CSI, Western Idaho OK Accreditation Agreement
By Andrea Jackson, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho
Jun. 27–When students graduate from the new College of Western Idaho in Nampa, their diplomas will name both their school and the College of Southern Idaho.
CWI is partnering with CSI for accreditation under an agreement recently approved by both schools’ boards. The agreement will let students at the newly formed Nampa college receive college credit through CSI while CWI becomes accredited.
The CSI board of trustees approved the agreement last week. CSI Board Chairman LeRoy Craig and college President Jerry Beck signed it Thursday and sent it to CWI for their signatures. Beck also provided the Times-News with a copy of the agreement.
CSI will not subsidize Western Idaho. “We won’t spend any CSI money on this,” Beck said. “They’ll need to reimburse us.”
Western Idaho will give CSI monthly fiscal reports, and CSI will charge CWI an overhead of 10 percent for some of its help, the agreement shows.
CSI will oversee Western Idaho academically by: processing curriculum and programs, reviewing instructors and hiring, approving course content, and providing technical assistance. CSI will also help CWI with class schedules, its library, enrollment data, financial aid and academic records, according to the agreement.
CSI won’t provide or bill Western Idaho for worker’s compensation coverage, but will review CWI policies and contracts, according to the agreement.
It remains to be seen if CSI will offer classes at Western Idaho, Beck said.
CWI will hire, employ, supervise, evaluate and compensate its own faculty and staff, which will provide instruction, student support, and administration, according to the agreement.
CSI became accredited about 45 years ago by partnering with the University of Idaho and what is now Boise State University. “It was such a different animal,” Beck said. “It was simpler then.”
Beck said he doesn’t know exactly how long it will take for CWI to become accredited. “What’s in it for us (CSI) is what’s in it for the state of Idaho,” Beck said, adding a third community college will benefit the state. Currently, CSI and Western Idaho are joined by North Idaho College in the state’s community college ranks.
The annual agreement takes hold once the last signature is applied.
If CSI and CWI have a dispute about their relationship they will employ an independent mediator to resolve the issue, according to the agreement.
Officials from CWI did not return a call Thursday for comment.
Andrea Jackson may be reached at 735-3380 or Andrea.Jackson@lee.net.
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