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: County Profile 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 Lewiston State Normal
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 2004
Total Headcount
3325
Total FTE
2635
Total Full-Time
2329
Total Part-Time
996
Total Males
1281
Total Females
2044
Resident Status
2974
First Generation Attending College
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 Ethnicity
Non Resident Alien
Black Non-Hispanic
Alaskan/American Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
White Non-Hispanic
Ethnicity Unknown
Average Age is 28.
98
14
163
27
149
2675
199
Division Enrollment by Declared Major
Academic Divisions
Business
Education
Humanities
Natural Sciences
Nursing
Social Sciences
Undeclared
Non Degree
Professional Technical Divisions
Business Technology & Service
Technical & Industrial
Non Degree
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
384
595
165
235
564
363
150
302
341
253
181
Institute, http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/) 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 Normal College 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-Clark State, 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 nontraditional 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 highereducation 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 Boise
School 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.
The Assistant Controller and account technician in the Controller's Office work closely
with the Serve Idaho budget officer, the LC Service Corps director and program manager.
Monitoring visits by Serve Idaho commission staff have historically resulted in positive
marks for financial and system management. The LC Service Corps budget is included
within the total operating budget of LCSC; however, there is separate accounting systems
which allows the LC Service Corps staff to separately track and maintain their budget.
LCSC is audited yearly through the single audit act. The LC Service Corps program is
under the Division of Community Programs
CREDIBILITY OF LC RELATED TO NATIVE AMERICAN PROGRAMS
Lewis-Clark State College (LCSC) has a long and beneficial history of partnership with
the NezPerce Tribe and minority students. In 1967 the Nez Perce Tribe helped finance
the Sam Glenn Complex on the LCSC Campus. In exchange, Nez Perce students enroll
in Professional–Technical courses tuition free—in perpetuity.
LCSC sponsored the American Indian Student Leadership in Education (AISLE)
grant three years ago, directed by Native American Education Professor, Bill Hayne. It is
designed to work with 12 tribal schools in the Northwest to support 15 Native American
students (paraprofessionals) to become certified teachers. LC is part of the National
Association of Multi-Cultural Education led by Dr. Margaret Chavez—the only higher
education institution in the state of Idaho belonging to this organization. Diversity
components are part of the Education Division’s teacher preparation program. Those
majoring in elementary and secondary education visit Heritage College in Yakima and
Chief Leschi in Seattle as well as two inner-city schools for workshops and dialogue.
LCSC sponsored and administered The Indian Education professional Development
grant. It focused on juniors ready to enter Teacher Education, and assisted them to
graduate with teacher certification. The Grow Your Own Teacher Scholarship program
was also sponsored by LCSC and sponsored a dozen native students who now work in
predominantly native school districts.
The Humanities Division supervises the Nez Perce Language Minor. This course
was also offered at the University of Idaho for several years via Internet Video
Conferencing. A variety of courses are offered through the Humanities Division that are
Native focused: (1) Native American Written Literature, Native American Oral
Literature, Nez Perce Language (1st and 2nd year), and Native Americans/Film.
The Social Science Division offers 24 credits related to Native American Studies.
Native American History, Nez Perce History, History of Federal Indian Policy, Native
American Law, Introduction to American Indian Studies, and North American Indians.
Dr. Chris Riggs and Dr. Al Marshall are working on a grant to develop a website relating
to Tribal sovereignty. Professor Ray Miller works with the Criminal Justice department
to support Tribal police departments in the Northwest. Dr. Gene Straughn researches
Supreme Court cases related to Native Americans.
LCSC and the Tribe collaborated with the National Parks and USDA Forest
Service to produce a film documentary shown on Idaho Public Television called the
Sacred Trail Video. It was received with overwhelming enthusiasm. Native actors,
Tribal Elders, and a Native Director worked with LCSC on the highly successful project.
A crowning achievement is the Native American Center, Pi’amkinwaas (Nez
Perce for “The Gathering Place”). It was dedicated in the summer of 2005, and serves
the Native American students as a Cultural Learning Center. Math and tutoring services
are available at the Center as well as cultural and language enrichment. Nez Perce Tribal
member Lisa Guzman, serves as the Director. Bob Sobotta, Director of Minority Student
Affairs, and Nez Perce Tribal member, works closely with Lisa.
LCSC’s reputation and commitment to the Native Americans in general and to the
Nez Perce Tribe in particular is beyond question. The Tribal Advisory Board meets
several times each year as a regularly scheduled event with campus administration. They
plan and evaluate the programs and actions of the campus community related to native
students. The Native American Week is an outgrowth of this effort, as are many of the
accomplishments listed above. Many of the Native Tribal Executive Members attended
and/or graduated from LCSC.