[Vision2020] UI in Sandpoint could open in 2009

[Debbie Gray]

As part of the university's land grant mission, UI
must serve all people of the state of Idaho. In such a
geographically spread out state that requires taking
the university TO the people. Otherwise we face
becoming irrelevant and removed from the true needs of
people in communities and won't be able to work with
them to solve their problems and form strong
partnerships that will benefit both the UI and Idaho
citizens. That's called an engaged university. That's
called providing life-long learning opportunities to
people. 

And should everything at the university be based
solely on a cost/benefit analysis? If so, I guess
everyone should switch majors to the colleges that can
bring in the most grant/research money and produce the
highest paying alumni who will then donate the most
money back to the university. Thankfully, that's not
how it's done!
Debbie Gray

--- Donovan Arnold <donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com>
wrote:

> I think UI needs to focus on the Moscow Campus which
> is not holding its own. It is important that people
> also realize that branch campuses don't raise money
> for the University, it costs the University more
> money, and in turn costs students in Moscow more
> money. Students living out of Moscow also costs
> Moscow potential revenue. 
>    
>   Best,
>    
>   Donovan
> 
> Carl Westberg <carlwestberg846 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>   UI in Sandpoint could open in 2009....from the
> Spokesman-Review
> 
> Shawn Vestal
> Staff writer
> August 9, 2007
> 
> Sandpoint could be a college town by this time in
> 2009.
> 
> Coldwater Creek founder Dennis Pence, through his
> foundation, has expanded 
> the amount he’s willing to spend to see that happen
> – from $26 million to at 
> least $36 million, according to the agreement before
> the Idaho State Board 
> of Education.
> 
> The board, meeting in Twin Falls, is expected to
> approve a deal today or 
> Friday to sell 77 acres owned by the University of
> Idaho in downtown 
> Sandpoint to Pence’s Wild Rose Foundation for $6.25
> million. Most of that 
> money would go into a trust for educational programs
> at the site, and the 
> foundation will spend at least $30 million to build
> the first four 
> buildings, which would then be turned over to the
> UI, according to the 
> agreement.
> ADVERTISEMENT
> 
> “This is unique in that we’re really able to create
> a whole campus from the 
> very beginning,” said Larry Branen, the UI’s
> associate vice president for 
> North Idaho.
> 
> If all goes as planned, classes would start at the
> Sandpoint Center in fall 
> 2009. A variety of offerings would be available,
> with an emphasis on 
> interdisciplinary programs focusing on the liberal
> arts, natural resources 
> and food science, Branen said. Other programs would
> include the UI’s 
> executive MBA program, already available in
> Sandpoint, as well as offerings 
> from North Idaho College.
> 
> The scope of the commitment from Wild Rose, as well
> as the targeted 
> approach, make it a unique situation for the UI, and
> one that’s rare in 
> higher education, Branen said. It often takes years
> for universities to 
> establish branch campuses, and their growth can be
> slow. In this case, the 
> UI will have four new buildings and a campus
> environment already in place 
> when classes begin.
> 
> And it’s expected to come at relatively little cost
> to the UI. Proceeds from 
> the land sale will create a foundation to provide
> $500,000 a year for 
> faculty and programs; the UI expects to spend
> another $150,000 in the first 
> couple of years of operation. But the amount of the
> UI’s commitment could 
> vary, depending on state funding and enrollments at
> the campus.
> 
> “Essentially, it’s a turnkey operation,” Branen
> said. “But we have to turn 
> on the lights and bring people into it.”
> 
> Attempts to reach Pence today were unsuccessful. He
> is chairman and CEO of 
> Coldwater Creek, the Sandpoint-based clothing
> operation that has seen 
> booming growth in recent years. Business Week listed
> it last year as one of 
> 100 “Hot Growth Companies.”
> 
> The nonprofit Wild Rose Foundation was formed in
> 2005, with Pence, Karen 
> Pence and Rosalind Holland listed as foundation
> directors with the Idaho 
> secretary of state’s office.
> 
> The foundation approached the UI with the proposal,
> and initially proposed 
> spending at least $20 million, in addition to buying
> the land. Branen said 
> that discussions between Wild Rose and the UI led to
> a doubling of space for 
> classes and research, driving up the amount
> committed by the foundation.
> 
> Many in Idaho are wary of big plans for branch
> campuses, given the difficult 
> times that arose from the UI’s grand plans for a new
> operation in Boise 
> several years ago. When those plans began to
> unravel, in 2002, the UI was 
> left with a big budget hole and its former financial
> vice president wound up 
> convicted of misusing public funds.
> 
> A large part of the problem in that case was that UI
> officials had big 
> plans, but no solid long-term financing as it began
> spending millions on 
> design. In this case, the money’s identified and the
> UI doesn’t have any 
> liability should Wild Rose fall short on its
> commitment, Branen said.
> 
> “I think we all learned a lot from Boise,” he said.
> “This is something where 
> the funding is up front. We know where it’s coming
> from.”
> 
>
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