College of Idaho

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The College of Idaho is a liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 800 students located in Caldwell, Idaho. From 1991 until October 2007 it was known as Albertson College of Idaho. [1]

[edit] History

The college marks its beginning six years before Idaho's statehood when the Presbyterian Church's Wood River Presbytery, meeting in Shoshone, formed a commission to examine the possibility of establishing a Presbyterian college somewhere in the Idaho Territory. The commission found support for such a venture and in 1890 the Presbytery accepted an offer from a group of Caldwell citizens, led by William Judson Boone, to locate the institution in that community.

The college was founded in 1891 by Dr. Rev. William Judson Boone with the support of the Wood River Presbytery. It first opened its doors to students on October 7, 1891. Nineteen students showed up at the College of Idaho for the first classes in 1891. The first classes were held downtown in the Caldwell Presbyterian Church and a year later the college moved into its own downtown building. The campus moved to its present site on the east side of town in 1910 when Henry and Carrie Blatchley donated 20 acres of land. Sterry Hall, a classroom and administration building, and Finney Hall, the first residence hall, were built that year. Voorhees Hall, the second of what would become a total of five residence halls, opened two years later.

In 1893, it was incorporated under the laws of the State of Idaho and placed in the hands of a self-perpetuating Board of Trustees. Dr. Boone served as president of the College for 45 years until his death in 1936.

In 1991, the college changed its name to Albertson College of Idaho to honor alumnus and long-time donor Joe Albertson and his wife Kathryn. The Albertsons, who founded one of the country's largest supermarket chains, Albertson's Inc., were generous benefactors of the college.

On October 10, 2007, college president Bob Hoover announced that the name would revert to The College of Idaho, as to promote acceptance and gain financial backing from alumni who were unhappy about the original name change.^[1]

[edit] Academics

The college offers 32 majors and 37 minors and 17 collaborative programs through its 16 departments.

One of the College of Idaho’s strengths is in the area of pre-medicine and preparation for professions in the health sciences. Thanks to collaborative programs between C of I and other institutions, students can spend three to four years at C of I and two to three years at the cooperating university, earning degrees from both. Collaborative programs in health professions include: nursing, clinical lab science, speech and language pathology and audiology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, pharmacy, pharmaceutical science and public health.

In addition, the College of Idaho offers collaborative programs in engineering including: agricultural, biological systems, biomedical, chemical, civil, computer, earth and environmental, electrical, geological, industrial, manufacturing, materials, mechanical, metallurgical and mining. There is also a collaborative program in math-computer science.

The academic calendar provides opportunities for experimental as well as conventional approaches to learning. During the fall and spring terms, most of the traditional courses are offered. Separating these two terms is a six-week winter session, which stresses experimentation, innovation, creative teaching, and imaginative learning. Some teachers use the tutorial method; some use the seminar format; others adopt independent research methods. Even for those faculty who choose a traditional format, the emphasis is on the heuristic nature of scholarship.

The College has been accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities since 1922. Its teacher education program has been approved by the Idaho State Department of Education since 1913, and its graduates are eligible for certification in all states participating in the Interstate Certification Compact. The College is accepted by, and the alumnae are eligible for, membership in the American Association of University Women (AAUW).

[edit] Academic departments

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physical Education
• Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• Art
• English
• Modern Languages
• Music
• Philosophy and Religion
• Theatre
• Anthropology and Sociology
• Business
• Education
• History
• Political Economy
• Psychology

[edit] Special academic programs

• Asian Studies
• Environmental Studies
• Gipson Scholar Program
• Leadership Program

[edit] Student activities

Student life at the College of Idaho is made up of many experiences from late night study sessions to midnight movies, games of Frisbee golf, student club meetings, theatre productions, concerts, debates and basketball games. The College of Idaho also has a strong student government, the Associated Students of Albertson College of Idaho (ASACI) and strong intramural and club sports programs, including an outdoor program. Outdoor program activities include backpacking, hiking, fly fishing, camping, winter camping, snowshoeing, kayaking, rafting, rock climbing, backcountry skiing, inner tubing, and stargazing.

The College has more than 50 student clubs and organizations. Whether volunteering with the Potter’s Clay group to build low-income housing in Mexico or writing articles for the student newspaper, all students are encouraged to engage with the community on- and off-campus.

[edit] Athletics

The College of Idaho Coyote athletic teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

The men’s and women’s ski teams have won 34 national championships in the last 27 years. The men’s baseball team with star player has qualified for postseason play every year since 1987, winning the national championship in 1998.

C of I sponsors intercollegiate athletic competition for men in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, skiing, soccer, swimming, and track. Women compete in basketball, cross country, golf, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track, and volleyball.

[edit] Noteworthy alumni

Among the alumni who have become elected officials, successful business owners, and other community leaders are two former governors, current Idaho governor C.L. "Butch" Otter, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, an Academy Award-winning musician, the co-discoverer of vitamin B-12, the founder of Albertson's Inc., and the co-founder of Patagonia sportswear.

• Elgin Baylor, 11 time NBA all-star, played his first collegiate season at The College of Idaho.
• R.C. Owens, NFL Wide Receiver, played for the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Colts, and New York Giants.

[edit] Noteworthy faculty

• Jim Angresano, Political Economy; named Carnegie Foundation Idaho Professor of the Year^[when?]
• Steven Maughan, History;
• John Thuerer, Psychology;
• Rochelle Johnson, English and Environmental Studies;
• Sara Heggland, Biology;
• Eric Yensen, Biology;

[edit] Archives

The personal papers of Robert E. Smylie and the legislative papers of former senator Steve Symms are located at the college. The Steunenberg Papers, which detail Idaho's Trial of the Century, were recently donated to the Archives.

Idaho's Gem and Mineral Collection is located at the Orma J. Smith Natural History Museum at the College.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The College of Idaho - official site
• College Cuts 'Albertson' name - The Idaho Statesman - 12-Oct-2007