Where or where did you get the information that the CWI is fledgling? Sure, I doubt they are rolling in cash and I’m sure they are experiencing the same economic issues as any high ed institution right now. But, I understand they are actually doing well.

Recently, a study was done to compare the number of students who are attending CWI in its first semester and the 1,200 that enrolled far exceeds any start up cc in the country in recent past history. They achieved this during the spring semester, which is astonishing. They wanted something like 1,700, but they did pretty darn good getting 1,200 and we need to give CWI some credit. God forbid they get knocked for setting a high goal. They beat the national odds during an economic downtown at mid-year!!

I also talked to a CWI official today and the numbers are looking explosive for fall. Did you actually interview anyone for your little blog post? It just isn’t accurate. Plus, can you please learn the difference between a community college and a junior college? This is just plain frustrating. In this economy, anyone who has a child or grandchild who may want to go to college this fall should be thanking the Lord for a community college. There will be many kids who could not afford to go to school without this option, which is less than half of any option in the Valley. When the economy gets better they will be able to transfer to a 4-year if they want. There are also 1,000’s of people who are getting laid off and need to re-train. The community college also gives them an affordable option.

I don’t know why you, Mr. Frazier, continue to put a bad spin on something that we should actually be grateful for? What is the point?

I’m sorry. I don’t mean to sound like an advertisement for CWI, but there are many things about CWI that are just plain facts and much needed during these hard times. I know you can say whatever you want in this open forum blog, but please try to report a few of the FACTS.

EDITOR NOTE–BB try some vocabulary classes. My dictionary says of FLEDGLING: “emerging, emergent, sunrise, dawning, embryonic, infant, nascent; developing, in the making, budding, up-and-coming, rising.” That pretty much describes a school that offered classes less than 3 months. Those terms also have a pretty positive ring to most of us.

Are we at the point where the criterion is “how words sound” rather than what they mean?

Ahh reminds me of a young Boise Junior College or would that be BSU now?

Their “goal” of 1700 students wasn’t a number they picked from the clouds. It was the number they “budgeted” for. That means they missed their number by around 30%. And just where do you think the difference (insert sucking sound here) will come from? Also, they did a cute little end run around the voters with the TVCC plan. (Thanks Mr. Kustra) Now factor in the cuts in education we are having to deal with, add the shortfall of CWI, and that sir, is the sucking sound to which I referred! (insert toilet flushing sound here)

I remain perplexed that taxpayer money and government support from Idaho would be going to support an Oregon institution.

Similarly, I’m perplexed that an Oregon institution would locate in another state.

Mr. Editor,
Now that was funny. Certainly explains it all.

TVCC has been in the Caldwell area for a number of years and is not supported by Idaho tax dollars to the best of my knowledge. The off campus out of Ontario outreach is totally supported by student fees.

The structure Caldwell Urban Renewal wants to put up for TVCC is another matter and flies in the face of taxpayers with $8 million in the offing to get a building built. The building does not meet the need for TVCC classroom space but does give the Mayor the cash he needs to build a new city hall nobody has asked for or wants.

Amazing how elected officials find ways to “cloak” their real agendas.

A couple comments from someone who works at TVCC.

First, the original post is generally unkind to a man, Dennis Griffin, who’s given significant effort to educating students throughout the Treasure Valley for many years. When he was appointed to the presidency of CWI at the time of its creation, he was clear then that he was only interested in the position for two years, and he’s been consistent since then. To pillory him for keeping his word is to criticize someone for acting honorably. My understanding is that the blog author, and many who comment, want good government and good stewards of public funds. You can disagree with how CWI was established, or whether it was needed, but lobbing brickbats at a responsible administrator who’s successfully managed a startup of this magnitude makes you look mean, and uninformed.

Second, there continues to be confusion about the role of TVCC in the Treasure Valley educational scene. TVCC receives no funding from the Idaho state government, or from any taxing district in Idaho. As Paul correctly states, TVCC has been operating a branch center in Caldwell for almost six years. This operation is funded completely by the student tuition and fees – because it’s located in Idaho, it also cannot be funded by Oregon taxpayer funds. This makes for an operation with a business model that looks actually more like a private college (U of Phoenix or College of Idaho) than a traditionally funded, taxpayer-supported community college.

Because Idaho colleges like BSU and CWI operate on a semester system (where classes are typically 15 weeks long), and Oregon colleges operate on a quarter system (where classes are 11 weeks long), it always makes comparing the cost per credit hard. At its simplest, a quarter credit equates to two-thirds of a semester credit.

As such, you need to multiply TVCC’s credit cost by 1.3 to get a true equivalent cost. As a result, if you compare cost per credit at TVCC’s Caldwell Center ($97) to the number that Bronco Bob cites for BSU ($238), then the true comparison is $122.32 to $238. Bronco Bob is in error about additional fees – TVCC incorporates all fees into a single Universal fee that is charged per-credit. Of the $97 figure I cite above, $12 of that is our universal fee.

An astute reader will note, then, that TVCC’s per-credit cost when converted to its semester equivalent ($122.30) is higher than CWI’s $119. This is, in essence, the difference that taxpayer funding makes. TVCC in Caldwell runs with a very lean, very efficient staffing model because we have to – we’re tuition-funded. James Bond asks why TVCC would be interested in doing so, and the answer is because education is our mission, and because six years ago, partners in the Caldwell area approached us about filling a need. It made financial sense then, and it continues to do so now. TVCC has been consistent in our statement that CWI is a needed addition to the Treasure Valley. And, frankly, having gone through our own startup phase during the last six years, we can attest that what CWI has accomplished is no small feat – they’re building the plane at the same time as they’re flying it, and so is TVCC.

To come back to the original point. You can certainly question political decisions, and you can make your own judgments about the affordability of providing quality education in the Treasure Valley today, but to beat up on someone who’s served his community and now chooses a retirement he’s earned – at best, that’s uninformed, and at worst, distasteful enough that you’ll find yourself ignored.

EDITOR–Poster, you are simply wrong. I talked to Griffin, we joked about the “honorary associate degree,” and we took him at his word that he was in for 2 yrs. and time is up in August. From the outset the GUARDIAN has never been against the CWI. We posted “both sides” of the start up debate long before the mainstream would even touch it. We strongly support the fact it was approved by the “people.”
We tried to stimulate interest in attracting candidates for the board seats –joked about getting a “free weapon permit” since ANY elected official in Idaho can carry.

We have NEVER questioned the integrity of Griffin. We HAVE been critical of some institution missteps, but there were only missteps, nothing more. Use the GUARDIAN archive and search for CWI, education, etc. and see we have been all over the board on the new school.

Here are a few posts over the years, including one from another TVCC guy:
https://boiseguardian.com/2008/06/30/can-cwi-trustees-be-trusted/

Personally, I would describe Cyclops as being mono-myopic in his point of view.

Let’s see Bill. First post you said no one from CWI was lobbying. Now you state that they are just “trying to ensure they get the same state funding as all of the other state community colleges” Gee, I wonder how they would do that? Maybe by “lobbying” the legislature?
If your sister is one of the leading legislators in the state, by process of elimination, that would be Kate. If so, do you really believe she is in on all matters of the majority? It never ceases to amaze me how “important” certain state legislators think they are! This is not limited to republicans or democrats. It is simply a comment about the huge egos some have in seeking office!

Wow, I just saw this:
College of Western Idaho students won’t have to pay more to go to school next year.

CWI trustees said it was not the appropriate time to raise tuition because of the recession.

College of Western Idaho fees will stay at $119 per credit hour and $1,428 per semester for 12 to 18 credits.

Boise State University has proposed a 5 percent increase in tuition for next year for a total of $2,432.per semester. The State Board of Education must still approve Boise State’s request. The board does not oversee community college tuitions.
________________________________

And, for the record, CWI DOES NOT have a lobbyest. Bill is right that there is no lobbying. BECAUSE THEY DO NOT HAVE A LOBBYEST.

EDITOR NOTE–A personal attack was deleted from the rest of this comment. We try to edit comments of a personal nature. Lively debate is fine, but the GUARDIAN does not want comments like those found on lesser blogs.

Cyclops go for it. I for one don’t trust anyone that claims the educational system isn’t some where some how trying to con more money out of the Tax payers.