Meridian, Idaho – U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick is pleased to have helped the College of Idaho cut red tape to secure a $1.3 million National Science Foundation grant for a $6.5 million renovation of the school’s Boone Science Hall building. Education excellence is a top priority for Minnick, who views high quality education as key to making Idaho’s young people competitive in a global economy.
Following is the press release issued today by the College of Idaho:
Caldwell, Idaho—The National Science Foundation has awarded The College of Idaho a grant worth $1,320,939 for completion of the first phase of a major renovation of Boone Science Hall on the Caldwell campus. The NSF grant will be used to provide state-of-the-art research capabilities to C of I students and faculty.
“The College of Idaho is known for its strong, undergraduate science education that prepares students for highly-competitive doctorate and medical programs,” College of Idaho President Marv Henberg said. “The NSF grant will help give us a first-rate, research training facility that is worthy of the proud tradition of sciences at the College.”
Henberg noted that Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick’s office was instrumental in helping the grant award through the final stages of the approval process.
“This is a critically important project which allows The College of Idaho to expand and meet the growing needs of Idaho students who must compete in a global economy,” Minnick said. “This newly renovated and equipped science building ensures that the College continues its tradition of producing excellent scientists and health care professionals.”
The $1.3 million NSF grant, funded as part of the Academic Research Infrastructure Program: Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARI-R2) of 2009, completes a $6.5 million “first phase” renovation of the 1968 building that replaces all major systems, updates research laboratories, improves public and classroom spaces, and brings it into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. A second phase of fundraising is planned to update all teaching laboratories in Boone Hall.
With the NSF funds, College of Idaho faculty and students will expand both individual and collaborative research on problems that are indigenous to the region. The College has plans to explore human impacts on the ecosystem health of the Intermountain West. The funds also enhance the school’s overall research capacity so that more students can be trained in research.
Student-faculty science research is on the rise at The College of Idaho, thanks largely to the school’s involvement in the Idaho NIH-INBRE Program. NIH-INBRE (National Institutes of Health IDeA Network for Biomedical Research Excellence) is a $16.5 million grant program directed by Dr. Carolyn Bohach and designed to increase Idaho’s competitiveness for federal research funding. Boone Science Hall is where C of I conducts its NIH-INBRE research.
Founded in 1891, The College of Idaho is the state’s oldest private liberal arts college. It has a century-old tradition of educating some of the most accomplished graduates in Idaho, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three Marshall Scholars, and another ten Truman and Goldwater Scholars. The College is located on a beautiful campus in Caldwell, Idaho. Its distinctive PEAK curriculum challenges students to attain competencies in the four knowledge peaks of the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and a professional field, enabling them to graduate with an academic major and three undergraduate minors in four years. For more information on The College of Idaho, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.
Contacts:
Susan Rowe
Director of Marketing and Communications
208.459.5811
Dr. Sara Heggland
Chair of Biology department
208.459.5063
Jordan Rodriguez
Communications Specialist
The College of Idaho
(208) 459-5529
Minnick Cuts Red Tape: $1.3 Million to Renovate College of Idaho Science Building
Related Press Releases
- Minnick Cuts Red Tape: $1.3 Million to Renovate College of Idaho Science Building
- Minnick Named "Taxpayer Hero" by Watchdog Group
- Wounded Idaho Veteran Receives Standing Ovation from Congress Members: Minnick to Introduce New GI Bill Expansion
- Minnick Calls on House Leadership for Permanent End to For-Profit Earmarks
- Minnick Makes Federal Government Pay Back Idahoans
- Walt Minnick Addresses Idaho Legislature: Calls for Bi-partisan Solutions
- On the President's Budget: Minnick Opposes Deficits, Praises Education and Energy Investment
- Minnick statement on State of the Union speech