North Idaho College
North Idaho College (NIC) is a public community college in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. It has an enrollment exceeding 6,000 and is situated at the north end of Lake Coeur d'Alene near downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Tubbs Hill, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, at the east bank of the outflowing Spokane River.[3] It is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities but was placed on "show cause" status in early 2023 due to concerns about its board of trustees.
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| Motto | Changing Lives Every Day |
|---|---|
| Type | Public community college |
| Established | August 10, 1933 |
| Accreditation | NWCCU |
Academic affiliations | Space-grant |
| Chair | Greg McKenzie[1] |
| President | Nick Swayne[2] |
Administrative staff | 162 |
| Students | 7,800 |
| Undergraduates | 6,300 |
Other students | 1,500 |
| Location | , , United States 47°40′32″N 116°47′56″W |
| Colors | Maroon & Gray |
Sporting affiliations | Northwest Athletic Conference |
| Mascot | Cardinal |
| Website | nic.edu |
History
The school was established during the Great Depression in 1933 as "Coeur d'Alene Junior College," with classes held at City Hall. It moved to its present campus in 1939, at the site of the old Fort Sherman (1878–1900), and the name was changed to "North Idaho Junior College"; the present name came in 1971.[4][5]
The college's board of trustees has engaged in actions that have drawn national attention on multiple occasions. In 2021, the board fired the college president without cause (later settling a lawsuit with him for nearly $500,000).[6][7] Continued conflict among board members led to resignations of senior administrators at the college, the resignation of two trustees, the nonrenewal of some of the college's insurance policies, and a warning from the college's accreditor.[7] In late 2022, the board suspended the college president, Nick Swayne, without explanation and hired a new attorney without an application or interview process; a few months later, the college was ordered by a judge to reinstate Swayne.[7][8] These actions and concerns about their legality and the college's stability led Moody's Investor Service to downgrade the college's bond rating and warnings from the college's accreditor, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU). In February 2023, NWCCU placed the college on "show cause" status, giving it one month to convince the accreditor that the college should remain accredited.[9][10]
Academics
North Idaho College offers Associate's degrees, including transfer degrees and the Associate of Applied Science degree.[11]
Notable alumni
- Braian Angola (born 1994), Colombian basketball player who plays for Ironi Nes Ziona of the Israeli Basketball Premier League
- Jason Bay, Major League Baseball All-Star, attended North Idaho College from 1997-1998.[12]
- Bryan Caraway, UFC bantamweight mixed martial artist (attended)[13]
- Barbara Ehardt, member of the Idaho House of Representatives and former college basketball coach
- Kelvin Gastelum (attended), The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen season 17 winner; current mixed martial artist in the UFC.[14]
- Rick Jore, former Montana State Representative, received his associate degree from the school in 1978.[15]
- Sarah Palin, former Alaska Governor and 2008 Vice Presidential candidate, attended North Idaho College during the Spring 1983 semester before transferring to the University of Idaho.[16]
- Steve Parker, NFL player[17]
- Trevor Prangley, All-American wrestler; mixed martial artist, formerly for King of the Cage, Strikeforce, Bellator, and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[18]
- Josh Thomson (attended), wrestler;[19] retired mixed martial artist, former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion.[20] Formerly in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Bellator MMA.[21]
- Mike Whitehead (attended), three-time All-American wrestler; professional mixed martial artist.[22]
Gallery
Meyer Health & Sciences Building
Edminster Student Union
Christianson Gymnasium
Historic Fort Sherman Officers Quarters
References
- "Board of Trustees".
- "President's Office".
- "North Idaho College". Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "History & Tradition". North Idaho College. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
- Davis, Jan (April 19, 1971). "Name change pleases all at college". Spokane Daily Chronicle. p. 5.
- Whitford, Emma (September 24, 2021). "Board Fires College President Without Cause". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- Moody, Josh (December 12, 2022). "A Leadership Vacuum at North Idaho College". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- Hanlon, James (March 5, 2023). "Judge orders North Idaho College to reinstate president; board meeting planned Monday". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved March 6, 2023.
- Thornbrugh, Kaye (January 4, 2023). "Another type of warning for NIC". Coeur d’Alene Press. Retrieved January 5, 2023.
- Thornbrugh, Kaye (February 10, 2023). "NIC receives show cause letter from accrediting agency". Coeur d’Alene Press. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
- "Degrees Offered". Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "North Idaho College Athletics - Go Cardinals!". Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "Bryan Caraway UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- "Kelvin Gastelum UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- "Montana State Representative Rick Jore Profile". Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
- "Sarah Palin's college daze". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- "STEVE PARKER". profootballarchives.com. Archived from the original on 2014-11-29. Retrieved November 13, 2014.
- "Trevor Prangley MMA Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.
- MiddleEasy @MiddleEasy. "Rawesome Fight and MMA News - MiddleEasy.com". Rawesome Fight and MMA News - MiddleEasy.com. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
- Colon, Nick. "Josh Thomson: The True Lightweight Champion of Strikeforce". Bleacher Report. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- Sherdog.com. "Josh Thomson MMA Record". Sherdog. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
- "Mike Whitehead UFC Bio". Retrieved 2014-01-01.

