JFAC members get to see funding at work

COEUR d’ALENE — The Idaho Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is tasked with creating a budget that funds many public initiatives and institutions.

This week, members of the committee were in North Idaho to get a hands-on look at what those budgets are funding through visits and meetings. The primary focus of Wednesday’s meetings, which took place at North Idaho College, was higher education and Idaho’s goal of having 60 percent of its residents ages 25-34 having a college degree or certificate by 2020.

North Idaho College President Rick MacLennan, who led a discussion that featured updates from various college officials, opened the meeting by showing the committee a video taken of the new Career and Technical Education Facility in Rathdrum.

The facility, MacLennan said, highlights the collaboration and community engagement needed to propel Idaho’s post-secondary education completion rates forward. MacLennan also mentioned the relationship NIC has fostered with both the University of Idaho and Lewis-Clark State College. A facility in the works, MacLennan said, will house staff from all three institutions.

“It’s going to be a place where anyone with higher education needs in North Idaho can come and have those needs met,” he added.

Kassie Silvas, NIC dean of Career, Technical and Workforce Education, provided legislators with an update on dual-credit opportunities for high schoolers in the region. Silvas said, due in large part to legislative support, there is a lot of momentum going forward and the college is expected to have more than 1,000 dual-credit students in the fall.

“People with dual-credit experience are very likely to persist with their college education,” Silvas added.

Rep. Rick Youngblood, R-Nampa, asked Silvas about if the college was actively engaging with rural and remote high schools to make sure students know about the opportunities, and state funding, for dual-credit courses. Silvas said they are, and mentioned outreach centers the college has set up, staffed with members of the community who understand the needs of that community and can effectively reach high school students.

“We’re trying to encourage dual-enrollment any way we can,” MacLennan added. “If there’s a barrier, we try to find a way around it. If there’s a unique need, we try to address it.”

Molly Kreyssler, NIC director of advising and student success, gave legislators a look at the college’s work in what she called “intrusive advising” of students.

“It’s not as scary as it sounds,” Kreyssler said.

Instead, intrusive advising comes from years of studies at the college looking at what students say is needed for them to successfully obtain a degree or certificate. Students, she said, need to feel their educational institution is building a direct relationship with them.

“If students have that feeling throughout their experience here, they’re more likely to be successful,” Kreyssler said.

One method of addressing the issue, she added, involved the college requiring students to attend one-on-one academic advising sessions when they first enroll, rather than just a large orientation. The college is also, according to Kreyssler, making sure high school seniors are aware of their post-secondary options.

Members of JFAC also visited the North Idaho Crisis Center for an update from staff and board members as to how the legislatively funded facility is performing.