University of Idaho to offer associate degrees for the first time, address workforce needs
The University of Idaho plans to offer associate degrees starting later this year after approval from the state.
The Idaho Board of Education last week approved the proposals from the university to let the institution offer three two-year degrees for the first time in its history.
The degrees include an associate of science in forest nursery management and technology; forest operations and technology; and wildland fuel and fire technology. The programs stemmed from stakeholder input and an assessment of workforce needs across the state and region.
“We have a long legacy and history in those areas and in working with our partners throughout the state and region,” Dennis Becker, dean and professor in the College of Natural Resources, told the Idaho Statesman. “We’re astutely aware of the need for workers.”
Becker said the university is in a strong position to offer these degrees and help fill some of those workforce needs.
The school has an over 10,000-acre experimental forest to provide learning opportunities. The university also has a commercial research nursery, where they offer hands-on opportunities for students to learn nursery production and management.
“We’re uniquely qualified in a way that our sister institutions don’t have the expertise or capital assets to pull these off,” Becker said.
In forest operations, there is an aging workforce and a critical workforce need, he said.
“It’s not surprising when you look at the escalation of wildfires in the region,” Becker said./ “There is a massive need for individuals who are trained — not just for putting our fires and working on the fire line, but also trained in understanding fuel management, and how fire interacts with the landscape.”
Across the country, he said, thousands of new firefighters are being hired because fire has become such a “ubiquitous part of the western landscape.” It’s a concern every summer.
But the workforce is needed not only to put out fires during fire season, but to also conduct prescribed fires throughout the year. Idaho also has a significant seedling deficit, Becker said, and the university is working to provide training to more people on how to grow those seedlings.
Two-year degrees another option for students
The two-year associate degrees will provide a basic foundation of knowledge for students, Becker said. They also includes some general education courses. The two-year degree provides more options for students, who may not want stay at the university for four years, he said.
Four-year degrees in these areas include more advanced training, Becker said. The programs are set up in a way where students who do want to continue on to a four-year degree can do so. Becker said so far, the university has seen a lot of support for these degrees, particularly in rural areas.
The degrees still need to be accredited, meaning they will be evaluated to ensure they meet certain standards by forestry field experts.
This story was originally published April 28, 2022 at 3:34 PM.
