In his State of the State Address earlier this month, Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter laid out plans to help students with tuition costs. ASUI lobbyist Nate Fisher said Otter”s focus on the cost of education is a win for students.
“I am supportive of addressing college affordability, and I appreciate his commitment to scholarship programs that help us to become a more educated state,” Fisher said.
In addition to scholarship programs, Fisher said the governor hopes to use “tuition lock,” which would ensure that the amount of money undergraduate students pay during enrollment remains constant for at least four years.
“I know the rising cost of tuition can impede their (university”s) enrollment and retention rates,” Fisher said. “Locking in tuition for four years will help a lot.”
Fisher said UI will also likely receive retention programs and there may be an additional five seats added to the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI) medical program.
Otter said in his address he also wants to direct $10 million toward expanding Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programs throughout the state.
Executive Director of the newly-created Idaho STEM Action Center Angela Hemingway said the STEM programs would help provide a well-trained workforce.
“I think if legislators are listening to industries and businesses in their area, they will hear loud and clear that there is a gap in the STEM workforce,” Hemingway said.
Hemingway said these programs will include K-career levels of education, including the establishment of the Intel Science and Engineering Fair.
“We are currently the only state in the nation without a state-wide science fair,” Hemingway said. “We hope to partner with the University of Idaho to be one of the host sites for the fair next year.”
Otter said these programs are important in improving education this coming year.
“We are entrusted with the singular constitutional responsibility of providing for a “general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools” throughout Idaho,” Otter said. “Frankly, I”m convinced that we would see this as our highest priority.”
Jessica Gee can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @JessicaC_Gee