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Education
College of Southern Idaho Gears Courses to Address Community Needs
A flower at the Robert F. McManaman Memorial Rose Garden
Dr. Gerald L. Beck says a community college should be just as its title indicates – there for the community.
That is why the College of Southern Idaho’s president is proudest of the fact that the two-year institution responds quickly to the needs of citizens in Twin Falls and the surrounding area.
“If it takes a college four years to implement an in-demand academic program‚ chances are that the opportunity will pass to serve people‚” Beck says. “But if you get a program going in 30 days or 60 days‚ then you are meeting the needs of your local community. That is what we strive to do at CSI.”
Beck uses the example of the college’s nursing program‚ where 14 health science programs have been added in the last decade to meet growing community needs.
“Those programs include surgical technology‚ dental assisting‚ medical assisting and radiologic technology‚” he says. “In addition‚ in 2009 we will be constructing a new health sciences building. CSI will then become a major supplier of nurses once that new building opens.”
Dr. John Miller‚ instructional dean of off-campus education at CSI‚ says workforce development and assisting area businesses is a large aspect of what the college is all about.
“We can offer anything from a one-week welding enhancement course for a company’s maintenance crew to two years of training new employees as is the current case with Dutchman Trailers in Burley‚” he says.
Miller adds that CSI offers online workforce training to several of its company clients.
“Many of the training efforts we provide our business partners are actually paid for by the college‚” he says. “Dr. Beck and the leadership of the College of Southern Idaho look at those instances as investments into the future of Twin Falls.”
Another aspect of learning CSI offers the community is its 2+2 program. It allow students to earn their associate’s degree at CSI‚ then earn the final two years of a bachelor’s degree from four other area colleges or universities – all while taking those junior and senior classes on the CSI campus.
“We offer the 2+2 curriculum in accounting‚ business‚ criminal justice‚ bilingual education‚ social work‚ elementary education‚ human resource training‚ nursing and a few more areas of study‚” says Dr. Cindy Bond‚ dean of academic instruction at CSI. “And now we have added some 2+2+2 programs‚ so not only can students earn their bachelor’s degrees at our campus‚ they can also earn their master’s degrees.”
Bond says it is entirely feasible for a CSI student to earn a master’s degree from Boise State University‚ Idaho State University‚ the University of Idaho or Northwest Nazarene University – all without ever setting foot on those campuses.
“This is obviously an incredible program‚” she says. “I wish 2+2 and 2+2+2 were available when I was going to college.”
Story by John Shearer
Photo by Brian McCord
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