Countless students have done it.

Spend two years at North Idaho College, rack up credits, earn an associate's degree and transfer to the University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene for a four-year degree, all without leaving the comfort of home in North Idaho.

The two new leaders of these institutions aim to preserve these affordable paths to higher education for local students while fortifying an already positive working relationship between the schools.

"I love community colleges, I really do. I love NIC and the role it plays and the opportunity it presents," said University of Idaho Coeur d'Alene CEO Andrew Fields. "I see us hand in hand. Anything we can do to support NIC is huge. We want to provide the pathways for students into NIC and out of NIC and to U of I, just as many pathways as possible."

Fields became CEO of the local University of Idaho office Aug. 17. He holds a doctorate in educational administration and leadership, an MBA with a focus on executive leadership and a master's degree in adventure-based management and outdoor leadership. He also has a bachelor’s in environmental recreation, an associate degree in liberal studies and a welding technologies certificate. He came to Idaho from Shasta College in northern California, where he oversaw instruction, student services and administrative operations across three campuses as the college’s dean of extended education. Shasta is where he earned his welder's certificate.

NIC President Nick Swayne took on his new role Aug. 1. He came to NIC after serving as the executive director of 4-Virginia, a partnership between eight Virginia universities. He served in several national and international leadership roles as an officer in the U.S. Army. Swayne was raised in the Moscow area, graduated from Moscow High School and earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho. He earned a master's degree in public administration from Northeastern University and a doctorate in postsecondary strategic leadership from James Madison University.

Fields and Swayne shared the spotlight Tuesday during the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce's Connect4Lunch event in Red Lion Templin's on the River. They spoke of their own educational experiences, their first impressions of North Idaho and their visions for student success.

Fields said the close proximity and relationship between the schools is part of what drew him to the position with the U of I.

"I'm a big fan of what NIC has been doing for the students and what they will continue to do," he said.

Swayne emphasized the value NIC provides to students in the community.

"My tagline is, 'Smart people go to NIC,'" he said. "You can save those dollars; you can work part time. I want students to transfer to U of I and take that money with them and go finish their degree. It's a great partnership."

Swayne addressed NIC's recent accreditation concerns. He said the accreditation issues come from college governance and do not have anything to do with the performance of instructors or faculty, nor are they based on student performance or the student experience at the college. He shared comments he received from U of I President Scott Green in Moscow regarding how NIC's students fare once they reach the U of I campus.

"'North Idaho College students are outstanding,'" Swayne read from Green's letter. "'At the University of Idaho, we value the preparation, maturity and persistence as transfer students seeking to complete their bachelor's degrees. We have steadfast faith and trust in the quality of the academic experience at NIC and we eagerly welcome the engaged and well-prepared students from NIC with high expectations for what they contribute to our campus.'"

Fields said he is excited about what the future holds for the partnership between the institutions.

"The possibilities are huge," he said.