The educational experience most University of Idaho students engage in is a reflection of our rapidly changing world. Investments in technology and broadband, sped up by the pandemic, can ensure Vandals today, and Vandals tomorrow, have access to transformational learning environments in any subject, no matter where they are. Nearly 900 undergraduate and graduate students already pursue their courses online. While U of I will always deliver an unparalleled in-person education, just as we have for more than 130 years, the world demands accessibility at a distance. We can provide that access to every corner of Idaho â and around the globe. Faculty and staff have learned what works and what doesnât over the past 10 months, focusing on projects that support improved outcomes for students. - We invested nearly $1 million in CARES Act funding distributed by Gov. Brad Little to improve distance learning, equipping 21 research and Extension centers with needed technology and accelerating the purchase of nearly 200 laptops across our system. Software has been ordered as design work continues on lecture-recording studios to benefit faculty around the state.
- Our IT team has used Idaho Department of Commerce grant funding to bring broadband internet and publicly accessible wireless to our Extension offices in Boundary, Bonner and Kootenai counties, as well as the Sandpoint Organic Agriculture Center.
- Possibilities are being looked at to expand our broadband consortium â the Idaho Regional Optical Network â to 12 additional Idaho counties. In some cases, installations are proposed next door to our Extension centers. Our goal is to offer distance education delivery from all 42 U of I Extension centers and our nine research and Extension centers in addition to the instruction already delivered through our urban centers of Boise, Idaho Falls and Coeur dâAlene.
- An Online Education Working Group convened last year with a charge to analyze U of Iâs remote learning capabilities and suggest the best path for quick expansion. Its recommendation calls for keeping a mix of the digital and in-person elements weâve been utilizing since last March, improving the delivery of programs in our areas of strength and where there is demand in the marketplace. We will be investing $1 million annually over the next several years to build out programs and support services for online and distance learners.
U of Iâs efforts are running parallel with the State Board of Educationâs Idaho Online program. Idaho Online is designed to consolidate online courses, streamline the process of earning a degree and improve the infrastructure for all the stateâs colleges and universities. Improving services for Vandals who take online courses will be vital as we work to ensure every student â whether learning remotely or through a mix of in-person and online classes â can take the same pride in earning a degree. Weâre committed to investing in the needed infrastructure and building the marketplace that will better support online-only learners. The return will be worth it as we improve accessibility for our students, our communities and our entire educational ecosystem. Remote learning at the university has come a long way since the Engineering Outreach programs of the 1980s that allowed students to earn their degree by mail through lectures on VHS tapes. This new focus on opportunities to strategically promote offerings and expand where we have expertise, combined with investments in broadband access and technology, will help us meet Vandals where they are for generations to come. |