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President Duane Nellis Wraps Up Statewide Listening Tour
July 16, 2009
Photos from the statewide listening tour are available at www.uidaho.edu/president/Media/tour.aspx
MOSCOW, Idaho – University of Idaho President M. Duane Nellis completed his statewide listening tour yesterday with visits in Lewiston. During his six-day tour, he logged some 1,500 miles, met nearly 1,500 people at 35 different events in 11 cities, providing myriad opportunities for stakeholders statewide to give constructive feedback and weigh in on issues facing the university.
"One of my immediate priorities was to start a two-way flow of communication with people in Idaho," said Nellis. "The university's mission impacts every community in this state. I wanted to hear what we're doing right, what things could use some help, and ways we can move forward to refine the University of Idaho’s position as a leading land-grant university in the nation."
Nellis launched his tour in Idaho Falls on July 6, spending time with agricultural leaders, local business leaders, legislators and collaborative partners, in addition to the university's alumni and friends.
"The primary feedback I received in Idaho Falls is that the community tremendously values and wants the university's presence in the eastern portion of the state. The university is an integral partner to the future of this region," Nellis said. "For example, Idaho National Laboratory applauded the university, not just for its research, for its education and outreach in science, technology, engineering and math – what we know as the STEM disciplines."
John Grossenbacher, director of INL, agreed on the value of collaboration. "The partnership between the Idaho National Laboratory and the University of Idaho is very important. We share research interests and opportunities, and are providing economic growth in eastern Idaho," he said. "An important part of our job is to grow opportunities for the university, which will in turn benefit the INL with a larger, high-quality employee base."
Business leaders in Idaho Falls, Twin Falls, Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Moscow, Lewiston and Spokane, Wash., echoed those sentiments about collaborating with the university in economic development ventures, an idea that Nellis welcomed.
"The university's depth and breadth is statewide, and its impact on Idaho's economic development is incredible," said Nellis. "I'm passionate about economic development and enhancing the quality of life in this state. The University of Idaho has been and continues to be a driver for the state's vitality as a $432 million corporation."
The tour provided opportunities for Nellis to interact with the presidents and other leadership at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls, North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene, and Lewis-Clark State College in Lewiston.
"College students in Idaho complete more than 50 percent of lower-division course work at community colleges," said Nellis. "Strong articulation agreements, which we have in place or in the works with numerous community colleges in the region, will allow those students to seamlessly complete a four-year degree and go out into the communities and make a difference. In addition, we're implementing four-plus-one agreements with other institutions statewide to allow students to complete master's degrees."
He noted that such collaborative partnerships between institutions also benefit the state's economic development.
"Businesses in every industry around this state gain tremendously from the quality of our graduates," he said. "As state support of higher education continues to decline, partnerships with industry are necessary. The investment in higher education is a direct investment in the future of this state. The return on investment – realized through a highly qualified labor pool – is enormous."
Visits in Kimberly, Hagerman, Parma and Caldwell showcased the university's statewide research enterprise, which attracts nearly $100 million in funding each year. "The funding is not just given to us; our faculty compete for it," said Nellis. "It's a rigorous process. Proposals must be submitted and decisions are made on the best research. It says something about the quality of their work."
Nellis heard many comments throughout the state on topics ranging from student recruitment, scholarships and affordability, to athletics, agriculture, budget and distance education.
"The thing most apparent and exciting to me is the passion and enthusiasm of our alumni statewide," said Nellis. "It's alive, it's vibrant – you can really feel it."
University journalism and mass media student Nichole Corn accompanied the tour and blogged about it; read her posts online at www.uidahoblogs.com/tour/.
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About the University of Idaho
Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.
Media Contact: Joni Kirk, University Communications, (208) 885-7725, joni@uidaho.edu
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