Greetings,

This has been a difficult time for our campus community as we've grieved with those who lost loved ones at Virginia Tech and with those whose lives were forever altered by this tragedy. A special edition of the University Bulletin that was distributed earlier this week provided answers to some of the questions you have asked in the wake of the tragedy and told you about some of the initiatives that are underway to further improve campus safety at CWU.

The best that can come out of such incomprehensible horror is that we all resolve to live our lives with greater compassion for each other.

There is never a good segue from tragedy to everyday events, but I know that many of you will want to hear how we fared in the state's biennial budget discussions. As you know, the Legislature has finished its deliberations and delivered a budget bill to the governor. She has 30 days to act on the bill, including the possibility that she will veto some sections of it. As she deliberates, however, I wanted to provide you with a brief overview of the bill as it came out of the Legislature.

The budget provides CWU with $6.1 million for 630 full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollments, but is more prescriptive than ever about how we should deploy them. The budget provides 281 general enrollments and stipulates that at least 100 should be upper-division enrollments at our university centers and at least 30 must be for graduate students in 2009. The budget directs 155 enrollments toward "high-demand" fields, which the budget says must include bilingual education and information technology programs. A third area to which the budget directs 194 FTE is math and science.

The Legislature provided cost-of-living increases of 3.2 and 2 percent in 2008 and 2009, respectively. The budget also makes permanent a 1.6 percent salary increase provided in an earlier budget and funded Department of Personnel recommendations to increase the compensation for employees whose compensation is now 25-percent below market. In addition, classified employees will see a new 2.5 percent step "L" on the salary grid.

The 2007-09 budget supports other critical service areas at CWU. It provides $500,000 each for disability support services and to expand mentoring and academic support services to 250 TRIO-eligible students each year. As you may know, the TRIO program serves low-income students, students who are the first in their family to go to college and students with disabilities.

The capital budget results also are very positive for CWU as our three highest priority projects were funded. We received $23.2 million to renovate and update Dean Hall, which has been closed since 1998. When Dean is remodeled, it will house the departments of anthropology and museum studies, geography and land studies, and the graduate program in resource management. It will also accommodate the Office of the Dean of the College of the Sciences and provide additional general-use classrooms.

Lawmakers approved $6.8 million for a large, combined utilities project on Walnut Mall. The project will enhance steam heating and chilled water capacity, increase fiber optics and inter-campus connectivity. The budget provides $3 million to design the renovation of Hogue Hall. The new facility will include classrooms, technical laboratories, industrial shops and faculty offices for the engineering technology, construction management, industrial technology and flight technology programs. The capital budget also includes nearly $20 million to upgrade facilities, preserve infrastructure and to enable the university to meet health, safety and code requirements.

The Legislature made significant changes in higher education policy. One of the most important for CWU increases our state-supported tuition waiver capacity from 8 to 10 percent. Gov. Gregoire signed the bill on April 19. Partial funding for the measure, which is included in the proposed 2007-09 biennial bill, will allow CWU to help more low-income students, veterans and first-generation students attend Central.

The governor also is expected to sign legislation that would implement some of the recommendations of the "Washington Learns" education policy committees. The bill limits resident undergraduate tuition increases at state universities to no more than 7 percent per year (the budget stipulates that tuition increases at regional universities not exceed 5 percent per year this biennium). It also declares a state goal to use state support and tuition to increase funding of state colleges and universities to at least the 60th percentile of comparable institutions in the Global Challenge States within 10 years.

Another bill reinforces the priority that legislators have placed on math and science education this year by creating the "GET Ready for Math and Science" scholarship. Students are eligible for the program if they achieve qualifying scores on the 10th grade WASL in either math or science or in mathematics on the SAT or ACT. Qualifying students must have a family income no greater than 125 percent of the state median, agree to major in math, science, or a related field; and promise to work for at least three years in Washington in math, science, or a related field.

In all, the 2007 session of the Legislature was positive for Central Washington University. We are particularly indebted to our team in Olympia, including Ann Anderson, Jim Huckabay, Steve DuPont and Michael Bogatay, and to the many faculty, students, staff, administrators and alumni who wrote letters, testified and met with policymakers to urge their support for our priorities.

As I write this summary, the House and Senate still have not reconciled differences in their interpretations of the conference operating budget agreement; the governor is considering which legislation to sign and which to veto. The actions of the House, the Senate and the governor may yet change the outcomes of the legislative session. When they have concluded their work, I will provide a final update of policy and budget actions.

Looking ahead, this budget has many ramifications for CWU, including that the committee that has been developing an enrollment management plan can now solidify the plan. Because several of you have asked about that plan, I've asked Provost Soltz and Vice President Tullos to summarize the planning process and describe the plan in this column in the June edition of the University Bulletin.

Sincerely,

Jerilyn S. McIntyre

President

CENTRAL'S SURC RECEIVES NATIONAL ACCLAIM

At last month's Association of College Unions International (ACUI) annual conference, CWU and Ambia, a Seattle architectural and design firm, were honored with the 2007 ACUI Facility Design Award of Excellence for CWU's Student Union and Recreation Center.

The award recognizes excellence in the design of student-centered facilities that support campus-community building and student learning. Entries, submitted by architectural firms, are judged on the basis of appearance, the process used to arrive at the design and how the new or renovated facility impacts the campus.

Additionally, the Central recreation center received an Outstanding Sports Facility Award at the recent National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) annual conference.

The NIRSA award honors creative, innovative designs of new, renovated, or expanded collegiate recreational facilities. Each winning entry is considered to be a standard or model by which other collegiate recreational facilities should be measured, and from which others can benefit. Judges evaluate each facility for its architectural design, functionality and how well it meets its intended purpose.

"These awards are the culmination of 12 years of effort supported by our university's students, staff and administration," says John Drinkwater, campus life and student facilities development senior director. "It represents carefully considered work by passionate people who never lost sight of their vision."

CWU'S RITTEREISER RECEIVES LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Steve Rittereiser, Central's assistant vice president for business auxiliaries and public safety, has been honored with a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Washington State Crime Prevention Association (WSCPA).

"Steve's more than 20 years of work in the field of crime prevention and community relations has had a tremendous impact on our state, in his community and at Central Washington University," says Daryl Pearson, WSCPA executive director. "He has been a true advocate for our statewide crime prevention initiatives."

It was just the eighth time in WSCPA's 31-year existence that it has presented a lifetime achievement award to recognize significant contributions to crime prevention in Washington. Rittereiser was honored at an awards luncheon on April 17 in Kelso, at which his contributions to the field of crime prevention and community relations were also noted.

In 1993, while serving as Central's police chief, he launched the university's "Sexual Assault Response Commitment." Designed to help reduce sexual assault victimization, the program became a model for other cities and campuses and was named Washington state's 1994 Crime Prevention Program of the Year.

Rittereiser was selected as the WSCPA's 2003-04 Police Chief of the Year based on his recognition of the importance of and participation in crime prevention, development of crime prevention training programs and service to Washington state.

Rittereiser completed 15 years of service on the WSCPA board of directors in 2000, which included 18 months as the association's president. During his tenure, grant funding was secured that allowed crime prevention skills to be taught to new police recruits. He was also instrumental in establishing the first statewide crime prevention office in Olympia.

In addition, Rittereiser received the 2005 International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators President's Award. He now serves as a consultant to universities nationwide on how to improve their management, operations and crime prevention practices.

CWU STUDENTS WIN NATIONAL BROADCASTING HONORS

Two CWU students took top honors at the National Broadcasting Society's (NBS) 44th Annual National Student Electronic Media Competition. John Lundeen, a 2006 Central psychology graduate, won the grand prize in the audio Station Imaging category for his production "On the Web." Senior broadcast journalism major Makayla Lee took top honors in the video Public Affairs/Interview Program category for "Central Focus: Alternative Energy & Meth Debate."

"It was especially gratifying that Makayla's entry beat out one from the University of Miami, which has a nationally recognized, top-notch broadcasting program," says Robert Fordan, CWU communication professor and the university's student NBS chapter advisor. "John's winning entry was against West Texas A&M, a two-time, national award winner."

By winning at the regional level, Lee and Lundeen qualified for the national competition, which involved work completed between fall quarter 2005 and fall quarter 2006. They were honored during the NBS National Convention held March 27-April 1 in Chicago. Previously, CWU received national first place NBS video awards in 2001 for best Sports Feature and in 2005 for the top Comedy Segment.

CWU MARKETING CLUB AGAIN NETS NATIONAL RECOGNITION

For the second straight year, Central's Marketing Club earned recognition from the American Marketing Association (AMA) as an "Outstanding Collegiate Chapter." The designation distinguishes the CWU club as one of the top 16 collegiate chapters in the nation.

AMA judges rate chapters based on their annual plans and activity reports in a professional development, community service, membership, fundraising, communications and operations. The CWU club was up against more than 200 AMA collegiate chapters from across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

CWU marketing professor Rex Moody, the club's advisor, and seven chapter members attended the 29th annual AMA International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, March 29-31. The Central chapter was among those honored at the conference awards banquet.

"ADVANCING THE DREAM" RECIPIENT TO BE HONORED

CWU's College of Business will honor Ron Sabado, Highline Community College (HCC) accounting program coordinator, with the 2007 COB "Advancing the Dream" award during the 14th Annual COB Honors Banquet on Saturday, May 5, on the HCC campus in Des Moines.
He is the 10th recipient of the "Advancing the Dream" award.

"We established this award to recognize the outstanding contributions of professors in community colleges across Washington who work with students from a variety of backgrounds, capabilities and aspirations," Dr. Roy Savoian, COB dean, says.

Sabado has served as a full time instructor at Highline for five years but has been a part-time instructor since 1976. He spent 30 years as an auditor and manager with the Defense Contract Audit Agency, which performs all contract audits for the Department of Defense and provides accounting and financial advisory services to government personnel responsible for contract administration. Sabado was in charge of all audit activities in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

In 2002, former Gov. Gary Locke appointed Sabado to the Washington State Board of Accountancy, which regulates individual Certified Public Accountants, CPA firms and the practice of public accounting in Washington state. He served as board chair between 2006 and 2007 and now is chair of the board's education committee.

Sabado is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Washington Society of Certified Public Accountants, Institute of Management Accountants, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy and National Contract Management Association.

MARCH "EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH" RECOGNIZED

Christine Kehner, International Studies and Programs secretary senior, has been honored as the university's March civil service "Employee of the Month." During 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 Kehner said:

• "Christine manages a one-person office where she not only deals with a wide variety of unique tasks, but is in constant interaction with limited English speaking international students who have a range of needs often difficult to articulate."
• "Christine always exhibits a positive attitude no matter what is asked of her. She has helped transform our office into an open environment where everyone in the program is served. It is extremely rare to hear a complaint from Christine although numerous frustrations loom on a daily basis."
• "She is a reliable and trustworthy person. Although she is quite modest about what she does, she truly is outstanding."

Initiated by the CWU Civil Service Employee Council, the award recognizes university civil service employees who foster a personalized environment that supports the university community as well as Central's mission.

University students, faculty and staff, and members of the Ellensburg community, are encouraged to make nominations for the Employee of the Month award. Nomination forms are available at the CWU human resources office, employee council representatives and online at: www.cwu.edu/~hr/ec/.

CWU TO LEARN ABOUT "THE WORST HARD TIME"

Dr. David Soltz, CWU provost/senior vice president for academic affairs, has announced the 2007-08 "One Book, One Campus" project will feature Tim Egan's "The Worst Hard Time." Its subtitle is "The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl."

Of the work, renown newscaster Walter Cronkite was quoted as saying, "As one who, as a young reporter, survived and reported on the great Dust Bowl disaster, I recommend this book as a dramatic, exciting, and accurate account of that incredible and deadly phenomenon. This is can't-put-it-down history."

The work received a 2006 National Book Award, Washington State Book Award and Oklahoma Book Award.

The One Book, One Campus project is designed to cultivate reading and critical-thinking skills among first year Central students. However, all Central community members are encouraged to participate in the shared reading experience as a way to generate discussion inside and outside the classroom.

NOTICE CORNER

CENTER FOR EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP TO GET NEW NAME
On Tuesday, May 1, CWU's Center for Excellence in Leadership (CEL) will be officially named in honor of David Wain Coon. The free, public ceremony will take place at 1:30 p.m., in the CEL offices in Student Union and Recreation Center 260.

A 1986 graduate of CWU, where he earned a bachelor's degree in public relations, Coon was a recipient of the Central Investment Fund scholarship for leadership and academics, served as a residence hall Living Group Advisor, was involved with the Associated Students of CWU.

"I'm often reminded of how my experiences at Central helped build the foundation from which I lead and interact," he says. "In a similar manner, I have drawn upon my early leadership experiences as a Living Group Advisor and my involvement with ASCWU in each leadership capacity I have held professionally and civically over the past 20 years."

During that period, Coon has been director of housing at CWU, director of student development at Pierce College, vice president/dean of student services at the Art Institute of Seattle, executive dean of student services at Green River Community College, vice president for student success at Cascadia Community College and, since July 2005, president of Evergreen Valley College in San Jose, Calif.

Coon has also served as a state trustee and regional board member for Children's Home Society of Washington, board member and volunteer counselor for Camp Opportunity, board member for the CWU Alumni Association, chaired a statewide citizen's advisory council on alcoholism and drug addiction, and board member for Asian Americans for Community Involvement in San Jose.

In addition, Coon established the David Wain Coon Leadership Endowment to provide support for Central leadership development programs, which include the Center for Excellence in Leadership, Diversity Center, Civic Engagement Center and ASCWU.

"It's my hope that this endowment will, in some meaningful way, empower, provide a voice, or provide skills to students who otherwise would not have the opportunity to develop their leadership potential," Coon points out.

CAMPUS RECEPTION TO HONOR CWU RETIREES
CWU faculty, staff and administrators who have retired or will retire between July 1, 2006, and Aug. 31, 2007, will be the guests of honor at the 14th annual President's Retiree Reception on Wednesday, May 9.

President Jerilyn S. McIntyre will host the gathering, from 3 to 5 p.m., in Barge 412. All members of the university and greater Ellensburg communities are invited to attend the reception for the 28 honorees They are:

Exempt Employees: Linda Beath, George Cole, Art DePalma, Shirley Sadler, Nancy Vogel and Pam Zupan.

Classified Staff: Terry Borck, Nance Bracken, Roger Hudson, Ardath Lathrop-Morefield, Larry Phillips, Linda Rubio, Maxine Ryan and Dorothy Tenney.

Faculty: Joan Amby, Alla Ditta Raza Choudary, Terry Devietti, Jim Eubanks, Gail Goss, Jennifer Jaques, Andy Jenkins, Nancy Jurenka, Wayne Klemin, Pat McLaughlin, Hugh Spall, William Vance, Allen Vautier and Tim Yoxtheimer.

CWU FEDERAL CREDIT UNION OFFERS NEW, COMPETITIVE LOANS
Through June, the CWU Federal Credit Union (CWUFCU) will offer special loan rates for boats, campers and trailers beginning at 6 percent and for terms up to six years. New car and truck loans are available for as low as 4.95 percent.

Dividend savings rates have also been increased to 1.36 percent, while competitive rates are also being offered on Certificates of Deposit.

For more information, call ext. 1995, e-mail cwufcu@cwu.edu, or visit the CWUFCU Web site at www.cwu.edu/~cwufcu. The credit union office, located in Barge 111, is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SHARED LEAVE DONATIONS ARE NEEDED
The following individuals are in need of shared leave: Don Allen, Information Technology Services; Van Le, Business Auxiliary Custodial Services; Imal Mohamed, Registrar Services; and Mary Varner, music.

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 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. All or a portion of your personal holiday may also be donated.

Shared leave donation forms can be downloaded from the forms section of the Human Resources home page at www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/shared_leave_donation_form.doc. Forms may also be requested from the HR office at ext. 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.

TCB FROM YOUR HOME PC, OR MAC
It's not unusual for CWU faculty and staff members to find themselves at home with the need to access their office computer. Previously, this would have necessitated a trip back to campus. Now, through "Remote Desktop," you can control your work computer from home. That includes access to local and network file storage, printing, GroupWise and its e-mail archives, and any applications installed on your CWU desktop computer. This means, if you have special programs on your work computer, you won't need to install them on your home computer. Access from home to your CWU work computer is just a few simple steps away through the Virtual Private Network (VPN) client, which will need to be installed on your home machine.

Instructions on downloading, installing and using the VPN client and remote desktop options for PC users can be found at: http://www.cwu.edu/~itstraining/TechTips/wintelecommute.html.

Mac users can view instructions for the various telecommuting options at: http://www.cwu.edu/~itstraining/TechTips/ostelecommute.html.

By the way, if you're a staff member and plan on working from home, you should review the work-from-home policy at: http://www.cwu.edu/~hr/worklife/telework/telepolicy.html.

CENTRALIGHTS

Sarah BRITTO, law and justice, along with authors Elizabeth Beck and Arlene Andrews recently had a book published called "In the Shadow of Death: Restorative Justice and Death Row Families." Having received favorable reviews, this book is considered an important work in the restorative justice literature that looks at the needs of family members of death row inmates and how they fit within the meaning of justice.

Gail FARMER, Wildcat Wellness Center, Judy HENNESSY, sociology, and Lisa BERTHON, former Area Coordinator, took top age-group honors at the Wenatchee Half Marathon on April 22. Farmer finished first in the 50-54 age group and placed 31st overall with a time of 2:01:29; Hennessy won the 55-59 age category and came in 27th overall with a time of 2:00:01; and Berthon took the 35-39 competition and crossed the finish line 13th overall with a time of 1:51:53.

Ferman KONUKMAN, health, human performance and nutrition, made a pair of presentations at the American Alliance of Health Physical Education Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention, which was held in Baltimore from March 12-16. He made a poster presentation on "The Effects of Multimedia Computer Assisted Instruction (CAI) on Content Knowledge and Pedagogical Content Knowledge in a Physical Education Teacher Education (PETE) Program" and participated in a panel discussion on the broad topic of "Serve to Learn by Learning to Serve: University -- Community Initiatives." Konukman discussed "Pedagogical Aspects of Academic Service Learning at CWU Physical Education Program."

President Jerilyn S. McIntyre has announced a realignment of reporting lines in her division, reflecting the scope of existing responsibilities and reducing the growing number of direct reports to the president. The title for Elizabeth STREET has been changed from "Executive Assistant for Policy and Planning" to "Chief Planning Officer." McIntyre says that the change of title more accurately reflects Street's current responsibilities. Those responsibilities include facilitating campus communications; helping to articulate the institution's mission; researching local, state and national issues of importance to CWU; drafting speeches and developing presentations; and serving as a liaison with the community, including with local and federal governmental agencies. The university's Budget Planning, Institutional Research and Internal Audit units, and the Office for Equal Opportunity will now report directly to Street, although those units will continue to be part of the president's division, falling under the ultimate oversight of the president.

Christine SUTPHIN, English, presented the paper "Avenging Women: Frances Trollope's Anti-Slavery Fiction" at "Imagining Transatlantic Slavery: A Conference to Mark the 200th Anniversary of the Abolition of the Slave Trade in Britain and the United States." It was held in Chawton, England, March 16-17.

Law and justice faculty and students made the following presentations at the National Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences in Seattle on March 13-17:

Sarah BRITTO and student Patrick ANDERSON presented the paper "Race, Gender, and Justice: The Politics of Television Political Talk Shows";

Teresa FRANCIS served as a panel chair and discussant, and presented the paper "An Analysis of the Washington State Civil Commitment Laws";

J. Michael OLIVERO and Rodrigo MURATAYA presented the paper "Runaway Youth - Delinquents or Status Offenders?" while MURATAYA served as panel chair and discussant, and presented the paper "The Development of the State Police in Michiocan Mexico";

Charles REASONS and student David KIM presented the paper "Homicide - Life in the Office: Ideology of Homicide Detectives in Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia," while REASONS and students Ami IKEDA, Aaron JONES, Carly SHATTUCK and Leslie TACKITT made a poster presentation on "Terrorism: Myths and Realities";

Mary Ellen REIMUND chaired the Restorative Justice Panel;
and
Key SUN presented a paper on "How the Media Misrepresents the Causes of Hate Crime."

CWU EMPLOYEES

Civil Service new hires: Katie Fries, Conference Coordinator 2, Conference and Retail Services; Patricia Noland, Custodian 1, Campus Life.

Civil Service job changes: Kelly Zakel-Larson, Office Assistant 3, Development Office.

Exempt new hires: Jackson Horsley, Medical Director/Physician, Student Health, Counseling and Wellness Center; Ramon Cardenas, Enrollment/Retention Advisor, Admissions; Roxanne Waite, Admissions Counselor, Admissions; Victor Zamora, Admissions Counselor, Admissions; Brian Rodgers, Advisor to International Students, Office of International Studies and Programs.

Exempt job changes: Carolyn Thurston, Director, Wildcat Transitions Programs, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

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