Greetings,
'To know where you're going, you've got to know where you've been." This statement, which has been variously attributed, is true for us today. To chart a path for the future, we need to know where and what we've been. As I'm coming to know the campus and understand the transitions it has made during its 110 year history, I see an incredibly rich culture of place and get a sense of the people who have influenced it.
All of this history will be backdrop to the challenge I will lay before us, that of creating a new vision for the future. I realize that in the five year strategic planning cycle that President McIntyre established, we aren't due to begin planning again until 2010 for the next five years. However, I'm going to suggest that the current context of public higher education is changing so quickly that a more aggressive schedule is needed. It's for that reason that we'll begin an intensive planning cycle that will go throughout the next year.
In this process, I'm going to ask the campus to think boldly about what we are and what we want to become. I want us to discover not only the identity that ties us to other public regional comprehensive universities and partner community colleges, but also what sets us apart. I would like us to visualize a future that remains deeply rooted in traditional values that underpin the academy but that is also outward looking, cutting edge, and richly entrepreneurial. I'd like us to talk not only about the goals we'd like to achieve but also about creative ways we can achieve them.
Perhaps most important, I want this planning effort to be truly integrative, seamless, and spare. I believe we will make more progress if we identify for the university a small number of important outcomes we want to achieve and how we'll measure progress, and then encourage all of us to discover our contributions to achieving them. Of course, individual divisions, units, and departments will establish their own goals and outcomes that each will measure, but within the context of the university-wide mission and vision, I'd like us to speak with a common voice. To some degree, the exercise will be a bit like herding cats and all of us may need to sharpen our negotiating and civil discourse skills. Still, this exercise is intended not to constrain creativity but rather to set the context within which creativity is valued and rewarded.
Once we've come to some resolution about the immediate budget crisis, we'll hold a university forum during which we'll discuss the best way of achieving an inclusive and productive process. We'll also be available to talk to divisions and departments as well as to employee and student groups to be sure that everyone's voice is heard.
Sincerely,
Jim Gaudino
President
The 2009 session of the state Legislature concluded Sunday, April 26 after approving the deepest cuts to public higher education in the history of the state. The budget reduces higher education funding statewide by more than $500 million and estimates the massive cut will result in an enrollment drop system-wide of more than 9,000 FTE.
The two-year operating budget that legislators sent to the governor reduces state support for Central Washington University by $36.9 million and drops state-funded enrollment to 8,477 full-time equivalent students. The budget assumes tuition increases at public baccalaureate institutions of 14 percent in 2009-10 and in 2010-11. The huge cut in funding combined with the steep hike in tuition makes the state a minority "shareholder" in public higher education. For the first time in the history of the state, students shoulder a greater proportion of the cost of education than the state, about 67 percent and 43 percent, respectively.
The capital budget holds much better budget news for CWU. The Legislature provided funding for the first phase of the addition to and renovation of the Hogue Technology Building. The $27.3 million in the capital budget will allow Central to construct an addition to the Hogue Technology Building into which students can move during the second phase of the project: the renovation of the old building.
During the legislative session the governor appointed and the Senate confirmed former Washington State Patrol Chief Annette Sandberg as the newest member of the CWU Board of Trustees. The CWU alumna is currently the president of TransSafe Consulting, LLC.
The Legislature also approved and has sent to the governor the following changes in higher education policy:
- SB 5173, authorizing the regional universities to confer honorary doctorate degrees.
- SB 5276, which lifts the state rule that only the University of Washington and Washington State University may offer civil, mechanical, and chemical engineering degrees and that only the UW may offer aeronautic and astronautic engineering.
- HB 2119, which adds several guidelines for dual credit programs: imposes dual credit program reporting requirements; codifies the College in the High School program; allows four-year institutions to charge Running Start students technology fees only; and provides for low-income fee waivers.
- HB 1025, which requires boards of trustees to adopt rules requiring bookstores to disclose information to students on required course materials at least four weeks before the start of the class for which the materials are required.
- HB 1328, which allows technical colleges to offer associate transfer degrees that prepare students for entry into "professional fields": those that prepare students for a specific field or occupation including engineering, engineering technology, pre-nursing, business, construction management, and teacher preparation for secondary education in science, technology, and math areas.
CWU TOP STORIES
COACH, WIFE HONORED AT SOFTBALL FIELD DEDICATION
On April 18, the CWU softball field was renamed and dedicated to honor Coach Gary Frederick and his late wife, Bobbi. The field renaming efforts were spearheaded by current members of the CWU softball program and financed by contributions from several donors, including Frederick's five children. The renaming of the field had been kept a secret from Gary, and it was the highlight of the ceremony when the new name was revealed to him.
Several hundred people attended the emotional dedication ceremony, many wearing yellow t-shirts purchased to support the fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease), the disease that claimed Bobbi's life last year. The team has also been wearing yellow armbands with the initials "B.F." throughout the entire 2009 season. Yellow was Bobbi's favorite color.
Dr. Gary Frederick, who is in his fifteenth year as the head softball coach at Central, has been with Central as a student-athlete, coach, or athletic administrator for forty-five years. Gary is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame, and a three-time inductee into the CWU Athletics Hall of Fame. He was inducted as an individual into the CWU Hall of Fame in 1999 and has also been inducted as the coach of two Wildcat teams: the 1968 baseball team and the 1987-88 women's basketball squad. Both teams made their program's first-ever national tournament appearance under his guidance.
Central has had its most successful softball season in school history this spring, already setting a new single-season record with thirty victories and vying for the program's first-ever conference championship. With four games remaining, the Wildcats are currently three games out of place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a 26-10 league record (30-19 overall).
EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED AT AWARDS CEREMONY
On April 7, 103 CWU employees, representing 1,730 years of service were honored at the annual service awards ceremony, held in the SURC Ballroom. In addition to the awards for service years, the Employee Council named Elaine Ames, operations and marketing manager for University Housing and New Student Programs, as CWU's employee of the year. Ames has been with CWU for twenty years and is recognized for being levelheaded, extremely organized and having a 'can-do' spirit. Among many other accomplishments, she initiated the popular Movers and Shakers program, which coordinates volunteers to help freshmen move into the residence halls in the fall. The employee of the year program was established in 1997 to recognize the accomplishments of one civil service employee annually from among twelve monthly winners. Ames was the October 2008 employee of the month. She will receive a plaque and $2,500 from the Office of the President at the university's spring honors convocation.
The Multimedia Technology and Instruction staff were the winners of the Team of Distinction Award for 2008. The team includes David Kaufman, team supervisor, Chris Smart, Rick Spencer, Jane Chinn, Terri Covey, Obie O'Brien, Lee Shapiro, Steve Douglas, Kevin Whitaker, Kathy Vincent, Kurt Newman, and Karen Allen. The team provides "contemporary information technology services, support, and resources to faculty, students, and academic staff in the pursuit of their instructional, scholarly and service activities, and professional duties." They also introduced iTunes U to the campus and assisted with the integration of course management tools with Safari. The staff also developed new assessment and document management software applications not available in the marketplace.
CHAVEZ NAMED FEBRUARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
The university's civil service employee council named Lorraine Chavez, human resources representative, February'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 Chavez said:
- "While interacting with Lorraine, one always feels as if they are being heard. She listens attentively, asks poignant questions and provides high-quality, constructive feedback."
- "Because Lorraine's attention to detail is remarkable, she was asked to respond to a state auditor questioning the university's mathematical calculations when correcting an underpayment of an overtime issue. She graphed out the mathematical calculations and prepared a visual aid. When she met with the auditor she showed him the graph and visual aid, explained the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) formulas built into the spreadsheet she had designed. She satisfactorily explained the method used by the university and verified that the method used was in compliance with the FLSA."
- "Many of her colleagues speak highly of the breadth of her knowledge in her professional field. If there was a side that she would err on, it would be that she is far too conscientious and competent in this arena making her an invaluable asset to the State of Washington and Central Washington University community."
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 www.cwu.edu/~hr/forms/eotmnominate.html.
KLUGH, BRIDES CONCLUDE PAPSS 2009 SEASON
Acoustic guitar player Earl Klugh will perform at the Music Building Concert Hall, at 7:30 p.m. on May 7. The artist has performed worldwide, collaborated with top musicians, and has been nominated for thirteen Grammy Awards. In 1980, he won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance for his album, One on One. Tickets for Klugh's performance are $25 for reserved seating, $20 for general admission, and $10 for students.
The 2008-09 Performing Arts and Presidential Speaker Series (PAPSS) concludes in May with the musical production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers by the CWU Theatre Ensemble. Dr. Terri Brown, director of CWU's Musical Theatre minor, will helm the production. The production kicks off on May 7 at 7 p.m. in McConnell Auditorium. Additional show times are May 8, 14-16 at 7 p.m., May 9 and 17 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $10 for students and seniors, and $5 for CWU students with ID.
For tickets to these performances, go to the Web site www.cwu.edu/president/series/2008/index.html, visit the ticket office in the SURC, or call ext. 1301.
BLESI NAMED STUDENT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
President's Office student assistant Lauren Blesi has been selected as Central's 2009 Student Employee of the Year. A senior majoring in philosophy, she has been employed at the President's Office for two years.
A Tacoma native, Blesi performs a wide variety of tasks in the President's Office, including reception and communication duties, preparation for board meetings, research, and close collaboration with members of the President's Advisory Council. Her colleagues commend her for the high quality of her work, professional conduct, and communication skills. Blesi will graduate in June and is planning to pursue a PhD in bioethics. She looks forward to a career that merges her interest in the medical field with her passion for philosophy.
Blesi will be honored at the David Wain Coon Center for Excellence in Leadership Evening of Recognition on May 20. Her nomination has also been forwarded to the Washington State Association of Student Employment Administrators (WSASEA) for submission into the WSASEA 2009 Student Employee of the Year Competition.
WILDCAT BATTALION HONORED BY GOVERNOR
Governor Chris Gregoire honored the CWU Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), which was named the most outstanding battalion of the nation's 277 Senior Army ROTC programs for the 2007-08 school year. Governor Gregoire's proclamation named April 17 Central Washington University ROTC Recognition Day in the state of Washington. In December, the United States Army Cadet Command at Fort Monroe, Virginia, announced that the CWU Wildcat Battalion had earned the Award for Excellence from the Order of the Founders and Patriots of America. The Order officially bestowed the award upon the CWU ROTC program on April 29 during a ceremony at the Ellensburg campus.
CWU KEEPING WATCH ON SWINE FLU OUTBREAK
Central Washington University is carefully monitoring the outbreak of swine flu. CWU has an emergency management plan in place, and the university will continue to track the outbreak. Information about the swine flu virus in the state of Washington will be quickly communicated to Central through the Kittitas County Health Department via Central's Health Center, Emergency Management, and Public Relations.
Continue to practice normal precautions of hand washing, covering your mouth when coughing, and staying home when sick, especially with fever. To find more information on swine flu, visit the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov/swineflu/ or the Washington State Department of Health Web site at www.doh.wa.gov/swineflu/facts.htm.
ANNUAL RECEPTION TO HONOR CWU RETIREES
CWU faculty, staff and administrators who have retired or will retire between July 1, 2008 and August 31, 2009 will be the guests of honor at the sixteenth Annual President's Retiree Reception on Monday, May 11.
President James Gaudino will host the gathering from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Barge Hall, room 412, on the Ellensburg campus. The university and greater Ellensburg communities are invited to attend the reception for the twenty honorees. Those being honored on May 11 are exempt employees Rich Corona, Kevin Higgins, and Zippy Nickerson. Classified staff employees being honored are David Arnaiz, Connie Bennett, Linda Busch, Judy Couture, Sharon Kies, Bill Linder, Kerrie Overland, Wayne Michael Swesey, Rebeccah Thompson, and Clo Ulrich. This year's honored faculty members are Jack Dugan, Corwin King, Connie Roberts, and Gerald Stacy.
ANNUAL MEMORIAL SERVICE HELD MAY 26
CWU Remembers will be held at noon on May 26 in the Music Building Recital Hall. The annual service honors CWU students, current and past employees, elected or appointed officials, and others who died during the previous year. Flags on Central's campus will be lowered to half-mast and will remain lowered for one week following the ceremony to further honor those being remembered.
SYMPOSIUM DISPLAYS RANGE OF INTELLECTUAL AND CREATIVE EFFORTS
Plan to attend the Symposium on University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE) on Thursday, May 21. SOURCE is a university-wide forum that showcases all genres of scholarly work by CWU students, faculty, and staff. The all-day event, which begins at 8 a.m. in the SURC, features an astonishing array of endeavors that include musical performances, oral presentations, poster presentations, and two-and three-dimensional artworks, including video and installation art.
SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCES ON WORLD LANGUAGE DAY
The Department of Foreign Languages seeks volunteers to provide content for its annual World Languages Day, Friday, May 8, from 9 a.m. to noon. The department brings high school students from districts in central Washington to campus for one day of language and cultural activities. The department needs faculty, staff, and community members to share an international experience, a cultural background, or a skill or avocation that may inspire young people to learn languages and cultures beyond their own native experience. For more information, contact Lindsay Groce, groceli@cwu.edu or Joshua S. Nelson at nelsonj@cwu.edu.
MUSEUM WORKSHOP FEATURES ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
The Museum of Culture and Environment will hold its fourth Imagine Our Museum workshop on Thursday, May 7, at 7 p.m. on the first floor of Dean Hall. Karen Bicchieri, CWU's sustainability coordinator and chair of the carbon reduction taskforce will discuss her thoughts on environmental stewardship.
BEER BREWING CLASS HELD MAY 8
The Office of Continuing Education will hold its first craft beer and microbrew tasting class, Friday, May 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary Grupe Center. The course features the beers of the world, their styles, histories, brewing techniques, and more. Participants will taste a number of distinct styles of beers and examine what contributes to their differences. The class fee is $20 and participants must be age 21 or older. To register, call the CWU Office of Continuing Education, ext. 1504 or 800-720-4503. There will be only fifty seats available, so register soon!
WASHINGTON'S BEST VINTAGES OFFERED AT WINE FESTIVAL
CWU's World Wine Program and the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce have partnered to bring the Ellensburg Wine Festival. Approximately thirty Washington wineries will be hosted in eight downtown businesses. There will be wine education presentations and many of the venues will feature live music. The Ellensburg Wine Festival will be held Saturday, May 9, 3 to 7 p.m. To buy tickets, stop by the Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce office at 609 N. Main, or call (509) 925-2002. Tickets are limited. For more information on this Central Washington University and Ellensburg Chamber of Commerce co-sponsored event, visit the Web site: www.ellensburg-chamber.com.
The Washington State House of Representatives honored seven CWU student-athletes on April 6 for their outstanding achievements. Adam BIGHILL (Montesano, football), Lynde CLARKE (Albuquerque, New Mexico, soccer), Tyler FISCHER (Cashmere, track and field), Marcie MULLEN (Lyman, track and field and cross-country), Erin NORRIS (Spokane, volleyball), Johnny SPEVAK (Edgewood, football), and Krissy TANDLE (Wenatchee, track and field) were the second largest group of athletes in the state to receive the honor.
CB students Lauren BAIR, Jeremy MCCANN, Amanda RICE and Jane DIAZ won the Northwest Human Resource Management Association (NHRMA) Case Competition held in Bellingham last month. In addition to Central, there were teams from the University of Washington, Portland State University, Western Washington University and Lake Washington Technical College. In contrast to previous competitions that used a Jeopardy-style game format, this was the first year students competed with case presentations. According to CB Professor Nancy Graber Pigeon, the CWU team was "poised, professional, . . . and overall, very impressive."
Michael BRAUNSTEIN and Sharon ROSELL, physics, attended the annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Association for College Physics at Green River Community College in Auburn, April 3 and 4. As treasurer of the organization, Rosell gave the treasurer's report and attended the Board of Directors' Meeting. Rosell was elected president of the organization and Braunstein was elected to the Board of Directors.
Lila HARPER, English and Graduate Studies, was appointed Senior Bibliographer for the Modern Language Association's International Bibliography. This appointment is reserved for accomplished bibliographers of long-standing who show a high level of scholarship and bibliographic knowledge. Harper has contributed to the International Bibliography since 1996. Additionally, her article on literature and invertebrate marine organisms, "The Starfish that Burns: Gendering the Jellyfish," has been published in Forces of Nature: Natural(-izing) Gender and Gender(-ing) Nature in the Discourses of Western Culture, edited by Bernadette H. Hyner and Precious McKenzie Stearns, Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
Bruce PALMQUIST, physics and science education, along with physics majors Feliciti FREDSTI and Marilyn MAGENIS, wrote, recorded, and produced a podcast for 365 Days of Astronomy. The podcast, called Edward, Annie, And Williamina Discuss Spectral Classification captures a hypothetical discussion between three well-known astronomers from the early 20th century, as they talk about stars and the role of women in science. Listen to it at http://365daysofastronomy.org/2009/04/13/april-13th-edward-annie-and-williamina-discuss-spectral-classification/. Palmquist also gave the invited banquet presentation at the 2009 annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Association of College Physics on April 3, 2009 in Auburn. The presentation, a show in the CWU portable planetarium, was called "100 Hours of Astronomy."
Christopher SCHEDLER, professor, English, gave a presentation on "Engaging the Online Learner through Multi-ethnic Literature" at the Multi-Ethnic Literatures of the United States conference in Spokane on April 2.
CWU EMPLOYEES
Shared Leave Requests
The following individuals are in need of shared leave: Gini Silva, University Housing and New Student Programs; Kerrie Overland, Facilities Management; Melissa Anderson, Student Health and Counseling; Steven Mohr, KCWU Radio; and James Bertella, Dining Services.
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 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.
Exempt New Hires
Cindy Bruns, Psychologist (Coordinator of Training), Health and Counseling; Heather Jones, Financial Aid Counselor, Financial Aid; Ivan Rabak GPS Data Analyst, Pacific Northwest Geodetic Array, Geological Sciences
To view current job openings at CWU, go to www.cwu.edu/~hr/jobs/index.html.