Idaho Falls Education Advisory Council

Meeting Minutes

December 10, 2002

Samuel H. Bennion Student Union Building

 

Attendees:  John Hansen (Chair), Jim McFadden, Michael Lineberry, Marge Foster, Keith Hinckley, Linda Milam, Larry Branen, Jennifer Fisher, Ann Meikle-Howell, President Hoover, President LaRowe, Mary Ann Carlson, Robert Pack, Carol Baldwin, Sandra Feldman, Phil Packer, Mark Paulsen, Bruce Roberts, Dan Hatch, Bart Davis, Lyle Castle, Tom Bitterwolf, Steve McGary, Carol Spain, Connie Gomez

ITEM 1: Welcome and Approval of the September 18, 2002, Meeting Minutes

Chair John Hansen welcomed everyone.

Marge Foster moved approval of the September 18, 2002 minutes.  Keith Hinckley seconded.  Motion carried.

ITEM 2: Committee Reports: Everyone was reminded that the work performed in the committees is essential to the work of the advisory council.  Everyone is assigned to a specific committee and each committee needs full attendance.

Community and Business Education Needs: The committee met on December 5th, with only three members attending.  Kip Hicks came to discuss the business survey that the Eastern Idaho Economic Development Council was doing.  Over the next year they will be gathering information from 250 businesses in Eastern Idaho.  EIEDC wants to provide information that would be useful in bringing new businesses to Eastern Idaho, as well as keeping the existing companies from relocating outside of the area.  EIEDC will allow us to add one or two questions that might benefit higher education in Idaho Falls.  A diversity subcommittee was formed from this committee.  Keith Hinckley will give a brief report on the subcommittee’s actions a little later in the program.  Michael Lineberry asked Ann Meikle-Howell to describe the website for Higher Education in Idaho Falls.  This website contains information on Idaho State University, University of Idaho and Eastern Idaho Technical College.  It has links to each institution and their specific programs.  Ann asked everyone to take the time to go out and look at the website.  The URL is http://www.univplace.org/heif/.

Facilities Planning: Mayor Linda Milam stated that her committee had not met since before the September Advisory Council meeting.  The only discussion taking place at present is between the Universities and the architect on how to reduce the footprint of the CST. 

Public Relations and Community Awareness:  Marge Foster reviewed the Public Relations and Community Awareness committee’s mission statement, goals and their current action items.  Marge mentioned the career fair that would be held at University Place for high school juniors.  Rave Communications will have the 2003 marketing campaign ready for review in mid-January. 

ITEM 3: Report on Diversity Plan Implementation: Keith related a recent speaking engagement to a group of senior citizens and was surprised that they mentioned diversity needs and issues.  Three meetings have been held with a varied group attending each meeting.  During the first meeting, the focus was how to reach minority high school students and encourage them to seek a higher education.  During the second meeting some Hispanic students were invited to the meeting and when asked how best to achieve the goal of encouraging more minorities to seek a higher education, all three students stated, “talk to the parents.”  The focus changed from reaching the students to reaching the parents.  Presently, the diversity subcommittee is working to create a brochure that will be printed in both English and Spanish.  Several schools have begun working together as a result of the meetings of the diversity subcommittee.  The school district people have asked if the meetings can continue.  A motion to continue the diversity subcommittee was made, seconded by Marge Foster and carried.  A motion to create a $1,500 budget to cover printing and food costs for the diversity subcommittee was made, Mark Paulson seconded and the motion carried.

ITEM 4: Institutional Reports

Idaho State University:  Jennifer Fisher brought greetings from President Bowen and Vice President Lawson.  She gave a brief explanation of the impacts of the continued budget cuts.  There have been some cuts as a result, but the intention was to keep ISU the same only smaller in size.  The four-year capital campaign is over the goal of $128 million dollars.  The new Performing Arts Center will be opening next year.  Scholarships and donations have increased.  Bonneville students were awarded $648,000 in scholarship funds. 

University of Idaho:  President Hoover stated that University of Idaho continues to grow, with the largest freshman class ever.  UI was able to close $88 million dollars in research contracts and grants.  The capital campaign for UI was also successful and totaled about $125 million.  UI had been rated 69th in the United States, this year climbed to 48th, 11th in the West among public institutions.  President Hoover stated that it is difficult to expand on a declining budget.  However with reorganization and deduction of colleges and staff, they hope to emerge as a more efficient institution.

Eastern Idaho Technical College:  President LaRowe stated that EITC has had a good year.  A number of accreditations have been reaffirmed. EITC has received $100,000 in donations earmarked for scholarships.  President LaRowe said that the workforce-training program is down, along with the community education, but they will be graduating 14 LPNs in Driggs.  EITC has also reduced staff and expect to have more cuts.  President LaRowe stated that a suggested name change has been put before the legislature. 

BYU Idaho:  Phil Packer stated there have been many challenges to deal with as they transitioned from a two-year college to a four-year university.  The winter term FTE projections are 10,100.  He discussed the internship program for students.  The academic programs are growing and they are hiring 30 new faculty members.  About 80 faculty members are taking courses at University Place.  BYU Idaho is in the middle of their accreditation and has received conditional approval. 

ITEM 5: Reports from Faculty Senate Representatives: Faculty Senate representatives Lyle Castle (ISU), Tom Bitterwolf (UI), and Steve McGary (BYU Idaho) each spoke briefly on the concerns of their faculty.  The ISU, and UI representatives each stated their faculty seemed to understand the issues and were trying to do their best even though the thought of no increases in the foreseeable future was affecting moral.  BYU Idaho faculty now totals about 400 and they are all teaching faculty.

 ITEM 6: Advisory Council Membership Changes: John Hansen handed the meeting over to Jim McFadden, who will become the new chair for the next two years.  Jim thanked John for his service to the Advisory Council and presented him with a token of appreciation.  Jim named went through the list of proposed new members.  Doug Owen, Principal for Skyline High School; Harold Blackman, BBWI; Scott H Hinschberger, DOE; Carol Johnson, Owner, Interior Space Planning & Design; Travis Mitchell, Principal for Hillcrest High School; Calvin Ozaki, Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce and Argonne West; Dave Radford, Bonneville County Commissioner; Edith Irving, Chief Nursing Officer, EIRMC; and Janice McGeachin, State Representative.  Marge Foster motioned to approve the new members and new officers.  Mark Paulson seconded, motioned carried.  Jim recognized the outgoing members and thanked them for their service.   The new members were invited to an orientation to be held on the morning of February 13, 2003.  The three meetings planned for 2003 will be April 9, 2003, September 17, 2003 and December 10, 2003.  Keith Hinckley moved to approve the dates as listed, Bart Davis seconded, motioned carried. 

ITEM 7: General Discussion/Closing Comments/Adjournment

General discussion took place regarding tax increases, budget cuts and what the advisory council might be able to do to persuade the legislature not to make further cuts to higher education.  Jim thanked all who participated in the meeting.  Meeting adjourned.