Students Get Help In Finding The Right College Niche New Center Place To Start To Learn What’S Offered On Northern Campuses

Higher education in North Idaho became a lot less confusing Friday.

Four schools offer classes in the five northern counties - North Idaho College, the University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College and Idaho State University. Their programs range from master’s degrees to certificates of completion for professional technical programs.

On Friday, the four schools celebrated the opening of a center that will help students navigate their combined offerings to find the program that is right for them.

“I’d like to offer the citizens of North Idaho an early Christmas president,” said Michael Burke, president of NIC. “That would be the Northern Idaho Center of Higher Education.

“Make no mistake,” he quickly added, “I’m no Santa Claus.”

Instead, he said, the Idaho Legislature played that role, appropriating the $200,000 necessary to create the center. The money was used to remodel a former video store at the corner of U.S. Highway 95 and Haycraft Avenue, pay the salaries of 2 staff members and start a $30,000 marketing blitz to let the public know the building is open for business.

NICHE is not for high school students who already know where they’ll attend college and what they’ll study. Rather, it’s for prospective students who are confused about the region’s offerings or who are returning to school and don’t know how to get started.

“People are too intimidated to go to campus - where to park, which building to go into,” said Jack Dawson, dean of UI’s Coeur d’Alene branch. “That holds people back. This (NICHE) is the portal to all the institutions.”

NICHE’s two academic advisers will be trained on the offerings of all four schools and will be able to work with students to direct them to the right program. Once a student has determined a path, the adviser will set up an appointment for them and even provide a campus map and suggestions about where to park.

“This center is really an attempt to make higher education more accessible,” said Niel Zimmerman, interim president of LCSC. “Here is a facility that you can walk into and find out about a whole bunch of programs.”

The four schools were motivated to join forces largely because North Idaho’s quickly growing population will create increased demand for education. The five northern counties were home to 127,000 people in 1990. The population is projected to increase to 250,000 by 2010. The schools currently serve a total of 6,500 students, a number which is expected to double by 2010.

The presidents of all four schools patted themselves on the back for cooperating, instead of just competing, to provide the best possible programs. The schools have worked for years to eliminate duplication in their degree programs and classes.

“What we’re doing,” said UI President Robert Hoover, “is looking out for the consumer - our students.”

These sidebars appeared with the story: Starting in 1933, colleges have been increasing opportunities Here’s a look at what the four schools offer in Coeur d’Alene:

Founded in 1933, NIC offers associate’s degrees in more than 35 transferable academic majors and associate’s degrees of applied science or professional technical certificates of completion in 25 applied technology programs. The college also has a comprehensive work-force training center in Post Falls offering noncredit classes and worker training programs.

The UI started offering degree programs at its Coeur d’Alene branch campus in 1967. Today, it offers undergraduate degrees in education, environmental science, computer science, engineering and psychology. Master’s degrees are offered in education, counseling and human services, adult education and professional technical education. UI also offers professional technical certification courses.

LCSC started offering programs in 1978 in Coeur d’Alene. Today, undergraduate degrees are offered in business administration, nursing, social work, justice studies, communications and interdisciplinary studies. An academic minor is also offered in substance abuse.

ISU began last year offering a master’s degree in nursing, but plans to bring master’s degrees in public administration and human services to this region soon.

IF YOU GO

NICHE is at 408 W. Haycraft Ave. in Coeur d’AleneA and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.