MOSCOW – The Idaho State Board of Education has approved for the first time ever – eight year regional plans and statewide missions for colleges and universities.
The colleges and universities have worked for approximately one year to develop the plan after the Board approved Policy III-Z, Delivery of Post Secondary Education —Coordination and Planning of Academic Programs, that required the creation of the eight year plans. The policy also directs that the plan be updated every two years. The plans are blue prints for future growth for the state’s institutions of higher education.
“This is a first for Idaho’s colleges and universities,” said Rod Lewis, State Board of Education President. “The Board’s action clarifies and strengthens the roles and missions of each institution in the state. In the past, the colleges and universities were assigned areas of emphasis. This is the first time the Board has clearly defined statewide missions and required the institutions to develop plans identifying the programs they’ll offer in conjunction with that unique mission.”
Under the plans, Boise State University is primarily responsible for public policy and urban regional planning including graduate degree programs in public administration, urban studies and social work with a shared emphasis with ISU in the southeast region.
Idaho State University is responsible for health professions with graduate degree programs in audiology, physical and occupational therapy, pharmacy, speech pathology, deaf education, dental hygiene, and nursing with a shared emphasis with BSU in the southwest region.
University of Idaho is responsible for agriculture, architecture, law and natural resources with graduate programs in interior design, landscape architecture, animal science, agricultural economics, food science, veterinary science, forestry, wildlife, conservation science and range science.
“This planning process has caused our institutions to put forward their future plans for review by the Board for coordination and cooperation among the institutions,” said Lewis. “Our institutions have shown a tremendous spirit of cooperation and I believe this process will significantly enhance Idaho’s higher education system by reducing redundancy, increasing cost-efficiency and providing certainty and focus to our institutions.”
To view the eight year plans: http://www.idahoboardofed.org/meetings/2004/06_17_04/AcademicPlanHED8-yrplanrev6-16.pdf
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