The higher education landscape is changing, and even shrinking, nationwide. But not in Idaho.

That’s what three higher education leaders shared with members of the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber on Thursday morning at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. 

North Idaho College President Nick Swayne, Lewis-Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton and Andrew Fields, CEO of University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene, weighed in on enrollment changes, the impact of AI on higher education and more. 

“Students vote with their enrollment and enrollment is down across the nation, but not in Idaho,” Fields said, adding that the University of Idaho has seen nine straight semesters of growth. “Idaho continues to grow. We are poised to lead nationally on this.” 

Idaho’s focus on experiential learning sets it apart from other states, Swayne said. He pointed to NIC’s apprenticeship offerings through the Workforce Training Center and a planned “innovation lab” that will bring together students from different disciplines to tackle real-world problems identified in the community. 

Swayne said NIC is building “tightly-woven” programs that allow students to complete two years of education at NIC and then seamlessly continue onto a four-year degree at LCSC or U of I. Already on offer are “two plus two” programs in the areas of mining engineering, culinary arts and health professions. 

“In all those areas, we are working closely with business leaders and our four-year partners,” he said.

Swayne said the institutions are also examining the possibility of discounted tuition for NIC graduates who continue their education on the Coeur d’Alene campuses of LCSC and U of I. 

“The narrative is that higher ed is too expensive and the students graduate with too much debt,” Pemberton said. “We need to change that narrative. In Idaho, education is accessible. Education is affordable. Education ladders seamlessly among the institutions. Education serves the workforce in Idaho and education matters to help people know how to learn, grow and change.” 

The college presidents also shared how the institutions they lead are leaning into the use of AI technologies. 

“There’s a lot of fear and anxiety about AI,” Fields said. “It’s a disruptive technology. It’s a tool to embrace and harness.” 

At the University of Idaho, Fields said AI is “woven through” the new strategic plan and is being used to leverage data decision insights and look at enrollment needs. 

Pemberton said LCSC’s Center for Teaching and Learning is focused on how to use AI as an education tool embedded across all courses and disciplines, from diagnostic and simulation lab work in the health care fields to data analytics in business settings. 

“At LC, we have basically taken the bull by the horns on this,” she said. 

Swayne said he’s not afraid of AI technologies. 

“I don’t think it’s going to replace jobs,” he said. “I think it’s going to make us way more efficient at what we do and it’s going to free up humans from drudgery tasks and allow us to be more creative and more inspirational in what we do.”