Small College ➔ Small University
We want to your feedback
Would your division/unit like to schedule a presentation on this topic? Please email Logan Fowler (ljfowler@lcsc.edu) and Dr. Royal Toy (retoy@lcsc.edu).
About
Lewis-Clark State College is seeking to change its name from college to university. Campus conversations with students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters have been robust, with good questions asked and overall support for the change expressed. Next steps involve approval by the Idaho State Board of Education and the Idaho Legislature, as well as accreditation approval from the Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities.
Scope
The potential moniker change would not in any way alter LC State’s scope or mission. The change would only help LC State be more successful in its existing market niche as Idaho’s only public four-year institution offering a small, private school experience at an affordable public school price. The change is anticipated to align LC State with small school peers, delineate it from two-year institutions, and increase LC State’s ability to collaborate – not compete – with four-year sisters.
A name for today and tomorrow.
Based on research engaged and feedback gathered, the designation “college” no longer accurately reflects the breadth, importance, and excellence of LC State’s mission and value to students and Idaho. Today, as a comprehensive regional institution, LC State embodies and distinguishes itself more accurately as a university than a college. Among Idaho public institutions, the four community colleges utilize the label “college” while those offering baccalaureate degrees are called “universities.” All of LC State’s 13 institutional peers, as approved by the State Board of Education, have moved away from “college.” In fact, less than 2% of public schools within LC State’s Carnegie Basic Classification in the nation use “college” (6 out of 308).
Where the need is great, there’s LC State.
Today, the need for advanced degrees, especially in healthcare, is tremendous. For the past 60 years, LC State has expertly served the healthcare education needs of north Idaho, being the only public four-year institution offering nursing and allied health professions degrees in Idaho Regions 1 and 2. In fall 2024, the college began offering its first full master’s degree, a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Idaho needs graduates of this program and a significant barrier to LC State attracting applicants is its name. Prospective students need to know that LC State is not a community college. They need to know that LC State offers graduate-level programs like the MSN degree, and a name change is the single most effective and efficient way to support this goal.
Learning from history…
Established in 1893 as a state normal school, LC State’s name has evolved over time from Lewiston State Normal School (1893), to Northern Idaho College of Education (1947), to Lewis-Clark Normal School (1955), and to Lewis-Clark State College (1971). Nearly all of these moniker changes were prompted by the offering of new degree types, resulted in overwhelmingly positive outcomes, and – unfortunately – faced opposition. For example, LC State ended up being the last “normal” school in the nation. Why? Much of it was because of fears that if the school offered bachelor’s degrees it would hurt enrollment at other schools. This fear proved to be unfounded. The need for quality bachelor’s programs was great, and the need for master’s programs today – especially in healthcare – is great. LC State is not only positioned to meet these needs, but has and continues to demonstrate excellence in doing so. The school just needs a name to match.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Why
While there are innumerable reasons for the change, five key reasons are listed below.
1. Graduate Programs – LC State now offers graduate-level programs, including degrees that are vital to the healthcare needs of north Idaho. Prospective students, current students and graduates of these programs will benefit from a name that more accurately denotes this.
2. Not a Community College – None of Idaho’s four public community colleges use the word “community” (e.g., North Idaho College). This has contributed to the prevalent misconception that Lewis-Clark State College is a community college, which continues to undermine LC State’s ability to recruit students and fulfill its mission.
3. Quality of Programs – The word “university” is often perceived as denoting a higher quality than “college.” This is likely why nearly all four-year institutions in the nation have evolved to university over time. LC State programs are of the finest quality and are deserving of the best label available. For example, LC State’s nursing program is regularly ranked No. 1 in Idaho among four-year institutions (Nurse.org, 2023).
4. Marketing and Recruiting – Marketing research suggests there are considerable advantages to being labeled a “university,” including when it comes to attracting students in online, international, and out-of-state markets, all of which would help grow Idaho’s workforce.
5. Partnerships and Pipelines – LC State has developed several pipelines at community colleges in Idaho and Washington. The change to “university” would increase awareness about these partnerships and the reality that LC State is a destination school to complete bachelor’s and, now, master’s-level programs.
Yes, three times. The institution was founded in 1893 as Lewiston State Normal School. It became Northern Idaho College of Education in 1947 and Lewis-Clark Normal School in 1955. Lewis-Clark State College was adopted as the official name in 1971. The changes in 1947 and 1971 were prompted, in large part, by the college’s evolution to offering bachelor’s degrees.
Yes, in fact, between 2001 and 2016, 122 four-year colleges in America changed their name from “college” to “university.” (Action, Economic of Education Review, 2022).
Yes, in 1963, Idaho State College added graduate programs and was renamed Idaho State University. In 1972, Boise State College added graduate programs and was renamed Boise State University in 1974.
Among LC State’s 13 peers, as designated by the Idaho State Board of Education, 12 of them changed from college to university between 1970-2022. The only peer with “university” not officially in its name is the Oregon Institute of Technology, which serves at Oregon’s polytechnic university.
No, there is no size or enrollment requirement to be called a university. In fact, nine of LC State’s 13 peers have smaller enrollments yet go by university.
The Process
LC State must obtain approval from the Idaho State Board of Education and the Idaho Legislature, as State Statute 33-3101 must be amended. Northwest Commission of Colleges and Universities accreditation review and approval will also be required.
Yes, over a five-month period (December of 2023 to April of 2024), more than 20 focus groups and campus conversations were held with students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters of the college. The feedback received was overwhelmingly in favor of evolving to university. And feedback continues to be gathered.
The Impact
No, a change in name has no impact on tuition.
No, a change in name has no impact on faculty workload research expectations.
It will take an estimated $50,000 to update materials and signage. However, it is possible that many updates will simply be made in accordance with regular maintenance schedules. For example, signage changes to the P1FCU Activity Center gymnasium floor would be made when the floor is already scheduled to be refinished.
LC State has been proud to play a lead role in how Idaho institutions partner and collaborate since its founding in 1893. History has proven that LC State’s offerings have always supplemented existing programming while meeting crucial needs in Idaho (e.g., teaching, nursing, career-technical). LC State’s evolution to graduate-level programs and a name to match will open the door for more collaboration with sisters and more opportunities for students.
LC State and the University of Idaho serve two very different missions, and history has taught that both institutions are vitally important to the region and to Idaho. Additionally, with the advent of online learning, geography does not play as significant a role as it once did in Idaho. Students can attend the university of their choosing from anywhere in Idaho, and ambitious additions to online offerings have been proposed.
No, Career & Technical Education is and will remain an essential part of LC State and its role, especially in north Idaho. This will not change. Idaho State University is an example of a school that goes by “university” and has a thriving CTE program.
No, LC State is proud to offer programming from GED preparation to master’s degrees. The term “university” provides an umbrella large enough for all educational offerings. Conversely, the term “college,” especially if misconstrued as a community college, is a much smaller umbrella.
LC State firmly believes in its accessible, affordable, high-quality, small-school niche and the advantages it offers, especially for students. A name change won’t change this. LC State is a small college that does big things, and it will be a small university that does big things.