College of Southern Idaho

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College of Southern Idaho
College of Southern Idaho Seal

Established: 1965
Type: 2-year community college
President: Jerry Beck
Staff: 152
Students: 7,000
Undergraduates: 7,000
Postgraduates: 0
Location: Twin Falls, Idaho, United States
Campus: 300 acres (1.2 km²)
Sports: Golden Eagles
Colors: Gold
Website: www.csi.edu

College of Southern Idaho (CSI) is an American public community college. Its main campus is in Twin Falls, Idaho, with outreach programs in Boise, Hailey, Burley and Gooding.

College of Southern Idaho offers associate of arts, associate of science, associate of applied science degrees and technical certificates in over 115 disciplines. Additional upper-division courses through the University of Idaho, Idaho State University and Boise State University are also offered.

CSI's enrollment is approximately 7,000 students with an additional 3,000 in non-credit courses. Approximately 85% of the student body is from Idaho's Magic Valley region. The college is governed by a five-member Board of Trustees elected at large by voters in Twin Falls and Jerome Counties.

CSI is one of only two comprehensive community colleges in Idaho. North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene is the other. [1]

Contents

[edit] History

Although proposals for a community college in southern Idaho were made as early as 1952 and courses were offered at the short-lived Southern Idaho College in Buhl in the early 1960s, it wasn't until the Idaho Legislature passed the Junior College Act in 1963 that the foundation of what became the College of Southern Idaho began in earnest. In November 1964 voters in Twin Falls County formed a junior college district under the provisions of the Junior College Act. Neighboring Jerome County joined the district in 1965. CSI held its first classes at Twin Falls High School later that year.

In 1967 a men's basketball program was founded at CSI by Eddie Sutton, who later became a prominent basketball coach at the University of Kentucky and Oklahoma State University. The CSI men's basketball team has consistently been a national contender at the community college level ever since. Home games routinely sell out season after season and rank as one of Twin Falls' main entertainment draws.

Since moving to its own campus in 1968, CSI has been one of the fastest-growing colleges in Idaho. It has also become a vital part of the Twin Falls area, both culturally and economically. Despite its continued growth, the college has publicly stated it has no desire to become a four-year university.

Major campus buildings are named for the college's first two presidents, James L. Taylor (1965-1982) and Gerald R. Meyerhoeffer (1983-2005).

[edit] Student life

Meyerhoeffer Library at CSI
Meyerhoeffer Library at CSI

Most CSI students commute from off-campus. A single on-campus residence hall houses approximately 250 students. Approximately 58% of the student body is over the age of 21.

College and community activities are regularly held at the College of Southern Idaho Fine Arts Center, the Herrett Center for Arts and Science, and the Eldon Evans Expo Center. Frontier Field is home to CSI's baseball team and hosts a variety of community softball leagues during the summer months.

Student government is administered by the Associated Students of CSI which is controlled by a student senate elected from the student body. CSI sponsors approximately 50 student clubs and organizations.

[edit] Athletics

College of Southern Idaho athletic logo
College of Southern Idaho athletic logo

The College of Southern Idaho Golden Eagles compete in Region 18 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). As of 2006 CSI had won a total of 10 NJCAA national championships, including titles in women's volleyball, men's basketball and men's baseball. The Golden Eagles rodeo team has won an additional three national championships in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association .

CSI's men's basketball program is one of the most successful at the community college level. Between 1967 and 2005 CSI posted a total record of 1103-200, made 21 national tournament appearances and won the NJCAA national title twice. The Golden Eagles' 137-game home winning streak between the mid-1980s and 1992 is one of the longest at any level in collegiate sports. As of March 6, 2008, the CSI Golden Eagles men's team are number three in the nation.[2]

The women's volleyball team was particularly dominant in the 1990s, winning a remarkable 190 consecutive matches between 1994 and 1997 and seven national titles in eight years between 1993 and 2000.

[edit] See also

  • KBGH (television station owned by CSI)

[edit] External links