At CWI’s inception in 2007, Boise was the last metropolitan area in the country lacking a community college. In March of that year, the Idaho Legislature appropriated funds for the college. Later that May, a supermajority of voters in Canyon and Ada counties voted to form a community college district. With the monetary support of the Albertson Foundation and the appointment by the Idaho State Board of Education of CWI’s first Board of Trustees, the College of Western Idaho was launched. CWI acquired the programs, personnel, and property of the recently defunct Selland College and officially opened its doors to students at its main campus on what was formerly Boise State University’s West Campus.
Milestones
2007
May 22, 2007
Supermajority of Ada and Canyon County voters passed referendum to establish a community college district, enabling the creation of the College of Western Idaho (CWI).
July 17, 2007
Board of Trustees for CWI appointed.
July 30, 2007
First Board of Trustees meeting held.
August 7, 2007
Dennis Griffin named president for CWI.
2008
January 14, 2008
College of Western Idaho (CWI) welcomes its first students; initially offering a wide selection of certificate classes and fast track career training non-credit programs.
June 2008
A Memorandum of Agreement between the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) and CWI is signed. The MOA provides accreditation oversight by CSI as CWI pursues its own independent accreditation.
July 15, 2008
Trustee’s approve the 2008-09 Schedule of Tuition Fees, establishing the per credit fee at $119.
January – October 2008
Comprehensive Strategic Planning process to reflect the values of a locally owned and controlled community college.
November 2008
Hagler and Associates deliver Strategic Plan to Board of Trustees for approval.
2009
January 20, 2009
College of Western Idaho (CWI) welcomes 1,208 students to campus for its first semester with academic classes.
Summer 2009
Boise State University professional-technical programs and Selland College of Applied Technology staff transition to CWI.
July 13, 2009
Dr. Berton L. Glandon begins his tenure as the second president of CWI.
Fall 2009
CWI’s Professional Technical Education programs start classes.
2010
January 2010
The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) approved College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Application for Consideration for Candidacy.
May 2010
CWI students earn the College’s first-ever national awards, returning with 13 medals from the Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference.
May 17, 2010
Nearly 400 students participate in CWI’s first graduation ceremony held on the front lawn of the Nampa Campus Academic Building.
June 2010
CWI students earn two bronze medals at SkillsUSA National Conference.
July 2010
CWI Foundation receives 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Fall 2010
CWI introduces Business Partnerships/Workforce Development division.
2011
March 2011
J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation provides initial $6 million investment to secure center in Nampa for nine professional-technical programs.
March 30, 2011
CWI Speech and Debate wins national community college championship.
May 11, 2011
CWI takes home nine medals, including one first-place finish, at Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference.
May 13, 2011
CWI hosts its second graduation ceremony, which celebrates nearly 570 degree students and 200 GED and apprentice candidates.
2012
January 2012
College of Western Idaho (CWI) names new professional-technical facility the Micron Center for Professional Technical Education in recognition of a $2.5 million gift from the Micron Foundation.
February 2012
CWI granted candidacy status for accreditation by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).
March 18, 2012
CWI Speech and Debate captures second-consecutive national community college championship.
April 29, 2012
CWI students earn 10 awards, including three first-place trophies, at Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference.
May 12, 2012
Nearly 670 degrees and 1,400 GED and apprentice completers are celebrated at CWI’s third commencement ceremony.
May 22, 2012
CWI celebrates five-year anniversary since vote passed to establish the community college district, allowing for the creation of the College.
May 24, 2012
U.S. Department of Education approves CWI to begin participating in Federal Student Aid Programs independently.
June 27, 2012
Four CWI students earn top-10 awards at SkillsUSA National Conference.
July 20, 2012
The NWCCU approves CWI to offer six Associate of Arts degrees fully online.
August 2012
New Micron Center for Professional Technical Education opens for classes in Nampa.
August 2012
Nampa Campus expands with the opening of CWI’s Aspen Classroom Building.
November 6, 2012
CWI Board of Trustee members – Mary Niland, Mark Dunham, and Guy Hurlbutt – are re-elected.
2013
Spring 2013
College of Western Idaho (CWI) expands facilities with the opening of the Nampa Campus Multipurpose Building.
March 18, 2013
CWI Speech and Debate earns third-consecutive national community college championship.
May 12, 2013
CWI students earn 18 awards, including four third-place trophies, at Business Professionals of America (BPA) National Leadership Conference.
May 18, 2013
CWI honors 861 degree and certificate graduates and 1,500 GED candidates.
June 28, 2013
Two CWI students earn top-10 finishes at SkillsUSA National Conference.
2014
January 2014
The Boise State Center at CWI opens at the Nampa Campus Aspen Classroom Building to provide expanded transfer support to CWI students.
March 23, 2014
CWI Speech and Debate earns a runner-up finish in the community college division at national conference.
May 4, 2014
Students with CWI’s Business Professionals of America chapter win 13 awards, including four top-three finishes, at national competition.
May 17, 2014
CWI celebrates 1,112 degree and certificate candidates at fifth commencement ceremony.
June 27, 2014
CWI student earns second-place finish at SkillsUSA national event.
July 2014
CWI completes an extensive update to its Nampa Campus Master Plan.
Summer 2014
CWI expands its presence in Boise with the addition of three buildings at the College’s Ada County Campus.
Fall 2014
CWI hosts the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) for its second accreditation visit.
Fall 2014
Renovation of CWI’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education receives national recognition for Outstanding Design by American Schools and Universities Magazine.
November 4, 2014
CWI Board of Trustee, Stanley Bastian, is re-elected while Emily Walton is elected to her first term on the Board.
2015
February 3, 2016
Lewis-Clark State College and CWI announce transfer agreement, LC Express.
March 8, 2015
College of Western Idaho (CWI) Speech and Debate captures its fourth national community college championship in five years.
May 9, 2015
Over 1,100 degree and certificate candidates, along with GED completers, are honored at CWI’s annual spring commencement ceremony.
April 2015
CWI Board of Trustees approve entering into an agreement to purchase land in Boise at the corner of Main Street and Whitewater Blvd.
May 2015
CWI students earn three first-place finishes at Business Professionals of America national event.
June 2015
CWI Board of Trustees approves moving forward with purchase of 32.5 acres directly north of the College’s Nampa Campus Academic Building.
July 2015
CWI student secures silver medal in Internetworking competition at national SkillsUSA conference.
August 2015
Math095, a new method for teaching college prep math, is introduced at CWI.
September 2015
University of Idaho and CWI announce a new transfer partnership, VandaLink.
December 7, 2015
CWI Board of Trustees decides to continue forward with land purchase in Boise.
December 10, 2015
The CWI Law Enforcement program is granted full certification by the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training.
2016
January 2016
The CWI Paramedic program is approved for initial accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
March 20, 2016
CWI Speech and Debate places second among community colleges at national tournament; marking the sixth consecutive year with a top-two finish.
April 14, 2016
The first campus art project, Spirit of Collaboration, is unveiled at CWI’s Micron Center for Professional Technical Education.
May 7, 2016
CWI celebrates a record 1,293 degree and certificate candidates at commencement ceremony.
May 2016
Students with CWI’s Business Professionals of America chapter earned one gold medal, two runner-up finishes, and a third-place award at the national conference.
June 2016
Members of CWI’s SkillsUSA chapter won medals in a school record five events, including the College’s first gold medal, at nationals.
July 26, 2016
First class of graduates from CWI’s Law Enforcement program are recognized in a ceremony.
August 2016
CWI finalizes a new Comprehensive Strategic Plan to guide the College in fiscal years 2017 through 2021.
September 6, 2016
Board of Trustees vote in favor of placing a general obligation bond on the November 2016 ballot for campus development in Boise and Nampa.
September 29, 2016
CWI and Idaho State University formally launch transfer partnership, Bengal Bound.
October 5-7, 2016
CWI welcomes representatives from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities for a year seven site visit.
November 8, 2016
CWI’s proposed bond measure falls short of two-thirds majority vote needed to pass.
November 8, 2016
CWI Trustees Mary Niland and Mark Dunham are re-elected, while C.A. “Skip” Smyser is elected to his first term on the Board.
2017
February
- CWI signs transfer partnership with Southern New Hampshire University & Excelsior College
- Proclamation signing by Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter, declaring Feb. 6, College of Western Idaho Day
March
- SCORE Big Scholarship established (funded through employee giving)
- CWI Speech and Debate team brings home fifth community college national championship (50th Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) Biennial National Tournament)
April
- SkillsUSA finishes state competition with 15 gold medals, sending 13 competitors to nationals
- Media Arts students published on the award-winning independent journalism site, Project Censored
May
- Physical Therapist Assistant program receives full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
- President Bert Glandon honored with the Idaho Business Review CEO of Influence Award
- Assessment & Testing granted National College Testing Association (NCTA) certification
- CWI celebrates 1465 degree and certificate candidates with 10 AA degrees awarded to Dual Credit students
- CWI raised $3,661 to fight childhood cancer through the St. Baldrick’s Foundation
August
- 12 New Degree Programs offered for fall enrollment
- Expanded hours in One Stop Student Services
- New Advising Strategy
- Integrated Instruction Model
- First ever Ten Year Service Awards presented to two employees
September
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) awards 1.5 million to bring the Bridges to Baccalaureate Program to CWI and Boise State University
November
- CWI and EOU sign a new Memorandum of Understanding strengthening their partnership
- EOU President, Tom Insko, and CWI President, Bert Glan
- Petroglyph Recording Project is completed by the Anthropology Club in collaboration with Canyon County Parks, Cultural and Natural Resources
- CWI generates $102.1 million annually to the economy, reported from the EMSI Economic Impact Study
2018
January
- Early Childhood Education Preschool earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), a first for Canyon County
February
- CWI & CapEd Credit Union partner for the Matched Education Savings Account (MESA) program
March
- Jacob Tenorio, first community college student to win recognition for his Lake Lowell water quality research, at Northwest Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) conference
- Speech and Debate team claims sixth community college national championship at the Pi Kappa Delta (PKD) National Comprehensive Tournament
April
- CWI and OSU Ecampus sign degree pathway agreement
- LatinX students participate in CWI’s first Nuestra Graduacion
May
- Associate of Science Degree in Nursing Pinning Ceremony honors 30 students
- 1952 Degree and Certificate Candidates for graduation and Dual Credit students earned 32 Associates of Arts Degrees
June
- On campus New Student Orientation begins for incoming freshman
August
- CWI is the largest community college in the state serving more than 32,000 students
- Dr. Yolonda Barnes earns certification for Phi Theta Kappa's Leadership Development Studies curriculum
September
- CWI Board of Trustees voted unanimously to place a $39 million plant facility levy on November ballot
- First harvest of the CWI campus garden
November
- Retired Law Enforcement Program Chair LeRoy Forsman, recognized for 2C Spotlight Award - College Educator of the Year
- Health Science Building $39 million levy narrowly fails
- Newly elected trustees Molly Lenty and Annie Hightower join CWI Board of Trustees, C.A. “Skip” Smyser voted in as chairman
2019
January
- CWI Library receives 2019 National Excellence in Academic Libraries by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL)
- CWI’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa honor society attains five star status again
General Information
- Accreditation
- Campus Safety and Security
- Active Aggressor Response
- CWI Alerts Messaging System
- CWI Emergency Handbook
- Campus Safety and Security Policies
- Campus Safety and Security Services
- Crime Prevention and Resources
- Emergency
- Emergency Resources
- Safety and Security Annual Reports
- Student, Faculty and Staff Responsibilities
- Weapons on Campus
- Contact Us
- Diversity
- Facts at a Glance
- File Sharing on the CWI Network
- Frequently Asked Questions
- History
- Locations and Maps
- Mission and Vision
- Planning and Reports
- Public Records Request
- Risk Management
- Student Consumer Information
- Campus Development – Visioning and Planning
- Center for Teaching and Learning
- Student Outcomes Information