| College of Western Idaho | |
| Parent: | Idaho State Board of Education[1] |
| President: | Gordon Jones |
| Country: | United States |
| Faculty: | 158 full-time and 307 part-time (fall 2019)[2] |
| Students: | 10,277 (2019)[3] |
| Colors: | River blue and Moss green |
| Mascot: | Otter |
| Campus: | Fringe rural[4] |
| Free Label: | Other campuses |
College of Western Idaho (CWI) is a public community college in Southwest Idaho with its primary 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 120 programs in the areas of Academic Transfer, Dual Credit, Career and Technical Education, Workforce Development, and Adult Education. In fall of 2023, CWI served 21,359 credit students and 14,951 noncredit students. CWI reported the gender of their students to be 55% female and 45% male. Idaho residents comprised 98% of CWI's student population and Ada County residents were 49%, while 28% were Canyon County residents.[5]
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.[6]
In July 2007, the Idaho State Board of Education selected an initial five-member board of trustees.[7] The following month Boise State University faculty member Dennis Griffin was named to a two-year term as the college's first president[8] and 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.[9]
In January 2010, CWI applied for accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). NWCCU granted candidacy status at the associate degree level in 2012 and initial accreditation in 2016.
President Griffin retired in August 2009 and was succeeded by Bert Glandon.[10] 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 the interim president.
CWI Board of Trustees extended an offer to Gordon Jones on Dec. 9, 2021 to be the next president at College of Western Idaho.[11] Gordon Jones accepted the position of President at CWI and began his tenure as the third president in CWI's history on Jan. 10, 2022.[12]
CWI selected the otter as the official mascot in January of 2022.[13]
The college's catchment area includes the all of the following counties: Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Gem, Payette, Valley, and Washington. It also includes portions of Elmore and Owyhee counties. Ada and Canyon counties are the taxation zone for the college.[14]
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.
CWI's primary campuses are located in Boise and Nampa.[15] CWI's Nampa Campus has been created around the former Boise State West Campus, which sits on approximately 100acres.
Ada County Campus
Lynx Building - 9300 W. Overland Road, Boise, Idaho
Mallard Building - 9100 W. Black Eagle Drive, Boise, Idaho
Pintail Center - 1360 South Eagle Flight Way, Boise, Idaho
Quail Building - 1450 S. Eagle Flight Way, Boise, Idaho
Canyon County Center - 2407 Caldwell Boulevard, Nampa, Idaho
CWI Horticulture - 2444 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, Idaho
Nampa Campus
Academic Building - 5500 E. Opportunity Drive, Nampa, Idaho
Administration Building - 6056 Birch Lane, Nampa, Idaho
Aspen Classroom Building- 6002 Birch Lane, Nampa, Idaho
Micron Education Center - 5725 E. Franklin Road, Nampa, Idaho
Multipurpose Building - 6042 Birch Lane, Nampa, Idaho
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:
CWI has a soccer club for students.[16]
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.