College of Western Idaho

College of Western Idaho

Type	Public community college
Established	2007
Academic affiliations	Space-grant
President
Academic staff	158 Full-time and 307 Part-time (Fall 2019)[1]
Students	10,277 (2019)[2]
Location	Nampa , Idaho , United States
Campus	Urban, 101 acres
Colors	Dark burgundy, light gold
Website	http://cwi.edu/

College of Western Idaho (CWI) is a public community college in Southwest Idaho with its main campus locations in Boise and Nampa. CWI also offers classes at several community locations throughout the Treasure Valley. It is one of four comprehensive community colleges in Idaho and is governed by a five-member board of trustees elected at large by voters in Ada and Canyon counties.

CWI offers over 60 academic transfer and professional-technical programs leading to an Associate of Arts or Science degree, Associate of Applied Science degrees, and certificates. CWI also offers basic skills education to help upgrade skills, prepare for the GED, and learn English, as well as dual credit for high school students and fast-track career training for working professionals or people seeking to enter the workforce. In the fall of 2019, CWI's enrollment was 31,350 with 20,576 credit students and 10,774 students taking non-credit courses. Ada County residents made up 52% of the CWI student body, while 31% of students come from Canyon County.^[3]

History[]

Prior to the creation of CWI, Boise was one of the largest metropolitan statistical areas in the United States without a community college. CWI was created on May 22, 2007, when voters of Canyon and Ada counties passed a measure to allow the formation of the new community college district. In June 2007, the Albertson Foundation announced it was donating $10 million to help found the college.^[4]

In July 2007, the Idaho State Board of Education selected an initial five-member board of trustees.^[5] The following month Boise State University faculty member Dennis Griffin was named to a two-year term as the college's first president.^[6] Griffin retired in August 2009, and was succeeded by Bert Glandon.^[7]After serving as president for 12 years, Glandon retired from CWI on May 15, 2021. The College's Board of Trustees named Denise Aberle-Cannata as Interim President while the Board completes a national search for a new president.

CWI began offering academic classes on January 20, 2009, with an enrollment of over 1,100 students. In the summer of 2009 the professional-technical programs from Boise State University's Selland College of Applied Technology transitioned to CWI. By the fall 2009 semester, CWI enrollment had expanded to over 3,600 students.^[8]

In January 2010, CWI began its quest for independent accreditation as the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) approved the college's Application for Consideration for Candidacy. CWI took its next step toward accreditation on January 11, 2012, when the NWCCU granted Candidacy for Accreditation status at the associate degree level. Effective September 1, 2016, the NWCCU granted initial accreditation to CWI at the associate degree level. CWI is now in a seven-year accreditation cycle, which includes periodic evaluations and site visits from the NWCCU.

Other Milestones

• May 2010 - 400 students participate in CWI's first graduation ceremony at Nampa Campus
• July 2010 - CWI Foundation receives 501(c)(3) nonprofit status
• May 2012 - U.S. Department of Education approves CWI to begin participating in Federal Student Aid Programs independently
• August 2012 - CWI opens new Micron Center for Professional Technical Education, moving nine professional-technical programs from the Boise State University campus
• November 2012 - CWI Board of Trustees members Mary Niland, Mark Dunham, and Guy Hurlbutt are re-elected
• August 2013 - CWI Nursing Program approved for initial accreditation with the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing
• November 2013 - The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education approves the start-up of a Physical Therapist Assistant consortium program delivered by CWI, College of Southern Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, and North Idaho College
• September 2016 - NWCCU granted initial accreditation to CWI at the associate degree level
• October 2019 - CWI receives very positive feedback after its NWCCU mid-cycle accreditation site visit

Student life[]

CWI has a growing campus life with over 30 student clubs and organizations. Student clubs have been created with academic focus as well as special interests. Student groups range from art to physics, horticulture, psychology, Glee, Birdies and Bogies, a Veterans Association, and more.

The Associated Students of the College of Western Idaho (ASCWI) serve as the voice of the student body. ASCWI is governed by five officers and eight senators elected by the student body each spring.

CWI students participate in competitive, skills-based organizations like Business Professionals of America, SkillsUSA, and Speech and Debate. CWI students have found success at state, regional, and national levels in all three organizations. CWI Speech and Debate captured seven Pi Kappa Delta Community College National Championships in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018. Students have earned individual medals at national skills competitions as well.

Students have the opportunity to engage on campus through the CWI Presidential Ambassador Program, which promotes leadership and connects students to campus and community events. Students are eligible to receive a scholarship as part of this program.

Locations[]

CWI's primary campuses are located in Boise and Nampa.^[9] CWI's Nampa Campus has been created around the former Boise State West Campus, which sits on approximately 100 acres (0.40 km²).

Ada County Campus

Lynx Building - 9300 W. Overland Road, Boise, Idaho

• One Stop Student Services

Mallard Building - 9100 W. Black Eagle Drive, Boise, Idaho

• Academic Transfer Courses
• Basic Skills Education Programs
• Community Learning Center

Pintail Center - 1360 South Eagle Flight Way, Boise, Idaho

• Academic Transfer Courses
• Career Technical Education Programs
• Library
• Tutoring
• Math Solutions Center

Quail Building - 1450 S. Eagle Flight Way, Boise, Idaho

• Advising
• Career and Technical Education Programs
• Workforce Development Health Courses

Canyon County Center - 2407 Caldwell Boulevard, Nampa, Idaho

• Academic Transfer Courses
• Career and Technical Education Programs
• Basic Skills Education Programs
• Business Partnerships / Workforce Development Courses
• One Stop Student Services (limited services)
• Tutoring
• Community Learning Center
• Advising

CWI Horticulture - 2444 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, Idaho

• Horticulture Technology Program

Nampa Campus

Academic Building - 5500 E. Opportunity Drive, Nampa, Idaho

• Academic Transfer Courses
• Advising
• Student Life Center
• Tutoring
• Math Solutions Center

Administration Building - 6056 Birch Lane, Nampa, Idaho

• Administrative Offices

Aspen Classroom Building- 6002 Birch Lane, Nampa, Idaho

• Academic Transfer Courses
• Boise State Center

Micron Education Center - 5725 E. Franklin Road, Nampa, Idaho

• Career and Technical Education Programs
• Academic Transfer Courses
• One Stop Student Services
• Workforce Development Courses
• Advising
• Bookstore
• Assessment and Testing Center
• Tutoring

Multipurpose Building - 6042 Birch Lane, Nampa, Idaho

• Library
• Advising
• Early Childhood Education Program

Academics[]

CWI offers over 100 majors through Academic Transfer and Professional Technical Education programs, Basic Skills Education, and fast-track career training for working professionals. Students can choose from a variety of transfer programs with 27 different majors that can result in Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees. CWI provides a number of free programs designed to upgrade basic skills, prepare for the GED, or learn to speak English. Through its Business Partnerships / Workforce Development division, CWI provides short-term training designed to boost job skills and earn certifications that professionals need. CWI also offers a number of short-term online courses, as well as customized training options for businesses, and opportunities for students to earn college credits while still in high school through the college's Dual Credit and Tech Prep programs. CWI's Professional Technical Education programs are designed to provide comprehensive training in just four to 24 months so that students can move on to an exciting new career. CWI offers 32 professional-technical programs that can result in Associate of Applied Science degrees, advanced technical certificates, technical certificates, and postsecondary technical certificates.

The CWI Division of Instruction is organized into 6 Schools:

• School of Arts and Humanities
• School of Business, Communication, and Technology
• School of Health
• School of Industry, Engineering, and Trades
• School of Math and Science
• School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs

Athletics[]

CWI does not currently offer athletics and does not have an official mascot but is considering adopting one (and has had an unofficial mascot of a Unicorn).^[10]

CWI Foundation[]

As the only charitable, nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting CWI, the CWI Foundation plays a vital role in helping the college meet its diverse missions. The foundation works in partnership with the community to help students access education by awarding scholarships, providing start-up funds for new educational programs, and funding the long-term capital plans to support growth and provide vital educational opportunities for the community.

References[]

External links[]

• Official website

Coordinates: 43°36′51″N 116°30′26″W / 43.61417°N 116.50722°W / 43.61417; -116.50722