Ketchum running for seat on NIC Board of Trustees

COEUR d'ALENE - Robert Ketchum is seeking election to North Idaho College's Board of Trustees because he believes the community college's students and the county's property owners deserve the best return on their investments of time, effort, tuition and tax dollars.

The former director of NIC's Workforce Training Center also believes his longtime interest in workforce development, and his experience and knowledge in post-secondary education and training make him a good candidate for the board position.

"A real highlight of my career in education has been linking education and business, education and the economic life of the community, and education to the economic well-being of students," Ketchum said. "I've always felt that's important because there are many people on the side of academia for academia's sake, but somebody has to be on the side of, 'What's the return on investment for students, what is the economic payback?'"

The payoff, Ketchum said, should be the favorable economic impact that comes from having a skilled workforce made up of wage-earners who remain, and spend those wages, in Kootenai County.

Ketchum is running against incumbent Christie Wood for NIC's board Seat B.

The college trustee election takes place Nov. 2, during Idaho's general election, and is a nonpartisan race.

Trustees serve four-year terms on the college's five-member governing board, and must reside in Kootenai County. It is a volunteer position with no compensation for services.

Ketchum is campaigning with Ron Nilson, who is running against Ken Howard for Seat A on the college board.

"NIC is a tremendous asset in our community. It's been a partner in economic development," Ketchum said. "What we want to do is build ever-stronger ties between the business community, the economic life of the community and the efforts of NIC. It's a positive perspective. It's a positive approach."

Colleges, universities and post-high school training providers need to be more concerned with the employability of their students, Ketchum said.

He cited a recent national study done by Georgetown University that shows he's not alone in those thoughts.

"The study advocates that colleges and universities across the board need to better align all of their curriculum, not just a little piece called professional-technical, but all of their curriculum needs to be better aligned with what the labor market requires," Ketchum said. "It is something that is increasingly important. We have an economic situation where the cost of higher education has been escalating beyond inflation for years."

Ketchum, who has a Ph.D. in vocational-technical education was employed by NIC from 1990 until last year, when the college's administration did not renew his contract and eliminated his position.

He started a new business last spring, The Ketchum Group, a Coeur d'Alene-based venture that offers customized and structured on-the-job training programs to employers.

Ketchum is aware of critics who say he is seeking election to the board because he has an ax to grind.

"Of course, I'm disappointed. However, I have nothing but a desire to see North Idaho College continue to be a leader in academics and workforce development," Ketchum said. "I see this as a way to extend my public service."

Ketchum has served as an evaluator for the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities, the agency that provides accreditation for NIC. He is a six-year member of the board of Jobs Plus, the region's economic development organization.

Ketchum, 59, lives in Coeur d'Alene with his wife, Heather. He has a grown son and a grown stepson.