The College of Western Idaho will open Jan. 20 despite a third less enrolled students than expected. The new two-year community college has also already trimmed its budget. Made in response to Gov. Butch Otter’s orders to trim state budgets in 2009, the cuts will mean reductions in administration and infrastructure, not curriculum, CWI President Dennis Griffin said.
The school will have 11 full-time and 45 part-time faculty and an array of classes, from English and French to history and science. The cost for students is $119 per credit hour or $1,428 for 12 to 18 credits.
“We’re going about 9,000 miles an hour,” said Shirl Boyce, CWI executive director of community relations. “When we talk about 1,700 students going to school full time, there are full time equivalents, depending on the credit load. However, it’s important to keep in mind that Jan. 20 is still a few weeks away and that students can register up to 10 days after classes start.”
As of Dec. 15 there were 1,468 applicants, with 666 enrolled, Boyce said.
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“It does take time to get people through the process before a student is officially registered,” Boyce said. “This is also the spring semester when the enrollment is not as high as in fall. Another factor that fuels our optimism is that we track those entering our Web site weekly. Visitors have viewed our applications page over 10,400 times since Aug. 18. We’re watching that closely.”
CWI received an early Christmas present Tuesday, Dec. 23, when the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Foundation announced it was giving a grant of $2.5 million to help CWI with its first year expenses. Another $30,000 will help fund need-based scholarships and another $7.5 million will be set aside in a trust for the college.
In 2007, the foundation pledged to give the Nampa school a total of $10 million, after voters in Ada and Canyon counties narrowly backed a measure to raise taxes and create Idaho's third community college.
The College of Western Idaho is located at 5500 E. University Way, in Nampa. Classes will also be held at Lewis & ClarkMiddle School in Meridian and Frank Church High School in Boise. For more information visit www.cwidaho.cc, or call (208) 562-3500.
