Attendees present: Keith Hinckley, President Hoover, President Bowen , President LaRowe, Michael Lineberry, Linda Milam, Jennifer Fisher, Ann Meikle-Howell, Bob Stiger, Glenn Wilde, Joanne Reece, Greg Horton, Judy McPherson, Amy Stevens, Wayland Winstead, Marge Foster, Maryann Carlson, Randy Hurley, Ron Campbell, Carol Baldwin, Bruce Bowen, Dan Hatch, Robert Pack, Jon Ochi, Frank Lopez, John Mueller, Jonathan Lawson, Fred Tingey, Connie Hutchens

Keith Hinckley welcomed all members and indicated how nice the student union building is. Mr. Hinckley made mention that the first-ever joint UI/ISU faculty meeting was held September 20, 2000 with President Hoover and President Bowen in attendance to answer any questions.

Mr. Hinckley indicated that John Hansen, Vice Chairman, was out of the country and was unable to attend.

Bob Stiger was introduced as the Interim Dean for the University of Idaho.

The Presidents of the higher education systems were introduced:

President Hoover, University of Idaho

President Bowen, Idaho State University

President LaRowe, Eastern Idaho Technical College

Mr. Campbell, representing BYU-Idaho

The committee’s meeting held earlier this week was very productive. Mr. Lineberry distributed a handout to all members outlining the three main goals of this subcommittee:

1. Assist in the development of a community needs assessment for Information Technology in concert with Eastern Idaho Forum for Information Technology;
2. Review information to create and maintain an up-to-date database of existing academic programs and services offered to students through the Centers for Higher Education;
3. Review short-term facilities needs based upon existing/proposed academic services at The Centers for Higher Education using a three-year horizon and make recommendations.

Mr. Lineberry posed a question to the council of the need for a market test for executive 1-, 3-, or 5-day courses.

The Facilities committee met September 5. Had submitted goals to the Universities at the end of last year. These goals have been reviewed and master plan and subcommittee goals were listed in the subcommittee handout. Looking at alternative means of transporting students to the University to lessen the impact of needing to provide additional parking. Encourage the Universities to acquire parcels of property that would provide routes of access. A piece of ground called "the thumb or wedge" which is on the northern section of campus (privately owned). Also pursue state property exchanges. To review/be involved in the formulation of the master plan, which includes relationship with INEEL/INRA. A report will be given later in the agenda. Mayor Milam encouraged the chairmen of the three subcommittees to note when the other committees meet and try to attend the other meetings.

A handout was provided which outlined the goals of the public relations/marketing subcommittee. The first goal will be discussed further at the January meeting. Goal 3: the committee has been looking at logos since last spring. Goal 4: Websites would be a great option. Word of mouth is also very effective. Mayor Milam has volunteered the Idaho Falls website to assist in promotion..

A question arose regarding the method of implementing requests. The advisory committee passes requests onto the Local Operations Committee (LOC) who passes the request onto the University (if necessary).

A local developer has indicated a willingness to donate land for Research and Development. Mayor Milam will contact this gentleman. Mr. Hinckley cautioned all committee members to not commit the Universities to any land acquisition and not to show too much interested in available land, less the price of the land increase substantially.

The Presidents of all the Idaho Institutions and the State Board of Education submitted a budget request for $2 million for collaborative efforts in Idaho Falls, Post Falls, Twin Falls and Boise. Of these monies, $500,00 will be given to Idaho Falls. A budget plan was made to meet the needs of the community. This plan was forwarded to the President/Provost and then to the State Board of Education.

The plan was structured to maximize political support. One area of the state is not favored over another. Marge Foster will create a list of all legislators in Eastern Idaho and their respective committee assignments. Marge Foster will also provide to each committee a one-page summary which will enable the committees to contact the state representatives. Wayland Winstead will provide information to be used by Advisory Council members as a basic script when talking with legislators and community organizations.

Have been working on the master plan formally for the past eleven months. There are two separate facilities being focused on. One facility for classes and one facility for research. A meeting has been scheduled for this afternoon with the Idaho Falls zoning committee to review the process for receiving approval for these buildings. There is a total of 750,000 sq. ft. of building space available. The Facilities planning committee will continue work with John Mueller to finalize plans for these buildings.

The CST will be a 50,000 sq. ft. research facility which will be used by research faculty of UI/ISU. This building will provide a center for graduate education and research as well as providing a focus point for INRA.

A letter is being routed through the DOE system by Dr. Bernie Meyers. The INEEL will rent one-half of the building for four to five years until their own facility is complete. A proposal will be delivered to the Governor this Friday. The preliminary cost estimate to construct the CST is $10.9 M. The building will be self-sufficient. INRA has promised $200K for four years to help cover operating expenses. The CST should be operational by 2003.

In June 2000, an announcement was made that the name of Ricks College would be changed to BYU-Idaho. The intent is to change the status to a four-year institution. There will be modest facility changes. There are currently 9,000 students registered for the fall semester; 8,500 are classified as full-time students (carrying 12 or more credits).

The Academic council met immediately after the announcement to determine where to focus the four-year programs. The Executive Committee (Board of Trustees) will meet next week to determine what the timeline will be and what programs will be available.

The name will be changed sometime in the spring of 2001. Four-year programs will possibly be offered by the Fall 2001 semester.

President Bowen thanked Mr. Hinckley for a job-well-done as Advisory Committee Chairman.

President Hoover outlined five goals of INRA:

1. Support interests of UI/ISU

2. To pursue graduate educational support (language is currently before the Congress for several million dollars for Ph.D. programs)
3. To extend connections between INEEL, PNL, and the seven higher educational institutions. Attempt to make funding secure by next year.
4. Hire a U of I Dean in Idaho Falls.
5. Research projects with the INEEL.

President LaRowe:

Enrollment at EITC is increasing. Dr. Luke Robbins has taken a new position and Dr. MaryAnn Carlson is the new Dean of Instruction.

A common calendar will be followed by ISU and UI starting in Spring 2001. Both institutions will begin classes on the same day.

Additional committee assignments:

Public Relations: Will put together a new directory of where the bookstore is; where classes are held; where professor’s offices are. There has been some confusion with students not knowing what is in each building, especially with the addition of the new SUB.

Facilities Committee: There are many libraries on campus, with the ISU library, the UI library, and the INEEL technical library. The committee will look at how many libraries are necessary on the IF campus.

The grand opening of the new Student Union Building will be held in November. The land for the SUB was donated by Sam Bennion and the funds for construction came from students at ISU-Pocatello.

A reception honoring Fred Gunnerson, Brad Eldredge and Bob Stiger will be held tonight at 5:30 p.m. in the SUB.

Mr. Hinckley thanked the committee for the opportunity to serve as chairman for the past two years. The September meeting was his last meeting in that capacity.

The meeting was adjourned until January 31, 2001 at 10:00 a.m.