UI, Isu Seek Seamless Link At Shared Idaho Falls Campus Plan For Single Fee Would Open Door To Either School’s Classes

Idaho State University and the University of Idaho want the state Board of Education to approve a plan to let students pay one fee but attend either school’s classes in Idaho Falls.

The universities’ presidents have been quietly talking about the idea in recent months. They will present the board with the proposal to unify their efforts and resources in June.

If approved, students at University Place will pay the same fee and will be able to take classes from either university, although they will graduate from one or the other.

Students who try to take classes from both the University of Idaho and Idaho State now complain of a bureaucratic maze through registrars, transcript handlers and financial aid officers.

“You’re not going to get the runaround anymore,” said Idaho State President Richard Bowen, who was at Eastern Idaho Technical College for the Board of Education’s monthly meeting. “I guarantee you, you won’t be able to see the difference between ISU and UI” at University Place.

Bowen and University of Idaho President Robert Hoover have met several times in the last few months to discuss the project.

Board of Education member Judy Meyer of Coeur d’Alene, who will become the board’s president in April, applauded the effort.

“As a board, we want to see more collaboration, the elimination of duplicative services and more costeffectiveness,” Meyer said.

The universities already are sharing resources to build a student union building at University Place.