Idaho Falls Extension of Idaho State University (Pocatello, Rexburg: credit, home)

[norcalmom101]

Anybody have any experience with the ISU site in Idaho Falls? I am curious about going back to school without braving the roads to Pocatello. From the official sites it looks like the course and degree offerings are pretty limited. Also anyone have experience with EITC? I'm mostly curious about Nursing, Criminology, and Health Admin., for starters

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

Anybody have any experience with the ISU site in Idaho Falls? I am curious about going back to school without braving the roads to Pocatello. From the official sites it looks like the course and degree offerings are pretty limited. Also anyone have experience with EITC? I'm mostly curious about Nursing, Criminology, and Health Admin., for starters

Norcalmom101 - - BTW - did I ever give you the website for Idaho Falls Magazine? It has a lot of info about everything from local clubs/school districts, businesses etc. that people moving to the area find useful. The link is: Idaho Falls Magazine.

ISU - IF. WOW - one of my favorite subjects I love to address. Idaho's failure to plan an advanced education system like CA, TX or even states like AL, TN etc. always amazes me. However, there are probably other reasons for that which I don't want to address there.

Too clarify, technically, it's University Place - as U. of Idaho classes are offered as well. If only more U. of Idaho classes were offered............
Here is the link: University Place in Idaho Falls.

ISU- IF. Positives - the largest extension of ISU. Especially with Areva and CAES, I wish ISU - IF would become the main campus for ISU.

I am NOT an ISU alumni. I'm reporting what current and former students have told me. Too few basic classes in Idaho Falls. Some students feel those in Pocatello are worried about offering more in Idaho Falls, as the Poky campus would lose more and more enrollment there.

EITC - you are mostly correct. I've not attended the school, but thousands have. What students have told me, is general education credits can be taken so much more cheaply at EITC, then transferred to ISU/ U of I etc. than taking basic classes directly from ISU. (This could also be a reason ISU doesn't offer more basic classes in Idaho Falls, but the need is still there).

EITC offers many health science degrees. Given a first-time EVER joint program, not only RNs, but BSNs and I believe MSNs can now be completed in Idaho Falls in the new nursing building edition. Additional allied health care degrees are available now utilizing the nursing building as the main training facility, besides the clinicals at the hospitals etc. Limited time traveling to Pocatello is needed.

Check the ISU schedule. ISU has daily bus service from Idaho Falls to Pocatello and back. For those who have to take 1-2 classes in Pocatello, or go there sometimes, the bus is an option.

The good news, besides the fact ISU decided to work with EITC to help more people obtain nursing and other health career related degrees, is the newly completed nursing building (per a recent grad), isn't even half full. So there is a lot of room for classrooms, labs etc. as more students want more education.

That's about all I can write. Check with ISU or EITC for more info. Most likely, EITC will be more helpful and knowledgeable about the Idaho Falls based programs. Technically, now, ISU - IF, has two locations. At University Place, and the joint nursing/health science programs at EITC.

Good luck!


MSR

P.S. FWIW, I predict a private university will build in Idaho Falls, is ISU does NOT step up to the plate in the next 1-2 years and place the programs/degrees in Idaho Falls that are needed. Others have already told me they agree with me. It is an interesting time for advanced education, given the direction Areva will force some shifts.

[norcalmom101]

MSR, as usual you are a Treasure Trove of useful information! Thank you! The University Place and UI sites were new to me, but will have to wait for a personal visit or printed materials as I havn't found the EITC or ISU-IF Sites esp. useful, and yes the course offerings seem very limited. I did not know about the joint Nursing programs and can't wait to find out more from EITC.

It really is too bad that the programs are so limited, as someone new to IF and new to winter driving I'm likely going to have to disregard some of the programs of greatest interest because the aren't in IF : (

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by norcalmom101

MSR, as usual you are a Treasure Trove of useful information! Thank you! The University Place and UI sites were new to me, but will have to wait for a personal visit or printed materials as I havn't found the EITC or ISU-IF Sites esp. useful, and yes the course offerings seem very limited. I did not know about the joint Nursing programs and can't wait to find out more from EITC.

It really is too bad that the programs are so limited, as someone new to IF and new to winter driving I'm likely going to have to disregard some of the programs of greatest interest because the aren't in IF : (

Glad I could help.

First, about the driving, don't forget the daily buses that pick up students in Idaho Falls, Shelley and I think Blackfoot to commute to Pocatello daily. That info should be available at ISU's website.

There are several nursing programs available, now, based at EITC. Be it an LPN or others, now many more are available with the new nursing building. Also, you may want to explore dental assisting or many of the other health care programs at EITC.

If $ is an issue for tuition and you are interested in nursing, you may want to get a basic certification (even a CNA etc.) and see if there are jobs available at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center - Home Page). I know many nurses who have advanced their degrees, while working at EIRMC, given the tuition assistance from the hospital. Some started as essentially orderlies and now are directing programs, or shifts, as RNs, BSNs or MSNs as they have worked their way up the ladder at work, while attending college for additional degrees.

EIRMC pays their fair share, both in $ and in having ISU nursing students do many rotations at EIRMC, in helping increase the number of nurses graduating in eastern ID each year.

Also, while this may not fit for you, don't forget BYU-Idaho is in Rexburg. You may want to check their website and what classes are offered where. They have a very strong nursing program with many of the clinicals in Idaho Falls.

Maybe something about your upcoming move will seem a little better now.

MSR

[norcalmom101]

Thank you again MSR, this is great advice. I'm still waiting to hear back from EITC/ISU about residency for tuition purposes, and am hoping home ownership will qualify me since I will be new to the area, but have owned a home there for some time.

I didn't know about the bus from IF, that is good news, esp. with the price of gas. I didn't drive in college, and got alot of work done while riding public transit.

I also didn't know about tuition assistance from hospitals to continue studies, and will continue to use the info you've provided in my new endeavors.

My upcoming move is seeming brighter!

[norcalmom101]

Link for Commuter Bus to ISU Pocatello from IF/Blackfoot:
ISU Commuter Express (http://www.isu.edu/departments/transp/commuter/schedule_if_black.html - broken link)
.

[RugbyDave]

I'm from Alaska and just left ISU in poky (received a clinical licnese there in a grad program). Being from AK I was entitled to resident tuition rates via WICHE (part of the Western Undergrad/Grad reciprocal tuition plan). I am unsure of which states still participate but this was an amazing thing for me; The only thing better was finally leaving Idaho

I joke but please check into that as you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by the reduction of rates! You just need to prove your residency in one of the 'sister states'. Call up ISU and ask to speak to someone in accounting - they should be able to connect you to the right person; perhaps even the department you are wanting to be part of may know! Good luck!

Edit: link for WICHE/WGRP: http://www.wiche.edu/studentExchange. Also, fwiw, there were four commuter students in my grad program at poky (Shelley, IF, IF, Rigby) and they had no problems attending Poky on-site. They even did their clinical rotations here and had patients throughout the week. It's quite simple with busses! Just a thought...

[Mtn. States Resident]

Originally Posted by RugbyDave

I'm from Alaska and just left ISU in poky (received a clinical licnese there in a grad program). Being from AK I was entitled to resident tuition rates via WICHE (part of the Western Undergrad/Grad reciprocal tuition plan). I am unsure of which states still participate but this was an amazing thing for me; The only thing better was finally leaving Idaho

I joke but please check into that as you may find yourself pleasantly surprised by the reduction of rates! You just need to prove your residency in one of the 'sister states'. Call up ISU and ask to speak to someone in accounting - they should be able to connect you to the right person; perhaps even the department you are wanting to be part of may know! Good luck!

Edit: link for WICHE/WGRP: Student Exchange Programs | Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. Also, fwiw, there were four commuter students in my grad program at poky (Shelley, IF, IF, Rigby) and they had no problems attending Poky on-site. They even did their clinical rotations here and had patients throughout the week. It's quite simple with busses! Just a thought...

Good idea, Rugby Dave. ISU has a nationally known Pharm.D. Program. I'm glad you added the WICHE program. I think the 5 states are: AK, WA, MT, ID and WY. It's probably worth checking out options in various states for tuition reduction/residency status.

I hope you are happy wherever your post ISU days have taken you.

MSR