State college gets approval for name change

At the Idaho State Board of Education meeting on April 16, a state school was approved to make a major change to the institution: Its name.

Lewis-Clark State College officials at the meeting requested approval to change the school’s name to Lewis-Clark State University, receiving unanimous approval from the board.

Though the board approved the request, the name change requires an amendment to the state statue, the school stated, and now goes to the state Legislature for consideration.

“We are very grateful to the State Board of Education for its careful consideration of this proposal, as well as its support and guidance,” said Cynthia Pemberton, president of the school. “We look forward to next steps as we work together for the benefit of students and Idaho.”

School officials said the name change is meant to give better representation to the school’s education programs being offered, including GED, certificate, associate, baccalaureate and graduate programs. Changing from college to university is also expected to help Lewis-Clark recruit and market, as well as “strengthen existing partnerships and pipelines with sister institutions, and grow awareness of new niche graduate-program offerings.”

The school was allowed to begin offering graduate degrees in 2020 and has since launched several graduate programs, it stated, including master’s degrees in nursing leadership in health care and cyber-accounting.

Lewis-Clark has held more than 25 focus groups and other meetings with students, staff, faculty and alumni to discuss the potential name change, receiving strong support.

“Since its founding in 1893, LC State has undergone three name changes,” Pemberton said. “As we strive to best serve students, our community and Idaho, now is the right time to evolve our name to university. This shift would not change the scope and focus of the high quality, accessible, affordable education we provide. Instead, it would better communicate what we offer already.”

She added that if the school is successful in getting approval for the name change, “we will be proud to serve as Idaho’s only small public university.”