When what became CWI was still a part of BSU, the idea was that, that campus would take enrollment away from the crowded and cramped and parking space starved main campus. It was also thought that to have most of the Vo-Tec classes transferred to the “west campus” would, somehow, make the main campus more “academically appearing”.

Clearly the success of CWI is meeting a felt need among the population. The impression it leaves is that not only do students look to the price/value of the two campuses in an only bottom line, not academic reputation manner; but, that BSU’s dropping of traditional liberal arts classes, such as the deep cuts to the History
Department, indicates, once again, that schools of higher education are no long devoted to higher education. Their focus seems to be on non-Vo-Tec job training preparation, not true higher education. All in pursuit of dollars, not the responsibility to educate.

Grumpy, at the end of the day, colleges/universities are in the business of selling credits. If those lead to a degree- great! If not, they still have sold the credits.

Well, I am the child of a blue=collar father and traditional housewife who, today would be termed members of the working poor. I Lived at home with my parents, worked two part-time school year jobs and one full-time Summer job and paid my own tuition, books, fees, etc. I earned my degree in four years, went to day, night, and Summer classes. I majored in History, with minors in English Lit, Political Science and American Lit. How’s that for job training. I have lived what I consider to be a greatly enriched life, due to my college education. I never became rich, but I never expected to do so. I feel as though I made a contribution to society. My wife and I raised three children, who, among them hold 10 college degrees and who are also contributing to Society in positive manners.

When I started college in the 1950’s the purpose of an education was to educate. It was expected that job training was done either by employers, or through the pursuit of additional education which was job training in its orientation. My classmates went on to become both professional and non-professional workers and some entered the arts (music, artists, writers), and some became stay-at-home parents. Some became farmers, working either their families land, or entering into that activity as a new venture. We number no millionaire among us, and no paupers. We do number happy, well-informed, culturally appreciative folks.