7 minute read
Innovation Blooms on Idaho Campuses
University of Idaho Clocktower. SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
BY TIM ATWELL
Idaho’s higher education system has undergone a series of unprecedented challenges in just a few short years. From the COVID-19 pandemic to technological advancements in AI that may fundamentally reshape classrooms, schools have been forced to retool their practices and re-examine their priorities. Across the state, educational leaders are banding together to ask, “What’s working? What’s not?” And most importantly, “What’s next?”
The result has been an unwavering commitment to move forward and find innovative ways to adapt. From new high-tech laboratories to hands-on experience in the workforce, students across the state are making breakthroughs in various disciplines and redefining what it means to learn and grow in the 21st century.
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY ENCOURAGES ALL STUDENTS TO EXPLORE TECHNOLOGY
Semiconductors and cybersecurity have a profound impact on the daily lives of average people, often in ways that are not immediately obvious. Smartphones, computers, and cars all rely on these technologies. However, the inner workings of our devices remain a mystery for most of us.
“We have programs like Cyber for All and Semiconductor for All that allow any of our students to add a certificate in cybersecurity or in a semiconductor industry to their degree,” said Dr. Marlene Tromp. “We see it as our responsibility to help ensure that we’re getting students ready to be a part of this industry that’s really significant in Idaho and will help advance not only the U.S., but the state.”
These certificates seem especially relevant in the metro area around Boise State, which is just a few miles from headquarters of one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, Micron Technology. Students seeking the certificates aim to be better equipped to make an impact in the growing semiconductor field and manage cyber threats that are a growing concern in our increasingly interconnected and data-driven world.
THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO UNEARTHS THE SECRETS OF DEEP SOIL FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVANCEMENT
Dirt is one of the easiest things to find in the state of Idaho, yet it is also one of the most mysterious. How exactly do a complex range of environmental factors influence soil, and what impact does that have for the plants and animals on the surface?
Though decades of soil research has led to breakthroughs in food supply management and farming, most of the data is focused on the top 12 inches of soil. The University of Idaho aims to take the research deeper by launching a new Deep Soil Ecotron facility in 2026. This state-of-the-art facility will contain 24 soil containers, each 10 feet deep, designed to monitor and study how the soil reacts to changes at lower levels.
“What we’re going to learn from this [facility] truly will help us continue to be able to secure our food supply going forward,” said University of Idaho President C. Scott Green. “It’ll help us manage yields, deploy low water usage technologies, and understand the impacts of the environment on plant health.”
The ecotron will apply its findings directly to Idaho’s food supply, helping local farms discover the best way to manage their resources. But the benefits also will spread far beyond Idaho’s soil, as the school plans to partner with organizations around the world to work toward more sustainable food supplies.
THE COLLEGE OF IDAHO DOUBLES DOWN ON LEADERSHIP AND HANDS-ON LEARNING
At The College of Idaho, innovation takes a unique form in both the leadership and educational approach. The private college distinguishes itself with a novel co-presidential model, electing to have Doug Brigham and Jim Everett share the responsibilities of the president’s office.
“Doug called me and said I’ve got a crazy idea. What do you think about us doing this together?” said College of Idaho Co-President Jim Everett. “We’re not saying it’s the new innovation, that it’s the new way to go. But it is a different kind of thinking.”
That philosophy of bringing a new kind of thinking to traditional ideas carries over to the school’s academics, where students are asked to find ways to apply their learning outside of the classroom.
“Now all of our students are required to go out into the field and try things,” said Everett. “Before you enter med school and find out you don’t like blood, it’s probably a good idea to see whether this really does feel like the right thing. We’re training people to be adaptable and at the same time think about innovation.”
IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY COMBATS HEALTHCARE STAFF SHORTAGES
In response to the escalating healthcare staff shortages in Idaho, particularly in rural and northern regions, Idaho State University is taking steps to expand its medical and healthcare education programs. This strategic move comes at a time when Idaho, like much of the nation, is grappling with a significant deficit in healthcare providers.
A key element of ISU’s strategy is partnering with LewisClark State College to establish a physician assistant training cohort in Northern Idaho. The new cohort will enable 15 students to train across 21 clinical sites in areas like Lewiston and Coeur d’Alene.
Simultaneously, ISU is broadening its nursing education efforts to Northern Idaho. Moving forward, students who graduated ISU with a bachelor’s degree will have the option to return to school to train in Coeur d’Alene to become a registered nurse, whereas before, the program was only offered in Meridian and Pocatello.
In late December, the school also announced Dr. Robert Wagner as the 14th president of Idaho State University. He will begin his tenure on January 29, 2024. In a press release, Board Member Cindy Siddoway noted Wagner’s sincerity. “He cares deeply about ISU and its campus community. He’ll work hard to establish strong relationships with alumni and community leaders, and he will build on ISU’s recent momentum and be an outstanding leader and advocate for higher education in Idaho.”
NORTHWEST NAZARENE UNIVERSITY FOCUSES ON PURPOSE-DRIVEN PURSUITS
Northwest Nazarene University keeps its Christian mission at the forefront, constantly asking, “How can we transform students into creative and redemptive agents who are making the world a better place?”
Seeking answers to this question, students at NNU are encouraged to look for ways to spend time seeking solutions to real-world problems. For example, their engineering students recently developed a robot to harvest fruit in local Idaho orchards, while their computer science students used AI to read brain scans and help physicians detect early signs of cancer.
“NNU continues to be steadfast in its transformative educational experience that blends the latest technology and cultural awareness with our history of timeless values, enabling students to become creative and redemptive agents in the world,” Northwest Nazarene University President Joel Pearsall said. “This mission-centric approach leads to innovation in ways that are essential to who we are as a university and pushes our students to think critically and respond with compassion, clarity, and excellence when they enter Idaho’s evolving workforce as competent adults.”
Moving forward, NNU plans to continue evolving its curriculum to meet the shifting needs of the world at large. In this respect, NNU has much in common with the other schools in Idaho who look to the challenges in the world around them to guide their next big idea.
