LCSC Mission, Role, Students, Faculty, Challenges
Institutional Narrative: The Institution and Its Mission
Lewis-Clark State College is a public undergraduate college established in 1893. It is located in Lewiston, Idaho (North Central Idaho), a city of 35,000 where two rivers (Snake and Clearwater), two cities and two states come (Clarkston, Washington and Lewiston, Idaho) together. It is also near the place where two peoples and two cultures came together in friendship and discovery when Lewis and Clark met the Nez Perce Indians. Approximately 3,300 students attend LCSC. It is a unique institution in Idaho because it integrates traditional baccalaureate programs, professional-technical training programs, and workforce training for community support within a single institution. The goal and mission of LCSC is to empower students to apply knowledge and skills in the real world—connecting learning to life. LCSC has a significant impact on the region’s educational, cultural, and economic environment. US News & World Report named LCSC one of the top public, comprehensive, 4-year, colleges in the West.
LCSC draws students primarily from five Idaho counties (Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce). North Central Idaho has suffered from the impact of economic restructuring with few resources to facilitate diversified economic development. High unemployment in rural areas, severe underemployment throughout the 5-county region, and low educational achievement characterize much of the workforce. Two counties in North Central Idaho have suffered through unemployment rates greater than 12% for two decades. (Idaho Department of Commerce and Labor)
The primary industries in Idaho, mining, timber and agriculture are being displaced. At one time Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene mines ranked among the top ten producers of gold, silver, zinc, and lead in the world. By 1999 however only 741 miners were left from the previous work force of 546,000. (Source: CountyProfile of Idaho, Education Department of Commerce, 2000).
A historic down turn in lumber prices and available timber harvests created serious economic problems. Lumber and panel prices plummeted in 2000, down 35% from 1999 (Daily Idahonian, 8/7/2000). Crown Pacific LTD in Coeur d’Alene, Louisiana Pacific Corp. in Chilco and Sandpoint, Regulus Stud Mill Inc. in St. Maries, and Jaype Plywood Mill in Pierce have all shut down. Numerous private mill operations have also closed their doors due to cheaper imported lumber from Canada.
The agricultural industries of Northern Idaho have been dominated by grain crops. The price of wheat has dropped from $3.05 per bushes to $2.23 per bushel since 1999. The bottom of the market dropped out from under peas. They can’t be sold because the market price is so low. (Source: Genesee Union Warehouse, a farm cooperative.)
The median income for this area is $32,361. Approximately 13% of the population over 25 years of age holds a Bachelor’s degree. Idaho struggles with unemployment, low wages, place-bound workers and the need to retrain the unskilled labor force. North Central Idaho operates in an Appalachian environment. High unemployment, dying extractive industries, low educational achievement, isolated populations, poor transportation and communication, and two Native American populations present unique challenges and opportunities.
Mission and Program Characteristics
When LCSC was established in 1893 it was called the LewistonStateNormal School, reflecting its early mission as a teacher training institution. The institution continues to lead the state in teacher preparation, but now fulfills an expanded role. It now has a three-fold mission. LCSC offers a wide range of baccalaureate degrees and some qualified professional programs. A variety of certificates and diplomas are available to those seeking an Associate Education. Vocational, technical and outreach programs are provided for those seeking Technical and Workforce Training. LCSC provides a variety of life-long learning opportunities and conducts select, coordinated and externally-funded research studies. Three hundred-fifteen (315) students are located on the campus at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. LCSC is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.
Areas of specialization are baccalaureate degrees in business, criminal justice, nursing, social work, teacher preparation and vocational-technical education. The College gives continuing emphasis to select programs offered on and off campus at nontraditional times, using nontraditional means of delivery and serving a highly diverse student body. Lewis-Clark State College maintains basic strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, which provide the core curriculum or general education portion of the curriculum. Associate and Applied Associate degrees are offered in Business Technology and Service; and Technical and Industrial programs. Certifications are also available in those programs and through Workforce Training. LCSC uses a variety of delivery methods to meet the needs of diverse constituencies through 90 distance learning courses. Because of the many different kinds of students entering LCSC, with different expectations and abilities, Student Support Services, designed to assist first generation, low-income students and students with disabilities, provides academic counseling, study skills improvement, and every manner of disability accommodation. Tutoring is available for all subjects, plus help from Reading, Writing, and Math Specialists.
Student Body Characteristics
Student Body Characteristics, Fall 2004Total Headcount / 3325
Total FTE / 2635
Total Full-Time / 2329
Total Part-Time / 996
Total Males / 1281
Total Females / 2044
Resident Status / 2974
FirstGenerationAttendingCollege / 1342
Number receiving financial aid / 2776
Non-Traditional Students / 1241
Degree Seeking Students / 2917
Professional-Technical Degree Seeking Students / 762
Academic Degree Seeking Students / 2553
The number of students enrolled at LCSC has grown steadily in recent years. In 2001 our enrollment was 2,953, in 2002, it rose to 3,108, and in 2003 the total climbed to 3,471. Presently we stand at 3325 students.
Student Body by EthnicityNon Resident Alien / 98
Black Non-Hispanic / 14
Alaskan/American Native / 163
Asian/Pacific Islander / 27
Hispanic / 149
White Non-Hispanic / 2675
Ethnicity Unknown / 199
Average Age is 28.
Division Enrollment by Declared Major
Academic Divisions
Business / 384
Education / 595
Humanities / 165
Natural Sciences / 235
Nursing / 564
Social Sciences / 363
Undeclared / 150
Non Degree / 302
Professional Technical Divisions
Business Technology & Service / 341
Technical & Industrial / 253
Non Degree / 181
Many of the students coming to LCSC are ill prepared for college. Many have no family tradition of involvement in higher education and have little broad experience with which to construct a global vision of life. Many bring narrow, sometimes negative value systems with them. They were raised in a rural area, isolated and are poorly prepared academically for success in college, because most rural schools are poorly funded. They are spread over a wide, rural, territory with poor telecommunications. Idaho ranks 46th in the nation when comparing high school graduates continuing on to college immediately after high school (National Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis). Only 25% of the citizens of Idaho hold a Bachelors Degree or higher. Just 17% of Idaho 9-12 graders take at least one upper level science course; 41% take at least one upper level math course. Survey results from the Higher Education Research Institute indicate that “colleges and universities need to find more effective ways to accommodate the growing numbers of students who may be coming to college academically under-prepared.” (1999 Survey Results, Higher Education Research Institute, The 2004 retention rate at LCSC continues to show improvement - 60% - up from 52.8% five years ago.
Faculty Characteristics
The primary mission of LCSC faculty has always been teaching. The college was first established as a NormalCollege in 1893. LC’s greatest strength is the quality of the faculty and their dedication to excellence in teaching. Faculty and students enjoy an excellent rapport. One hundred forty-four (144) full-time and 49 adjunct faculty serve the students providing a 17 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio in Academic programs and a 12 to 1 ratio in Technical programs. Six (6) members of the full-time faculty are members of a minority group, 56 are women, and 80 are men. Ninety-one (91) have a doctorate, first professional or other terminal degree. Twenty-eight (28) hold a master’s and 4 hold a Bachelor’s as their highest degree. They not only teach a load equal to 12 credit hours or more per semester, but they also serve as academic advisors, members of standing committees, and are active in the community. The turnover rate is approximately XX%, though according to figures compiled by the AAUP. They receive salaries tens of thousands of dollars below the national average (Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac, 2002). Idaho has not given faculty a salary increase for two consecutive years. The raise granted by the Idaho Legislature for fiscal year 2005 was publicly reported to be 2%, but only 1% was funded. The commitment by faculty, despite inadequate remuneration for their service above and beyond the call of duty adds to the student experience. Many LCSC alumni offer the name of a faculty mentor when asked to offer their most significant college experience. Faculty is committed to respond to the need presented by growing number of under prepared students entering LCSC. They are faced with the task of using a diversity of pedagogical methods, delivery techniques, approaches to interaction and communication, and instructional tools to serve the student population. But there are almost no resources available to fund faculty development, participation in symposia, conferences or other valuable learning experiences that give them a growing edge. Their highest purpose is to excel in teaching and help students learn. As a poorly funded institution, with a high number of young instructors, they need support to accomplish this goal.
Enrollment Figures and Trends
Lewis-Clark State College has relied upon disparate sources of students throughout its history. In its infancy, the college’s enrollment came most from people in Lewiston or surrounding communities. These students enrolled at the college directly out of high school, were most women, and, as anyone familiar with the college’s history knows, were seeking a teaching credential. While the college’s enrollment grew steadily, the primary objectives and backgrounds of its students varied little.
After World War II. Lewis-Clark State College, along with virtually every other post-secondary institution in the United States, began serving large cohorts of veterans. These students were generally four to ten years older than the typical Lewis-Clark students and were primarily males. Furthermore, the veterans were provided with federal financial support to complete their degrees. The geographic representation of the student body was also expanding and included students from various communities in Washington and Oregon.
In the 1950s, the college’s enrollment was hindered largely due to the fact that the Idaho Legislature closed the college in the early part of the decade. Once the school re-opened, it became a branch of the University of Idaho and served mostly local students. With gradual addition of program offerings at the college and the eventual independence of Lewis-ClarkState, the enrollment increased as did the variation in the student body.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Lewis-Clark State College saw the profile of its student body change once again. During this time, the college’s enrollment included significant numbers of international students, domestic students representing nearly every county in the State of Idaho and over 30 states, and a large pool of non-traditional aged students. The average age of the college’s student body in the late 1980s was 33 years old. The expansion of the college’s curriculum resulted in many students attending the college for short-term skills training instead of traditional degree programs. The college served many purposes to a myriad of students – most of whom were dependent upon some kind of financial assistance to be able to attend college and many of whom required extra academic support to be successful.
Today, the college’s enrollment is 3,325 students. The student body includes significant numbers of international students, Native Americans, traditional and non-traditional students, and students who pursue degrees via alternative delivery methods such as web-based instruction or via campus centers in other communities. The average age of the student body is approximately 28 years old. Both Fall 2003 and Fall 2004 saw large waiting lists of students wishing to live in residence halls indicating a significant shift in the age of the students. Two commonalities shared by today’s college students versus those from twenty years before is that they are still heavily dependent upon financial assistance and are in need of academic support such as tutoring or developmental courses.
The outlook for the college’s enrollment is bright. More and more students will seek an education through Lewis-Clark State College. These students will vary in academic preparedness, geographic origins, and educational interests. They will also continue to be dependent upon extra resources to be successful. The college’s current goal is to reach an enrollment of 4,500 students and then maintain that enrollment by strategically managing admissions/recruitment and retention.
ADDITIONAL INFO FROM AN AMERICORPS GRANT
Organizational Capability
D. ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITY
1. SOUND ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE a) ABILITY TO PROVIDE SOUND PROGRAMMATIC AND FISCAL OVERSIGHT Lewis-Clark State College is a four-year state institution of higher education and is over 100 years old. LCSC's origins were as a 'Normal School' -- which were teaching schools in the late 1800 and early 1900's. The college has carried that tradition forward by putting a large emphasis in education and teaching degrees throughout it's tenure. In 1994 LCSC became the recipient of one of the first AmeriCorps grants. This program was "Idaho TRIO AmeriCorps" (ITAC). It was to mainly provide members as tutors through higher-education institutions in Idaho through the federal TRIO programs (Student Support Services and Upward Bound programs.) The needs in communities became more apparent, and by 1996 the program had branched out into community organizations and public schools, providing tutors and mentors. Since the "TRIO" emphasis no longer held any meaning in the mission of the program, the program's name was changed to "Lewis-Clark Service Corps" in 2002. In 1999 LCSC wrote a pilot grant to duplicate the Idaho TRIO AmeriCorps program in the Boise, Idaho area -- providing strictly tutors in a consortium of five school districts. This program was successful -- and the program was named "Treasure Valley AmeriCorps Consortium" (TVAC.) So even though the ITAC program maintained a statewide presence -- they no longer provided members to school districts served by TVAC. During 2002 the program directors of both programs became concerned about the pending cuts which were occurring at the Federal level within National Service. The directors also saw duplication of service and a way to save administrative dollars -- so the programs wrote one application and was successful. Now the program is able to provide a state office at LCSC and a regional office which is generously provided by the BoiseSchool District -- who was the original fiscal agent of TVAC.
The LC Service Program at LCSC is currently in its twelfth solid year of proven success with the program proposed in this application. Successes can be seen in the following statistics over the past 12 years:427 members; students improving academic performance: 40,643; 11,165 students receiving career advising; 1200 students received their GED; 65,773 students were tutored by members; and 3,753 community volunteers have been recruited who tutored and mentored students.
LCSC has a 30 year history of administering federal grants. This application grant cycle will be the thirteenth year for AmeriCorps at LCSC, having started with the Idaho TRIO AmeriCorps Program, renamed the Lewis-Clark Service Corps in 2002. The LC Service Corps director, Debi Fitzgerald, came to the program in 1999 with five years previous experience administering U.S. Department of Labor Job Training Partnership Grants, One Stop Employment System Grants and attended extensive grant administration training, particularly in regard to IG Auditing based upon OMB Circulars for nonprofit federal programs and 4 years as staff assistant with the U.S. House of Representatives.
Requisitions, travel vouchers and other required documentation is processed through all levels of fiscal accountability at LCSC, with signatures required from the LC Service Corps director, Dean of Community Programs, and the Provost. LC Service Corps staff and the LCSC account technician have received training and worked with the WBRS system since 2000.
Program support provided by LCSC includes: grant administration, fiscal, payroll, accounting and technical computer support, internet access, office space, physical plant services and utilities.