History
Although proposals for a junior 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 and Gov. Robert E. Smylie signed 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 Kentucky and Oklahoma State. 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).
Read more about this topic: College Of Southern Idaho
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