Starting in the fall of next year, Idaho's state college and universities will find that 88 basic core courses have the same name and number, no matter where taken.
If students transfer, the courses will meet graduation requirements at Lewis-Clark State, University of Idaho, Boise State and Idaho State, as well as the community colleges at Twin Falls and Coeur d'Alene."This is one modest but very significant step toward making Idaho education a seamless system that gives students the maximum mobility and flexibility to achieve their goals," said Rayburn Barton, executive director for the Board of Education.
The board directed the schools to work out a "common course listing" a year ago and approved the final draft at its June meeting. That makes Idaho just one of 11 states with common names and numbers for core courses at all public institutions.
The common listing will take effect in the fall of 1997, since course catalogs already have been printed for this fall.
The next step will be to work with Idaho's private colleges. Ricks College, Albertson College of Idaho and Northwest Nazarene all have expressed an interest.