Lewis-Clark State College streamlining services, expanding programs in Coeur d'Alene

To capitalize on existing and emerging opportunities and synergies, and to help meet some of the region’s greatest needs, Lewis-Clark State College is streamlining and expanding its operational and programmatic focus in Idaho Region 1.  

Administrators have announced that the school is expanding its efforts, energy and in-person faculty and staff presence at the Bob and Leona DeArmond College and University Center. The move is in coordination with North Idaho College’s relocation of Cardinal Central, its student services center, to DeArmond this summer. 

“LC State and NIC have worked together for over 40 years to seamlessly meet North Idaho’s education needs,” LC State President Cynthia Pemberton said in a Wednesday news release. "We believe concentrating our efforts and energy in the DeArmond Center — a joint use facility designed specifically to facilitate and enhance our education partnerships — will result in increased collaboration, efficiencies and, ultimately, better service for students.” 

In addition to centralizing faculty and services at DeArmond, LC State has strategically expanded its programs, including through partnerships with NIC, to meet high-demand needs in the region in areas such as teacher education, business and health care education. For example, its new master’s programs in nursing and cyberaccounting are expected to help address specific Region 1 workforce needs and are tailored to accommodate working adults.  

According to the Idaho Department of Labor, seven of the 10 fastest-growing occupations over the next 10 years in North Idaho are in health care. To this end, LC State is expanding its health care education partnerships with NIC and other sister institutions to offer increased opportunities in nursing, radiographic science, paramedic science, physician assistant, medical lab technology, physical therapy assistant, health care management and other allied health programs. LC State’s new bachelor’s in health studies is an example of a program that perfectly complements NIC’s allied health care offerings. 

“At LC State, we are deeply committed to enhancing health care education in North Idaho," said Krista Harwick, interim dean of the School of Professional Studies at LC State.

"Through collaborative efforts with our sister institutions, we are expanding and strengthening partnerships to increase health professions program opportunities in Coeur d’Alene — broadening access to high-quality training that meets the needs of our communities and health care partners,” Harwick said. "As an example, we have developed a number of pathways for NIC students in allied health professions into our new bachelor of health studies program.”  

LC State has offered bachelor’s degrees in Coeur d’Alene and in partnership with NIC since 1982, longer than any other public institution.  

“While LC State programs, partnerships and delivery continue to evolve to meet the needs of the day, one thing that will never change is our commitment to serving the higher education and workforce needs of North Idaho,” Pemberton said. “LC State is proud of its long history and bright future in Region 1.” 

Info: lcsc.edu/degrees