963-8002 will cease to function on March 1.
Graduates of the recently accredited Central Washington University Mental Health Counseling program scored in the 99.9th percentile on their National Counseling Examination. According to Professor Robert BRAMMER, psychology, scores at this level "would rank CWU within the top ten [schools] in the country." The Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) accredited the graduate program in July of 2007.
Four CWU Construction Management teams competed in the Associated School of Construction Region 7 student competition, in Reno, Nevada, February 11-14th. The Commercial Team of Garrett GIBSON, Michael YELLAM, Ian KNOWLES, David KORTEKAAS, William BENDER, Michael CROOK, David IGELMUND, and Jake WELLS took first place. CWU teams also placed second in the Heavy Civil and Multi-Family divisions. Students received a first place award of $1,500 for the Commercial Team, and second place awards of $1,000 each for the Heavy Civil Team and the Multi-Family Team. Stacy GOETZ was honored as the most outstanding student for the Multi-Family presentation.
Kirk MATHIAS, Leanne SEMPRIMOZNIK, and Steve JEFFERIES, physical education, together with forty-three undergraduate physical education majors attended the West's Best K-12 Physical Education Workshop in Seattle. Jefferies gave an invited presentation, titled "Coach your way to PE success," assisted by CWU undergraduates Chelsea HUDIK, Aaron DUNCAN, Jason WILEY, Sean McNULTY, Nicole HENNIG, Sean CARNAHAN, Megan SERNA, and Sarah SAVARUD, who is a teacher in the Tahoma School District and graduate student in the department's online masters program.
The CWU Society of Physics Students Chapter has received an Outstanding Chapter Award for the 2007-2008 school year from the American Institute of Physics. CWU's chapter has received this award twelve times in the past fifteen years. Only fifty-six of the almost 800 chapters in the nation received the award. Sharon ROSELL, physics, is the chapter advisor. Evan MASTERS, physics major, was the chapter president last year.
Professor Bang-Soon YOON, political science, presented a paper on "Global Korea and Confucian Culture: Access & Limits of South Korean Women in Politics and Economy" at the Pacific/Asia Conference of Korean Studies organized by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities-Vietnam National University and the Academy of Korean Studies, Hanoi, Vietnam in November 2008. She also participated in a plenary session as a speaker to talk about globalization and culture.
CWU EMPLOYEES
Shared Leave Requests
The following individuals are in need of shared leave: Gini Silva, University Housing and New Student Programs; Connie Bennett and Kerrie Overland, Facilities Management; Troy Brenner, Center for Disability Services; Davida Stafford, Academic Advising; and Melissa Anderson, Student Health & Counseling.
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 http://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.
Civil Service New Hires
Margo Bedell-Parker, Secretary Senior, University Math Center; Jamie Callahan, Office Assistant 2, International Studies and Programs; Jeremy Murray, Research Analyst 1, Geography.
Exempt New Hires
John Mounsey, Assistant Director (Interim), Diversity Education Center.
To view current job openings at CWU, go to www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.