With the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon last week in Sandpoint, Lewis-Clark State College embarked on a new cooperative initiative with North Idaho College (NIC).
In fall 2012 North Idaho College completed an extensive renovation of the old Sandpoint High School with the aim to accommodate a new administrative and classroom center for NIC. The center, called NIC at Sandpoint, was completed in response to growing student enrollment from Boundary and Bonner counties and NIC's commitment to offer a full associate's degree in North Idaho by fall 2013.
"The next logical step was to offer bachelor's degrees," explained Rocky Owens, Interim Director of LCSC-Coeur d’Alene.
Noting that LCSC maintains a historical tradition to serve outreach students with bachelor’s degrees, Sandpoint public officials, state legislators, and NIC administration encouraged LCSC to consider a presence in Idaho's northernmost counties. LCSC-CDA has been an active supporter and partner with NIC to offer degree opportunities in Coeur d'Alene for some 30 years and will continue to support efforts to increase transfer opportunities for Sandpoint students. While the CDA Center continues to serve as the hub of operations for Region 1, LCSC-CDA officials believe that opportunities exist to expand LC's presence in Sandpoint by maintaining a staff presence there, increasing institutional marketing, and facilitating course delivery technology to make LCSC courses more accessible.
As part of the initiative, during the fall 2013 semester LCSC-CDA will offer an on-site class in Sandpoint that fulfills an upper division core requirement for all LCSC bachelor's degrees. LCSC-CDA will also be offering instruction via video conferencing and sharing office and classroom space with NIC. LCSC-CDA advisors will regularly be on-hand, making contact with current and future students.
At the dedication ceremony in Sandpoint last Thursday, LCSC President J. Anthony (Tony) Fernandez emphasized the importance of ties between North Idaho College and LCSC.
"This is just another example of the close relationship between NIC and LCSC," said Fernandez. "We value this relationship and look forward to doing more, along with NIC, for the citizens of Region 1."
Fernandez and Owens, along with Lori Stinson, LCSC Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chet Herbst, LCSC Vice President for Finance and Administration, Kathy Martin, LCSC Dean for Community Programs and Governmental Relations, NIC President Joe Dunlap, NIC Vice President Ron Dorn, and members of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee gathered at the Sandpoint center for the occasion.
Owens called the ceremony, "recognition of future things to come with regard to what we can build in Sandpoint."
In fall 2012 North Idaho College completed an extensive renovation of the old Sandpoint High School with the aim to accommodate a new administrative and classroom center for NIC. The center, called NIC at Sandpoint, was completed in response to growing student enrollment from Boundary and Bonner counties and NIC's commitment to offer a full associate's degree in North Idaho by fall 2013.
"The next logical step was to offer bachelor's degrees," explained Rocky Owens, Interim Director of LCSC-Coeur d’Alene.
Noting that LCSC maintains a historical tradition to serve outreach students with bachelor’s degrees, Sandpoint public officials, state legislators, and NIC administration encouraged LCSC to consider a presence in Idaho's northernmost counties. LCSC-CDA has been an active supporter and partner with NIC to offer degree opportunities in Coeur d'Alene for some 30 years and will continue to support efforts to increase transfer opportunities for Sandpoint students. While the CDA Center continues to serve as the hub of operations for Region 1, LCSC-CDA officials believe that opportunities exist to expand LC's presence in Sandpoint by maintaining a staff presence there, increasing institutional marketing, and facilitating course delivery technology to make LCSC courses more accessible.
As part of the initiative, during the fall 2013 semester LCSC-CDA will offer an on-site class in Sandpoint that fulfills an upper division core requirement for all LCSC bachelor's degrees. LCSC-CDA will also be offering instruction via video conferencing and sharing office and classroom space with NIC. LCSC-CDA advisors will regularly be on-hand, making contact with current and future students.
At the dedication ceremony in Sandpoint last Thursday, LCSC President J. Anthony (Tony) Fernandez emphasized the importance of ties between North Idaho College and LCSC.
"This is just another example of the close relationship between NIC and LCSC," said Fernandez. "We value this relationship and look forward to doing more, along with NIC, for the citizens of Region 1."
Fernandez and Owens, along with Lori Stinson, LCSC Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Chet Herbst, LCSC Vice President for Finance and Administration, Kathy Martin, LCSC Dean for Community Programs and Governmental Relations, NIC President Joe Dunlap, NIC Vice President Ron Dorn, and members of the Joint Finance and Appropriations Committee gathered at the Sandpoint center for the occasion.
Owens called the ceremony, "recognition of future things to come with regard to what we can build in Sandpoint."