LEWISTON, Idaho – Lewis-Clark State College, known for its expertise in serving nontraditional students, has launched a new program called LC State Elevate, administrators announced on Monday. The program will provide new and improved opportunities for busy adults.
Last fall, of LC State’s record 4,046 students, 940 were nontraditional, defined as students age 25 or older. Administrators say the new menu of programs has the potential to boost that number even higher and help Idaho meet its workforce needs.
“We are proud to be a leader in serving nontraditional students,” LC State President Cynthia Pemberton said. “Along with our affordability, we innovate when it comes to the programs we offer and how we deliver them, we collaborate with partners to maximize efficiency and possibility, and the result is that we help elevate individuals, businesses, and Idaho.”
Ranked No. 1 in the nation for nontraditional students by Best College Reviews in 2024, LC State’s new and enhanced programs and options are customized for busy adults looking to advance in their careers, start a new profession, finish their degrees, or simply stay competitive in a rapidly evolving jobs market impacted by forces such as AI.
“We’ve been very intentional with how we’ve restructured offices, designed new programs, and revised existing ones,” said Fred Chilson, LC State provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. “LC State has always been a great school for adult learners, and now we have even more to offer.”
LC State Elevate programs include the following.
- Graduate – Along with its existing niche master’s degrees in nursing leadership and cyberaccounting, LC State has launched a direct entry master’s in nursing leadership and healthcare, allowing those with a bachelor’s degree in any field to complete a master’s in nursing and pursue a career in healthcare leadership.
- CTE+ – To meet workforce demands and provide working adults with the opportunity to improve skills or learn new ones, LC State’s CTE+ initiative offers an extended menu of options for adult learners. For example, new afternoon and weekend sections are being added for at-capacity programs like diesel and welding.
- Online – LC State offers more than 20 fully online degrees and is adding new online degrees in areas such as kinesiology, giving busy adults the opportunity to pursue a degree at the pace, place, and time that works for them.
- Portfolio – Students who complete LC State’s portfolio program can earn credits for experience, shortening the time it takes to earn a degree.
- Industry BAS – This degree leverages LC State’s portfolio program and helps individuals with industry experience turn their associate of applied science (AAS) into a bachelor of applied science (BAS).
- Three-Year Degree – A 90-credit, accelerated BAS degree option is expected to be available soon for students who want to quickly obtain a bachelor’s degree, without the option to continue to graduate school.
LC State also continues to expand its prison education program located at facilities in Orofino, Boise and Pocatello. In the spring, 40 of the program’s nearly 200 students graduated with associate and bachelor’s degrees in areas like business communications and management. Studies suggest this education will reduce recidivism and have a positive impact on Idaho’s workforce.
LC State non-credit programs offered through Workforce Training, Small Business Development Center, and Adult Learning Center, all located in downtown Lewiston, are also being positioned to provide clearer pipelines and pathways to high-demand degree areas.
The Idaho Opportunity Scholarship for adult learners is awarded to Idaho residents who graduated from an Idaho high school, or its equivalent, and are returning to college. Applicants must complete a FAFSA by July 1 to be eligible for the scholarship this fall.
LC State’s fall application deadline is Aug. 8. For more information www.lcsc.edu/elevate.