Colleges Urged To Cooperate

State Board of Education member Judy Meyer of Coeur d’Alene wants North Idaho’s college and university presidents to compete less and consider more closely what the region needs.

“There’s a concern I think from folks who are aware there are three institutions of higher education in the Coeur d’Alene area,” Meyer said Monday.

“So immediately one thinks, ‘How can we have everybody up here?’ Well, it’s a luxury. We have to ask, ‘Are we doing the most cost-effective programs with each of those institutions?”’ Under the board’s watchful eye, the presidents of North Idaho College, Lewis-Clark State College and the University of Idaho are trying to work more cooperatively and minimize program duplication.

Lewis-Clark State is pulling its teacher education program from Coeur d’Alene rather than compete with the University of Idaho’s program there, Lewis-Clark State President James Hottois said Monday.

Hottois said the Coeur d’Alene program’s resources will be redirected toward a similar program with Ricks College in Rexburg, where they will not represent duplication.

The UI and Lewis-Clark State business programs in Coeur d’Alene, which Meyer said are still viewed as somewhat competitive, also are trying to cooperate. The business department chairmen at the schools are working to develop a common schedule of classes.

Thursday’s Board of Education meeting likely will include discussion of a 10-year-plan on program needs and a 25-year facilities plan.

In a memo to her fellow board members and the three North Idaho college presidents last month, Meyer suggested exploring a new Coeur d’Alene higher education campus program.

She also urged the presidents to define North Idaho needs using population and demographic data and input from the business community. Each program should forecast its enrollment and develop plans for integration after defining the respective roles of the three schools in collaboration with those in neighboring Spokane, Meyer said.

Hottois said he supports joint facilities with North Idaho College and the University of Idaho, as Meyer’s higher education campus proposal suggests.

“If we are going to do higher education in Coeur d’Alene we should have a higher education center in Coeur d’Alene,” he said.