CWI Fast Facts

CWI MISSION:

College of Western Idaho is committed to empowering students to succeed by providing affordable and accessible education to advance the local and global workforce.

CWI VISION:

The College of Western Idaho will be a best-in-class community college that provides quality, affordable, and accessible education by delivering innovative and cost-effective programming that empowers students, leads to economic and social mobility, and meets evolving community needs.

2024 – 2026 Strategic Plan Goals, Objectives, & Indicators of Achievement

GOAL #1

Advance Student Success by Optimizing the Student Lifecycle

Undifferentiated Outcomes for All

INDICATORS OF ACHIEVEMENT

Increase Enrollment

Improve IPEDS Retention Rates

Improve IPEDS 150% Graduation Rate

Improve Transfer Rate

Increase Attatined Secondary School Diploma and Enrolled in PostSecondary Education or Training Rate

Improve IPEDS 150% Graduation

Rate Equity Gaps

GOAL #2

Affordable and Accessible Education

OBJECTIVES

Deliver Quality, Affordable Education

Ensure Accessible Education

INDICATORS OF ACHIEVEMENT

CWI Tuition & Fees and Peer Comparison

CWI IPEDS Average Net Price and Peer Comparison

GOAL #3

Advance the Local and Global Workforce

OBJECTIVE

Meet Evolving Workforce Needs

INDICATORS OF ACHIEVEMENT

Open-Access Institution Provide Flexible Delivery Options

Increase Job Placement Rates

Increase Program Completions Associated with High-Wage / High-Demand Jobs

Deliver Workforce Development Programs to Meet Business Needs

OF ACHIEVEMENT

GOAL #4 OBJECTIVE

Foster a High-Performing Organization Driven by a Culture of Engagement, Respect, and Accountability

OF ACHIEVEMENT

Maintain Employee Engagement

Improve Inclusive and Welcoming Environment Student Survey Score

Improve Engagement Student Survey Score

Improve Respect Student Survey Score

College of Western Idaho conducted an environmental scan to identify national and regional drivers, market impacts, and trends currently affecting higher education. Economic, political, financial, technological, and environmental factors are included in the scan. The goal of the environmental scan is to identify potential threats and opportunities in the external environment so CWI can proactively develop strategies to meet specific goals and objectives.

There’s a national conversation centered around the value and cost of college. Student debt and affordability are two closely related issues that affect students across the nation and at CWI. Student debt refers to the amount of money people borrow to finance their education, while affordability refers to the ability of individuals to pay for the cost of education without incurring excessive debt. One of the main challenges of student debt is it can become a significant hardship for college graduates, and students bear the burden. Another challenge is funding disparities between community colleges and universities.

VS

Higher education institutions must adjust to post-pandemic reality and demands. Many postsecondary institutions were forced to rapidly transition from in-person to online learning.

This sudden shift created challenges for both students and faculty, such as technological barriers and the need to adjust to new modes of instruction. The pandemic has highlighted disparities in access to technology, with students from lower-income backgrounds or rural areas often enduring limited access to reliable internet and technology. This has made it difficult for some Idaho students to fully participate in online learning.

The rise of educational substitutes and alternatives are transforming the higher education landscape. Several factors are contributing to the decline in traditional degree enrollment and the changing preferences of students. Some trends and factors contributing to this includes cost and time to degree completion, the need for greater flexibility, focus on skill-based education, and availability of alternative options. The educational landscape is becoming more diverse and dynamic; challenging higher education to offer a range of options to meet various learning needs and career aspirations.7

Despite early worries about its effectiveness, the mass experiment forced upon higher education by the pandemic has revealed that students are embracing online learning. 8

Institutions must adapt to this new reality by investing in training for instructors, additional staff and services, online infrastructure, and solid online and hybrid pedagogies.9

Students must have online access to take advantage of new hybrid/online learning opportunities. Idaho’s patchy network limits opportunities for students learning in very rural areas.10

EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES ARE INCREASING

The alternative credentials market for higher education is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18% from

18%

The Treasure Valley is experiencing significant and rapid population growth, which results in opportunities and challenges.

The Treasure Valley is one of the fastest-growing areas in the country and has a rapidlyshifting population. Ada and Canyon counties grew 8% from 2020 to 2022 (726,000 to over 781,000).12

If growth continues at 7%, the Treasure Valley’s population rate will double in a decade.12

The Hispanic population growth in Idaho outpaces any other population growth in the state. From 2010 - 2019, the Hispanic population in Canyon County increased 31% and increased 47% in Ada County.13

From 2000-2019, Idaho’s Hispanic population grew 126%.13

Total employment in Idaho reached a new high of 854,474 in 2022. Idaho is projected to add 126,000 jobs by 2030, or 16% total growth.14