NAMPA, Idaho — It’s official: Two Idaho community colleges will soon offer four-year degrees to students.
The Idaho State Board of Education on Wednesday approved the bachelor’s degree. These are the first programs of their kind in the Gem State.
“We are very grateful for this,” said Gordon Jones, president of College of Western Idaho.
Soon, CWI will offer a Bachelor of Applied Science in Business Administration, a big step for the college.
“This allows you to access a lot of jobs that you didn’t have a bachelor’s degree in,” Jones said. “It’s hard to factor in, and we’re able to do that through the flexibility of a community college. There are a lot of adults, people who may have had some technical education.” Professional and they also do it with the affordability that I know people think about community colleges.”
The State Board of Education also approved two bachelor’s degree programs at the College of Eastern Idaho, headquartered in Idaho Falls. Bachelor of Applied Science in Operations Management as well as Digital Forensics and Analytics.
The approval of the State Council came after a lengthy discussion. Idaho school administrators have for four years opposed the new CWI program, saying it created unnecessary duplication within the higher education system. Community colleges responded by saying they have a different demographic.
“It’s all one family wants. While we have a little disagreement, I think it’s about strengthening our system,” Jones said. Community colleges are really built around the individuals who are often working there, trying to get ahead in life. There is a wide range of people we work with who are not necessarily looking to live on campus. “At CWI, we are a commuter school,” Jones said.
Jones said CWI has unique options for students as a community college.
“We offer a lot of flexibility. Eight-week starts, evening classes, a lot of things that come with realizing that people are trying to continue their education while raising kids, or working, or you’re just not as much of a complexity as we think it’s going to be a great option,” Jones said. “.
Jones emphasized that the cost of their program is competitive compared to a traditional four-year degree.
“We estimate this will total about $18,000 to $19,000, which we think puts this within the affordability range for most Idahoans,” Jones said.
So does this open the door to more four-year degrees from CWI?
“Part of the overall theme of how each institution opens up to serve its population, whether we’re going to have new degrees in the future is something that needs to be talked about. But I promise you it’s going to work, it’s going to be affordable, and it’s going to meet the needs of the community,” Jones said.
So, at CWI, what does an applied bachelor’s degree look like?
“You probably have classes of a vocational technical nature included in your curriculum. So think hands-on, think applied, think project-wise. This positions you with employers. It marries some of the theory and practice of how things happen in the workplace,” he said. Jones: “We think that’s a great trait to learn.” “It’s never a good idea to teach someone how to swim at a whiteboard. Sometimes you have to get in the pool and actually show it.
Jones and the program’s supporters say this is a direct response to professional needs in our Idaho communities.
“These are our neighbors, our friends, people in this community who, if they can participate in this educational journey through like an applied bachelor’s degree, can now compete for well-paying, career-oriented jobs that can actually meet the needs of this,” Jones said. “An economy that our employers say is something they desperately need.”
CWI is working with its accreditor now to coordinate everything, Jones said. We hope to launch the program in the fall of 2024.
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It has been officially announced that two community colleges in Idaho are now approved to offer four-year degree programs. This marks a significant development in the state’s higher education landscape, as it opens up new opportunities for students to pursue advanced education closer to home. With this expansion, students will have access to a broader range of academic offerings and potentially lower costs, making higher education more accessible to a wider population. This decision reflects a growing trend in community colleges across the country and signifies a significant step forward for the Idaho higher education system.