L E TEACHING, A RESEARCH, R SERVICE N COMMUNITY IS ‘AT I THE CORE’OF HIGHER N EDUCATION G BY ALX STE VENS
Any public institution is built for service to its community. That’s what President Marlene Tromp says about Boise State University, even before COVID-19 inspired the university to come up with even more ways to help the Treasure Valley. Lately, while building face shields for front line workers, researching coronavirus testing possibilities and updating a statewide COVID-19 cases map—among other projects geared for addressing the pandemic—the university has also been developing tiny pieces of technology that can be used in surgery to help people gain mobility despite physical ailments. Additionally, multiple departments—biology, sociology, engineering and political science—all contribute to the purity of water and its possible outcomes. “You can’t address that issue with just biologists; you need engineers, sociologists, political scientists ... you have to have an approach that cuts across many areas,” Tromp said. “When you think about the impact it could make if we had breakthroughs, that’s life changing for the people it would affect,” she added. That’s just a taste of what’s happening at Boise State, and we can’t forget institutionalized community service is also taking place at the Treasure Valley’s largest community college, College of Western Idaho. Like the university it prepares many students to attend, College of Western Idaho extends its population, knowledge and facilities resources to the greater Treasure Valley community, impacting workforce development and economic growth to how each individual student will play a significant role in their communities. “The college really pushes lifelong learning to students,” said Mark Browning, vice president of college relations. “And we encourage our employees to do the same. I think that makes good leaders; they learn how to learn and then they learn how to teach.” BOISEWEEKLY ANNUAL MANUAL 2020-2021
C OURTESY BOISE STATE UNIVERSIT Y
Many at CWI thought they would be past the pandemic right now, back in classrooms full-time and resuming their annual service activities like neighborhood cleanup projects. Now, conversations around how to best support students and continue aiding the Treasure Valley are shifting. “We’re planning [on] being in a pandemic in spring 2021,” Browning said. “If [you] start looking at one to two years long-term approach, ‘How do we keep involvement in local chambers and service organizations?’ That’s something we’ll be looking at with other community partners that are going to have the same challenges … because we’re all in it together.”
IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL AT CWI
Despite the challenges and necessary adaptations posed by COVID-19, the College of Western Idaho continues to pride itself in affordable education for students and tailored service to the community. CWI has a multifaceted approach to benefitting the local economy: Offering dual-credit for high school students at $75 per credit compared to $139 per credit. “Those who take dual credit, when they come to college, they’re better prepared ... and they complete in a better time frame,” Browning said. “We look at that as investing in Idaho.” Consulting as an “expert resource” in various fields and with multiple institutions, such as for public transportation with Valley Regional Transit and business needs with Boise Valley Economic Partnership. And, partnering with local businesses, such as St. Luke’s, Saint Alphonsus and Western States CAT, to prepare workforce ready graduates, and provide additional industry training that may not necessarily result in college credit.
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