State Board of Education give green light for ISU tech program move

Students at Idaho State University’s top research center could be getting some unlikely roommates soon.

On Wednesday afternoon the Idaho State Board of Education unanimously approved a request from ISU officials to look into moving several of the tech programs out to the RISE complex.

The green light means now the University can move forward with engineering and cost-estimating the move.

It comes down to this – the students need more space, and newer facilities.

In a statement released by ISU on Wednesday, dean of the College of Technology Scott Rasmussen said, “Moving these programs into this space will not only increase enrollment but enable programs to work closely together to provide opportunities for regional industries.”

The ISU programs that could be relocated to the RISE include: diesel, on-site power, computerized machining, welding, drafting, etc.

The University said since there is an influx in so many students who want to enroll in the welding program but not enough space for everyone, there is up to a two-year waiting list.

On Wednesday some advisors from the College of Technology machine shop said there is a 100 percent job placement post-graduation for students enrolled in that program. The jobs are out there, but the struggle right now is to just find enough students who are able to enroll.

In Wednesday’s meeting agenda, ISU pointed-out the school is also nearing its end of a contract with the Continuing Education building, and the move will enable ISU to “ultimately dispose of aging, off-campus facilities.”

The move will not mean any programs currently at the RISE complex will be nixed – the space has been there, and now it will be utilized.

The University will need final state board approval after it completes the engineering and cost estimation work before implements the move.

A tentative move date has not yet been set.