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Originally Posted by WendyBG  I'm confused. Does the state of ID support universities in other states?
Wendy |
I'm sorry if that was confusing. Let me try again.
Idaho is a geographically, economically, culturally, and politically divided state. In many ways, it acts like three separate states. Each region of the state looks to a different economic, and in many ways, cultural center. (If you live in Idaho Falls or Coeur d'Alene, and say "we're going to the big city for shopping and a concert", no one assumes you're going to Boise!) And because of the divided political power in the state, each region has it's own university.
The three regions are:
North Idaho: looks to Spokane, has UI/Moscow.
Southwest Idaho: centered in Boise, has BSU.
Southeast Idaho: looks to Salt Lake, has ISU/Pocatello.
Because Idaho has limited tax revenue, each of these three universities are, well, frankly, not what they would be if Idaho chose to have only one major research university. Most other states* of comparable population do so, with better results. Idaho's reasons for not doing so are political, not educational.
The quality of higher education should be a major issue in Idaho, but it is not.
(Prior to about 1970, Idaho did have only one major research university: UI. But the growth of BSC into BSU has badly starved it of funds ever since.)
*WY, ME, DE, LA, ND, AK, NM, IN, NE, OK, KY, MD, HI, etc.