Chuck Staben

Gov. Little’s Opportunity Scholarship proposal represents much-needed investment in our students, our state and our shared future.

The landscape of higher education is more complex than ever. Students have the flexibility to progress on their own terms and are aided in Idaho by strong relationships between our colleges and universities.

Increasing degree and certificate rates for Idahoans is an important cultural change. Like most cultural changes, we must make continued, consistent efforts on multiple fronts to achieve important goals.

We need to work together as a state on communicating effectively about the cost and value of higher education. At the University of Idaho, we’ve taken steps to make our application and admissions processes easier.

So more Idaho high school students can access higher education, this fall the University of Idaho eliminated the $60 application fee for Idaho residents.

Idaho’s motivated students should have an opportunity to unlock their potential through higher education. At the University of Idaho, we will do everything we can to make that possible. One student at a time, we are investing in great lives.

College education is not for everybody, but we are certainly not reaching enough students with the message of why it is valuable, and how it can be attained.