MOSCOW, Idaho – Oct. 23, 2015 — This fall, the state of Idaho is launching a bold new initiative called Direct Admissions to encourage students to continue their education after graduating high school.
In support of this initiative, on Nov. 10 the University of Idaho will hold enrollment events in 43 locations across the state. Called Enroll Idaho, these events welcome high school juniors and seniors, their families and friends and high school officials to attend an informational session about the value of higher education, how to pay for college, as well as the programs offered by UI.
The number of Idaho residents who continue their education beyond high school is well below national averages. To combat this trend, in 2010 the Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) set a goal that 60 percent of Idaho citizens between ages 25-34 will have a postsecondary education degree or certificate by 2020. In support of this idea, UI President Chuck Staben proposed a direct admissions initiative that would help simplify the process for getting into college for Idaho’s high school students during an SBOE meeting last summer.
On Aug. 17, 2015, the SBOE approved the Direct Admissions initiative. This new plan alerts all Idaho high school seniors with appropriate high school GPA and SAT scores that they have been conditionally admitted to any of the state’s eight postsecondary institutions. Students not meeting the established benchmark will be conditionally admitted to Idaho’s six community and technical colleges.
“Direct Admissions changes the conversation from ‘Should I go to college?’ to ‘Where should I go to college?’” Staben said. “We want every college-ready student to know early in his or her senior year of high school, ‘Yes, you can go.’”
Statistics show that people with postsecondary education are likely to earn $22,000 more per year, or $1 million more dollars over a lifetime, than those who stop at a high school diploma. Two-thirds of all jobs in the U.S. will require education beyond high school by 2025.
With one of the only K-20 systems in the nation, the state of Idaho is uniquely positioned to carry out the Direct Admissions initiative. UI is a perfect partner, as the only state institution with a presence in every county across the state. The Enroll Idaho event is at the core of UI’s land-grant mission and is being organized in cooperation with UI’s county Extension offices. For a complete list of Enroll Idaho locations, go to www.uidaho.edu/enrollidaho.
