Idaho is committed to staying at Division-IA

BOISE — University of Idaho President Tim White says his school will compete in NCAA Division I-A and is committed to the Western Athletic Conference.

An advisory panel which the new president created in May had voiced its concern about the financial burden the higher division puts on the financially troubled school and brought up the idea of dropping down to Division I-AA to save money. But the Vision and Resources Task Force ultimately recommended completing the conference move from the split conferences of the Big West and Sun Belt to the WAC.

In a Friday letter to the Vandal Boosters, White agreed.

“Let me clearly affirm what the task force report emphasizes: The University of Idaho will demonstrate excellence in all of its programs, be student-focused, and have a passion for knowledge and discovery.”

The school has been Division I-A since bumping up from I-AA in 1995.

In an earlier interview with the Associated Press, White said, “We are committed as a university to be in I-A … and it’s irresponsible to raise the specter that we’re not going to be committed to I-A.”

The 152-page document comes from the University’s Task Force, charged with making broad suggestions about the long-term future of Idaho’s primary higher learning institution.