Nic To Give Phys-Ed Majors Running Start Toward UI Degree

The University of Idaho will offer an undergraduate program in physical education from its Coeur d’Alene center next fall.

The new Coeur d’Alene-based program is the result of an agreement between the UI and North Idaho College.

Students will be allowed to take the first two years of entry-level courses from NIC, receive their associate degree and then continue with upper-division courses from the UI for a bachelor of science degree in physical education.

“The beauty of it is a student in northern Idaho will be able to complete a P.E. degree from the University of Idaho without coming to our (Moscow) campus,” said Cal Lathen, director of UI’s P.E. division.

Adding the new program in Kootenai County means even more UI professors will be trekking between Moscow and Coeur d’Alene weekly to teach.

The UI already offers undergraduate degrees in elementary education and industrial technology, plus seven different master’s degree programs in education from the Coeur d’Alene center.

“We definitely consider this another step forward,” said Center Director Jack Dawson. “Our role is to serve the needs of higher education in northern Idaho and when we can do that along with the local community college it’s especially gratifying.”

UI Physical Education Program Coordinator Bonnie Hultstrand will relocate to Coeur d’Alene to manage the new program, which also will offer certification and endorsements for established P.E. instructors.

“I think it is a move in the right direction at this time for the UI,” Hultstrand said Wednesday. “We need to make our presence known in the Coeur d’Alene area because it is growing so fast up there.”

Enrollment at the UI’s northernmost outreach site jumped between 6 and 10 percent over the past decade, according to UI officials.

“This will be the first new program we’ve added in the last three years,” Dawson said.

“We expect the increased demand for teachers will extend to the physical education major because of the increase in size of schools in the Northwest.”

The program cleared its last official hurdle this month when NIC faculty approved the proposed joint curriculum.

Now all it lacks is students.

UI officials predict the program may enroll only six to 15 students the first semester.

But Hultstrand said she expects interest to grow after the two schools kick off a public relations effort to publicize the new joint offerings.

, DataTimes