College of Southern Idaho Human Resources Department Website

1.01  MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT (Rev: 2/00; Rev: 6/03, 9/05; 7/08)

We are proud to offer you this electronic CSI Employee Policies and Procedures Manual. This manual, or handbook, is applicable to all College of Southern Idaho employees. Specific areas, such as Head Start or CSI Faculty, may have additions to this handbook that are greater, but not less, than the policies and procedures contained within. This handbook serves to provide you with some basic information relating to your employment at the College. Please become familiar with its content and feel free to refer to it as a primary resource when you have a question. Your supervisor and the Human Resources Department are also always available to respond to your questions about its content and application.

The College of Southern Idaho is committed to a quality working experience for all employees. We encourage an environment of trust, courtesy, and mutual respect among all of our employees. We value your association with the College of Southern Idaho and look forward to your contributions to our continuing goal of quality and service to each other, our students and the community.

Sincerely,

Gerald L. Beck, President
College of Southern Idaho

1.02  INTRODUCTION (Rev: 2/00; 6/03; 1/06; 7/08)
The CSI Employee Policy & Procedures Manual is published by the Human Resource Department on the Internet as our official manual and to provide the most current and readily accessible information possible to our employees.  This electronic publication is a source of information regarding employment, compensation, leave, benefits, policies and procedures. A reference copy is also maintained in the Human Resource office and other areas of the campus that may not have access to the Internet.

The CSI Employee Policies and Procedures Manual is introduced and discussed with new employees at the point of hire.  Employees are responsible for learning the content and adhering to said policies and procedures. It is further understood that employees agree to conform to the rules and regulations of the College, including any changes, deletions, or additions to these policies and procedures.

Administration reserves the right to revise, modify, delete, or add to any and all policies, procedures, work rules, or benefits stated in this manual or in any document at any time.  Also, information contained in the electronic or printed handbooks and manuals may not represent the most current information available on any given topic.  Please contact the Human Resources Office with any questions you may have.

The language used in this manual is not intended to create a contract between the College and any of its employees for employment or for the provision of any benefit.

If there are any comments or questions concerning the information in these electronic documents, please reply to Judy Thom, Human Resources. We appreciate any suggestions that would assist us in making these electronic documents more useful and beneficial to you.

1.03  POLICY AND PROCEDURE APPROVAL PROCESS (Added: 7/04 Rev: 6/06; 7/06; 7/07; 7/08)
The Human Resource Department (HR) is responsible for policy and procedure development, communication, interpretation and compliance for all new and revised policy. The President of the College has final authority for policy interpretation and compliance.

Policy Approval Process
HR advises the President and Administration regarding changes in policy statements. Policy changes are initiated as needed in responding to recommendations and changes relevant to the College. Any employee or group of employees may also make recommendations for new or revised policies.

New and revised policies are communicated through e-mail to the employees for their comments. Following input from employees of the College, the President and his Administrative Council review the policy recommendation for Board of Trustees approval. The President may make changes, as he deems appropriate for the College.

Following approval by the Board of Trustees, the approved policy is added or changed in the CSI electronic document, which is the official version, of the CSI Employee Policies and Procedures Manual. All policy additions or changes are communicated to the employees by e-mail.

Procedure Approval Process
Procedural and general information changes or additions within the Manual, such as payroll procedures, hiring procedures, federal or state regulation, or benefit information do not require employee input.

Each Department or operating group is responsible for recommending their procedural changes to HR. Any employee or group of employees may also make suggestions for new or revised procedures. Procedural changes are approved by the President. Human Resources is responsible for updating procedural changes required by State or Federal mandate and for other changes specific to Human Resources, such as employment, records retention or other administrative issues.

Procedure changes, beyond minor non-content changes, are communicated to the employees by e-mail.

Annual Review of Policy and Procedures
Each year in July, the Human Resource Department, in conjunction with campus departments, will review and revise policies and procedures as necessary.  All revisions will be reviewed by the President and the Administrative Council. 

Once the President and the Administrative Council have reviewed the changes they will be presented to the Board of Trustees for final approval.  This process will allow the Board of Trustees to regularly review and revise as necessary policy and procedures of the College of Southern Idaho. Upon approval of the Board of Trustees the appropriate revisions will be made to the CSI electronic version and printed copy. 

Questions regarding these processes should be referred to the Human Resource Department.

1.04  HISTORY OF THE COLLEGE (Rev: 2/02, 1/03; 1/06; 7/06; 7/08)
The College of Southern Idaho represents a shared vision and a collaborative effort of the citizens of the Magic Valley. This vision began to take form as early as 1952 when a Stanford doctoral student wrote his dissertation, "A Junior College Survey of Twin Falls County, Idaho." Several years later (1960) the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce established a junior college committee to actively pursue financial support to make this vision a reality.

At the same time, classes were begun in Buhl under a very short-lived private institution called Southern Idaho College. An inadequate tax base caused the Board of Education to discontinue the effort, although many of the individuals involved later helped develop CSI.

Two years later the federal government facilitated the College of Southern Idaho's development by providing federal aid for building academic facilities. In 1963 the Idaho legislature passed the Junior College Act, which provided for the establishment of junior college districts. Twin Falls County voted to form a junior college district in November 1964. The following year Jerome County citizens voted to join the junior college district.

The first academic classes were held in the evening at Twin Falls High School, while vocational classes were held at a facility located at 1300 Kimberly Road in Twin Falls. The administrative offices were housed in a building located at Addison and Martin Streets. The College was governed by a Board of Trustees that hired Dr. James L. Taylor as the first President of the College of Southern Idaho. He served as President until his death in November of 1982. Gerald R. Meyerhoeffer, former Vice President, became President in 1983. In 2005 Meyerhoeffer retired and Jerry Beck, former Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, became the third president.

The College of Southern Idaho became one of Idaho's fastest growing institutions of higher education, now enrolling more than 7,000 students each spring and fall semester. Off campus centers in Burley, Gooding, Jerome, and Hailey serve thousands of students each semester, allowing them to take college classes without long commutes. An elaborate telecommunications system to many southern Idaho locations in addition to the constant increase in the number of online classes allows the College of Southern Idaho to reach many more students.

The College of Southern Idaho offers a variety of educational opportunities to the people of South Central Idaho. Eighty-five percent of the student body comes from the eight Magic Valley counties the College is charged with serving.

1.05  MISSION STATEMENT (Rev: 1/00; 7/08)
The College of Southern Idaho, a comprehensive community college, provides quality educational, social, cultural, economic, and workforce development opportunities that meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. CSI prepares students to lead enriched, productive, and responsible lives in a global society.

1.06  PHILOSOPHY (Rev: 7/08)
The College of Southern Idaho recognizes all individuals as having value in a democratic society. CSI believes that education is for everyone and at all stages of life -- meeting students where they are, helping them with where they want to be, and instilling the importance of lifelong learning. CSI strives to foster intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, informed engagement, social and civic responsibility, and productive global citizenship.

1.07  PURPOSES (Rev: 7/08)

• To provide a program of general education that assists our students in developing the understanding, knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes necessary for effective living in a global society.
• To provide university-parallel curriculum -- the first two years of a baccalaureate degree program in preparation for entrance into the junior year or any college or university.
• To provide a program of professional-technical education which prepares students for employment upon successful completion.
• To provide a continuing program of community education for life-long learning.
• To support the social, cultural, and economic development of the region.
• To serve the community by making the college's human and physical resources available -- including facilities and the expertise of faculty and staff.
• To provide personalized support services to promote the successful achievement of all other institutional purposes.

1.08  ACCREDITATION (Added: 2/00; Rev: 1/05; 7/08)
The College of Southern Idaho received its first accreditation in 1968.  Since that time, the College has been continuously accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU).

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities is a regional postsecondary accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education (CHEA).

Several of our programs are also accredited by the appropriate accrediting agencies, and graduates are eligible to take the qualifying examinations of the respective state and national licensing or registration bodies and join professional organizations.

1.09  IDAHO CODE  (Added: 2/00)
The College of Southern Idaho is maintained and operated pursuant to the Idaho Code 33-2101 and in accordance with all state and federal laws and regulations.

Idaho Code 33-2101 establishes the district, curricular, organizational, and revenue parameters within which junior (community) colleges in Idaho must function.  The College of Southern Idaho is the designated institution for District Four and is therefore authorized under the Code.

Persons seeking a complete legal description are directed to see Idaho Statutes: Title 33 Education, Chapter 21 Junior Colleges.

1.10 BOARD OF TRUSTEES (Added 1/05, 7/08)
The Board of Trustees for the College is elected by the members of the Community College District. Under normal operating procedures, each member of the Board is elected to a four-year term. Election is by a simple majority of the votes cast. Terms are staggered so that not more than two trustee positions expire within one election year. Elections are biennial in even-numbered years during the regular November elections. Vacancies on the Board are filled by appointment: if a majority of elected trustees resides, they are empowered to appoint new members for the length of the term(s) vacated; if a majority of elected trustees does not reside, then the State Board of Education is empowered to appoint new members for the length of the terms vacated.

The Board of Trustees is given the necessary powers to develop, maintain, and operate a viable community college. Within its purview are the powers to adopt rules and regulations for the governing of the College, employ personnel, manage real and personal property, act as agent, seek and develop financial resources, accept grants and gifts, invest funds, and subscribe to all rights vested by law or regulation for the benefit of the College.

The Board of Trustees has established the third Monday of each month as their regular meeting date. In the event that the third Monday is a holiday or conflicting with other events, the regularly scheduled meeting will be held the following Monday. These meetings are open to the public.

Persons who want a full description of the Board of Trustees and its powers are directed to the Idaho Code, Chapter 21, Sections 33-2106, 33-2107, and 33-2107B.

1.11 FACULTY SENATE (Added 3/09)

All full-time and part-time faculty under a faculty contract (as determined by the appropriate Instructional Dean or the Executive Vice President Chief Academic Officer) are encouraged to participate in the Faculty Senate. The Faculty Senate renders the majority opinion of participating members to the administration.