Annual Report Fall 2024 by College of Western Idaho

CWI ON THE MOVE

CAMPUS GROWTH

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

GREETINGS,

Our college is on the move like never before! We remain laser-focused on our mission to provide affordable, accessible education that leads to employment and career advancement, continuing to power the Treasure Valley. From the launch of our Otter mascot to innovative instructional approaches and state-of-the-art campus expansion projects, we are responsive to the needs of our community and agile in an ever-evolving educational landscape.

I am especially proud that 98% of our student body hails from Idaho, reflecting our deep connection to the local communities we serve. As a vibrant hub, we understand the vital role lifelong learning plays in driving economic growth. Whether we are helping students launch new careers, navigate their career paths, or adapt to the rapidly

changing landscape of automation and artificial intelligence, our college remains committed to providing education and opportunities for learners at every stage of life. Our goal is to offer a transformative experience that equips our students to thrive in a constantly changing world.

Inspired and driven by the support of our dedicated faculty, staff, and community partners, we will continue building a brighter future for everyone who walks through our doors, providing an education that truly works.

PRESIDENT GORDON JONES

COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO LEADERSHIP

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CHAIRPERSON

zone 2 Serving Since 2018

Trustee Lenty brings over two decades of community relations expertise as Chair of the Board of Trustees. She has fostered a spirit of volunteerism, spearheading community leadership initiatives for several organizations, including the Treasure Valley Education Partnership, Nampa School District, and United Way of Treasure Valley.

▶ mollylenty@cwi.edu

VICE CHAIRPERSON

CHERIE BUCKNER-WEBB

zone 5 Serving Since 2020

Trustee Buckner-Webb, a 5th generation Idahoan, served in the Idaho House of Representatives and the Idaho Senate. Her credo, “leave a legacy,” underscores her commitment to purpose. She serves on many local and national boards, and has received numerous awards in acknowledgment of civic, state, and national service.

▶ cheriebucknerwebb@cwi.edu

PRESIDENT’S CABINET

GORDON JONES

President

208.562.3200 gojones@cwi.edu

RANDI MCDERMOTT

Chief of Staff

208.562.2752

randimcdermott@cwi.edu

SECRETARY/TREASURER

JIM REAMES

zone 3 Serving Since 2021

Driven by a desire to empower individuals and an enthusiasm for finance, Trustee Reames has devoted over two decades to the banking sector. Beyond finance, he dedicates his time to nurturing the next generation, demonstrated by his former role as President of the Nampa Boys and Girls Club board.

▶ jimreames@cwi.edu

DENISE ABERLE-CANNATA

Provost and Vice President, Academic Affairs

208.562.3218 denisecannata@cwi.edu

MARK ARSTEIN

TRUSTEE

NICOLE BRADSHAW

zone 1 Serving Since 2022

Trustee Bradshaw is an awardwinning, strategic healthcare executive with over 30 years of experience. Her personal goal is to be a positive change in our community and support students. She has also served on the Caldwell Historic Preservation Commission, and is a proud member of the Nampa Chamber of Commerce.

▶ nicolebradshaw@cwi.edu

Vice President, Advancement & Chief Development Officer, CWI Foundation

208.562.3035

markarstein@cwi.edu

KEN KLINE

Vice President, Finance & Administration

208.562.3146 kenkline@cwi.edu

GARY SMITH

zone 4 Serving Since 2023

Committed to serving the public good, Trustee Smith has held several leadership roles, including Board Chair for the United Way of Treasure Valley and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Ada County. He is passionate about developing educational pathways, particularly for non-traditional and firstgeneration students.

▶ garysmith@cwi.edu

NIC MILLER

Vice President, Strategy & Operations

208.562.2215

nicmiller@cwi.edu

EMILY TETZ

Vice President, Marketing

208.562.2278 emilytetz@cwi.edu

TRUSTEE

WE BELIEVE

WE BELIEVE IN AFFORDABLE , QUALITY, EMPOWERING EDUCATION FOR ALL.

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.

Vision

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

WHO WE SERVE LARGEST COMMUNITY COLLEGE IN IDAHO

HOW WE SERVE

OUR “WHY”

We believe everyone at CWI has a personal connection to the mission. Working to provide a path to success and a better life for those in our community is our “why” for CWI.

THE CLARITY OF WHY

ADVANCING COMMUNITY NEEDS

CWI is centered in the community it serves and is committed to providing affordable, accessible education to all Idahoans. Opportunities for an educated workforce bolsters the economy, thus fueling our surrounding communities and the entire state of Idaho.

THE DISCIPLINE OF HOW

THE

OPEN, AFFORDABLE ACCESS

We make quality education accessible with 100% admission and affordability unparalleled in the Treasure Valley.

STUDENT-FIRST COMMITMENT

CWI adapts to meet students where they are, one student at a time, regardless of need or circumstance.

INNOVATIVE GROWTH MINDSET

Talent meets talent at CWI. Together, we strive for continuous improvement through creative, leading-edge solutions that equip our students to secure a better future.

CAREER-ORIENTED OUTCOMES

We provide our students with the knowledge, applicable skills, and competitive edge to be employed and thrive in their chosen careers.

LIZA LONG

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT

Idaho State Board of Education recognizes Liza Long as one of two statewide fellows for her work in Generative AI in Higher Education

As students stream into her Writing and Rhetoric class, Professor Liza Long greets each by name and with a smile.

communication advocates for incorporating AI as a supplementary tool — one that’s not too dissimilar from a thesaurus or encyclopedia.

2024 – 2025 Academic Year

From the outset, it’s clear this isn’t a normal English course. “Has anyone tried out Whisper or Otter yet?” She isn’t just name dropping — both Whisper and Otter are well-regarded artificial intelligence (AI) tools, the latter specializing in real-time speech-to-text transcription. “It’s great for notetaking in class,” says Long.

Known for her influence on generative AI in higher education — both within Idaho and across the nation —

Long has a wealth of knowledge in general education, faculty development, writing, and, of course, AI. What stands out to students, thought leaders, and policy makers alike is her passion for enabling students to use every tool and technology available to hone their craft. Long’s practical approach to teaching written

“Writing still matters because you matter. Your thoughts, your voice, and your ability to communicate are uniquely yours. So, the next time you’re tempted to let ChatGPT do the heavy lifting, remember that writing isn’t just about the finished product — it’s about the journey of discovery along the way,” said Long in a recent blog post.

In visiting Long’s English class, you quickly realize the high level of engagement from her students stems from a simple truth — she’s just as excited to learn from them as she is to teach them. “Creating the space where I can support students’ authentic learning and growth is one of the most important things I can do as an educator.”

120+ PROGRAMS OFFERED AT CWI

CWI is committed to supporting individuals at any stage of life, with hundreds of programs and course options to meet the needs of our students and community.

•

ACADEMIC TRANSFER

CWI provides an affordable and quality option to start a four-year degree journey. With 44 programs available, you can earn an associate degree while preparing for a career or transferring to further studies.

44 Academic Transfer programs

51% of Fall 2024 course sections offer Z-degree options¹

DUAL CREDIT

Dual credit allows Idaho high school students to get a head start on their college education, explore interests, save time and money, and discover what college has to offer while in high school.

105 participating Idaho high schools LARGEST DUAL CREDIT PROVIDER IN THE STATE²

13,524 students receiving CWI Dual Credit²

CAREER-TECHNICAL

Our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs offer intensive, quality training on flexible timelines. Our 50 fast-paced, hands-on programs align seamlessly with industry needs, ensuring our graduates earn a degree with a competitive edge; making them top picks for employers.

SERVING

THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CTE STUDENTS IN THE STATE ³

13% increase in CTE student headcount year over year3

¹Z-degree sections are all sections that use either no textbook, an OER textbook or using a textbook that costs less than $30

²Idaho State Board of Education Annual Dual Credit Report, 2023-2024

³Idaho State Board of Education PSR 1 Annual Enrollment Report, 2023-2024

94% positive placement rate4

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT/ ADULT EDUCATION

CWI’s Workforce Development and Adult Education programs provide on-demand essential training and certifications. Our 31 workforce programs aid career advancement and retraining, while our Adult Education programs offer free⁵ classes to boost college readiness, prep for the GED, improve English language skills and more.

450+

Idaho companies actively hiring CWI graduates

6,239 students served by Workforce Development 6

⁴Idaho CTE Fiscal Year 2024 Postsecondary Follow-Up Survey Results for Summer 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023 CTE graduates.

⁵For individuals 16 and older who are not in high school

9% increase in Adult Education students served 7

⁶Workforce Training Network Report, Idaho Career and Technical Education, Fiscal Year 2024

⁷Increase

REAGAN HEFFELFINGER

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Reagan Heffelfinger is no stranger to metal. A recent graduate of College of Western Idaho’s (CWI) Machine Tool Technology program, Heffelfinger began working with her dad on his Volkswagen as a 3-year-old. By the time she was 16, she was performing regular maintenance on her own car.

Her road to becoming a machinist — the same trade as the storied Rosie the Riveter of World War II fame — may seem like it would have been a straightforward one. However, Heffelfinger’s path, replete with roadblocks and detours, has been representative of a common experience for many students at CWI where “traditional” fully embraces the untraditional.

A HEARTBREAKING DISCOVERY

In high school, Heffelfinger began experiencing troublesome symptoms more common to adults twice her age, including shortness of breath, racing heartbeat, and dizziness. She found herself going from cardiologist to emergency room, then heart surgery within three months. “That year was hard. I went from what I thought was healthy to having three heart conditions, two of which are chronic.”

FORKS IN THE ROAD

After graduating high school during the pandemic, Heffelfinger enrolled at Arizona State University to study mechanical engineering online, but she quickly realized that a four-year degree wasn’t a good fit.

She then enrolled in CWI to study health sciences, with the goal of becoming a nurse. However, as she waded through microbiology and similar courses, she again felt that this career path wasn’t for her.

“When I first started the Machine Tool program, all I saw were blocks of super hard metal… [now] I know how to face it and how to cut it and how to machine it.”

REAGAN HEFFELFINGER, 2024 MACHINE TOOL TECHNOLOGY GRADUATE

Heffelfinger’s dad, always her biggest supporter, gently nudged her to explore machining and reminded her that her uncle had been a machinist in the Navy. After more research, she made her decision and joined the two-year Machine Tool Technology program at CWI.

“IT JUST CLICKED”

In the first year of the program, students go from learning the fundamentals of machining to manually crafting a small-scale working motor. Once again, however, Heffelfinger’s health presented her with complications, making attendance difficult and causing her to fall behind. Despite these limitations, CWI’s uniquely supportive culture — exemplified by encouragement from her instructors and classmates — helped Heffelfinger complete her first year.

Things began looking up in year two as students learned how to program and use machines for cutting. “Once I learned how to talk to and use the machine, it was it was a night and day difference. I saw that I actually could make an engine, and I did.”

SHAPED BY METAL

“When I first started the Machine Tool program, all I saw were blocks of super hard metal, and I had no idea how to go about making anything. Toward the end of my second year, I was able to look at a bar stock and know exactly how to make the parts I needed,” she said reminiscing. “I knew how to face it and how to cut it and how to machine it.”

When she started the program, Heffelfinger’s dad and grandfather made her a leather apron made of different colored squares. It became a source of pride and reflective of her untraditional experience becoming a journeyman machinist.

“This road has made me more durable and resilient as a person because metal doesn’t want to be carved. My job is to make it into something beautiful or something useful, and I’m good at it.”

BUSINESS

PARTNERSHIPS:

FUELING A SKILLED WORKFORCE

At CWI we prepare Idahoans for success in Idaho’s job market. Our programs are designed around industry advancements and employer expectations. Through strong partnerships with local businesses, we ensure students gain hands-on experience and the indemand skills needed to thrive in their careers.

FEATURED EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS

Unlock the opportunities a partnership with CWI can offer! Our Work-Based Learning Center is ready to collaborate. Visit cwi.edu/wblc to learn more.

CWI IS PROUD TO PARTNER WITH OVER 200 EMPLOYERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

WORKFORCEREADY GRADUATES

EMPLOYER ENGAGEMENT

At CWI deep relationships are forged with employer partners in our community. Types of symbiotic relationships between CWI campus and the business community include:

• Corporate Donor

• Advisory Role in Curriculum Development

• Work-Based Learning, Internships, & Co-op Programs

• Graduate Job Placement & Recruitment

• Customized Training & Education Support for Employees

GRADUATE OUTCOMES

• Employed

• Continuing Education

• Still Looking

POWERING THE TREASURE VALLEY

Join College of Western Idaho (CWI) in elevating education! The Powering the Treasure Valley capital campaign aims to raise $30 million of a $138 million initiative to support the building of state-of-the-art learning centers, expanding student scholarships, and equipping students with the skills local employers are seeking.

As the largest community college in Idaho, CWI has grown from serving 1,200 to more than 30,000 students annually over the past 15 years. Committed to empowering students to succeed by providing affordable and accessible education to advance the local and global workforce, this explosive growth has required us to expand to meet the needs of our community.

Your investment will open doors to endless possibilities for students, transforming educational opportunities in Nampa, Boise, and beyond, and powering the Treasure Valley to fuel economic growth.

CAMPUS DEVELOPMENT

As a community, we can ensure the College continues connecting students with skill-building opportunities while bridging talent needs of our local workforce. Through CWI and the community’s support, we can advance into a new phase of growth. Development growth includes:

1. Student Success Center – Interior

2. Health & Science Building

3. Student Success Center – Exterior

4. Agricultural Sciences Complex

5. Boise Campus

1 2 4 3

CWI’s expansion projects are more than just an addition of buildings — they are a bold step toward enhancing our educational offering and our community’s access to cutting-edge resources. Imagine the impact we will achieve together.

Gordon Jones President, College of Western Idaho

TRANSFORMATIVE EDUCATION

We invite you to join in our commitment to powering high-quality instruction and transformative educational opportunities for students. Your support of campus expansion and development will ensure quality programming, hands-on training at CWI can continue to meet demand and spur growth in our local economy.

STUDENT SUCCESS

Your investment in Powering the Treasure Valley will elevate the student experience by bringing access to high-quality classroom spaces, state-of-the-art learning environments, and a cohesive campus community, allowing us to serve more students than ever before. Creating pathways to student success will not only impact individual lives but can change the trajectory of families for years to come.

MARK ARSTEIN

Vice President, Advancement

Chief Development Officer, CWI Foundation

▶ markarstein@cwi.edu

MIKE KELLER

Assistant Chief Development Officer, Strategic Initiatives

▶ michaelkeller@cwi.edu

RYAN GERULF

Assistant Chief Development Officer, Philanthropy Planning

▶ ryangerulf@cwi.edu

LA DAWN ANDERST

Coordinator, Donor Acknowledgement & Recognition