<DIV>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. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best,</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Donovan<BR><BR><B><I>Carl Westberg <carlwestberg846@hotmail.com></I></B> wrote:</DIV> <BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">UI in Sandpoint could open in 2009....from the Spokesman-Review<BR><BR>Shawn Vestal<BR>Staff writer<BR>August 9, 2007<BR><BR>Sandpoint could be a college town by this time in 2009.<BR><BR>Coldwater Creek founder Dennis Pence, through his foundation, has expanded <BR>the amount he’s willing to spend to see that happen – from $26 million to at <BR>least $36 million, according to the
agreement before the Idaho State Board <BR>of Education.<BR><BR>The board, meeting in Twin Falls, is expected to approve a deal today or <BR>Friday to sell 77 acres owned by the University of Idaho in downtown <BR>Sandpoint to Pence’s Wild Rose Foundation for $6.25 million. Most of that <BR>money would go into a trust for educational programs at the site, and the <BR>foundation will spend at least $30 million to build the first four <BR>buildings, which would then be turned over to the UI, according to the <BR>agreement.<BR>ADVERTISEMENT<BR><BR>“This is unique in that we’re really able to create a whole campus from the <BR>very beginning,” said Larry Branen, the UI’s associate vice president for <BR>North Idaho.<BR><BR>If all goes as planned, classes would start at the Sandpoint Center in fall <BR>2009. A variety of offerings would be available, with an emphasis on <BR>interdisciplinary programs focusing on the liberal arts, natural resources <BR>and food science, Branen
said. Other programs would include the UI’s <BR>executive MBA program, already available in Sandpoint, as well as offerings <BR>from North Idaho College.<BR><BR>The scope of the commitment from Wild Rose, as well as the targeted <BR>approach, make it a unique situation for the UI, and one that’s rare in <BR>higher education, Branen said. It often takes years for universities to <BR>establish branch campuses, and their growth can be slow. In this case, the <BR>UI will have four new buildings and a campus environment already in place <BR>when classes begin.<BR><BR>And it’s expected to come at relatively little cost to the UI. Proceeds from <BR>the land sale will create a foundation to provide $500,000 a year for <BR>faculty and programs; the UI expects to spend another $150,000 in the first <BR>couple of years of operation. But the amount of the UI’s commitment could <BR>vary, depending on state funding and enrollments at the campus.<BR><BR>“Essentially, it’s a turnkey
operation,” Branen said. “But we have to turn <BR>on the lights and bring people into it.”<BR><BR>Attempts to reach Pence today were unsuccessful. He is chairman and CEO of <BR>Coldwater Creek, the Sandpoint-based clothing operation that has seen <BR>booming growth in recent years. Business Week listed it last year as one of <BR>100 “Hot Growth Companies.”<BR><BR>The nonprofit Wild Rose Foundation was formed in 2005, with Pence, Karen <BR>Pence and Rosalind Holland listed as foundation directors with the Idaho <BR>secretary of state’s office.<BR><BR>The foundation approached the UI with the proposal, and initially proposed <BR>spending at least $20 million, in addition to buying the land. Branen said <BR>that discussions between Wild Rose and the UI led to a doubling of space for <BR>classes and research, driving up the amount committed by the foundation.<BR><BR>Many in Idaho are wary of big plans for branch campuses, given the difficult <BR>times that arose from the UI’s
grand plans for a new operation in Boise <BR>several years ago. When those plans began to unravel, in 2002, the UI was <BR>left with a big budget hole and its former financial vice president wound up <BR>convicted of misusing public funds.<BR><BR>A large part of the problem in that case was that UI officials had big <BR>plans, but no solid long-term financing as it began spending millions on <BR>design. In this case, the money’s identified and the UI doesn’t have any <BR>liability should Wild Rose fall short on its commitment, Branen said.<BR><BR>“I think we all learned a lot from Boise,” he said. “This is something where <BR>the funding is up front. We know where it’s coming from.”<BR><BR>_________________________________________________________________<BR>Messenger Café — open for fun 24/7. Hot games, cool activities served daily. <BR>Visit now. http://cafemessenger.com?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_AugHMtagline<BR><BR>=======================================================<BR>List
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