NIC to cut staff from two programs

The declining popularity of two professional-technical programs at North Idaho College has led to cuts in staff for those programs, while the college adds new programs to serve professional-technical students.

NIC has decided to eliminate the electronics technology program and make cuts to the computer information technology program because of waning student interest, the college announced Thursday afternoon.

Three of five faculty members in the computer information technology program will not be offered contracts, nor will one of two faculty members in the electronics technology program. The other instructor of electronics technology will be offered a position in a new program, outdoor power/recreational vehicle technology.

The number of students in the electronics program has declined from 20 five years ago to nine last fall. The computer information technology program had 118 students in 2001 but only 60 this past fall, according to the college.

That doesn’t mean the college as a whole is shrinking, however. In addition to the new recreational vehicle program, the college is adding landscape technology, welding and human resources assistant programs.

While college President Michael Burke expressed regret about not renewing the teaching contracts in a press release, he noted, “it is essential that we use our limited resources in the best fashion we can.”