The University of Idaho (UI) is an internationally recognized land grant institution with a state-wide presence. In 1954, the University began offering classes in Idaho Falls to support the needs of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) national laboratory activities. The UI – Idaho Falls Center programs have evolved to meet the changing science and engineering educational needs of the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the State of Idaho. We are co-located with Idaho State University (ISU) at University Place. Through cooperative agreements and open transfer of credits between the schools, students attending classes at University Place participate in an educational experience that takes advantage of the strengths of both UI and ISU.
The Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES; www.caesenergy.org), a research and education partnership between the UI, ISU, Boise State University, and INL incorporates the capabilities, infrastructure and strengths of each of its partner institutions in fulfilling the two-fold mission of CAES:
- Conduct research that addresses country’s energy needs
- Educate the next generation of scientists, engineers, technicians and other professionals who will implement the country’s energy future.
The availability of the 55,000 square foot CAES facility in Idaho Falls has enabled the University of Idaho and the other CAES partners to increase the number of research grant and contract addressing key energy issues.
In partnership with the INL, industry, and other universities, UI in Idaho Falls provides select undergraduate and graduate education and research programs addressing state and national energy, environmental and security needs. Through these collaborations UI:
- Capitalizes on our unique location and research infrastructure to provide world-class, research-based graduate education
- Provides a conduit for resources and opportunities between the CAES partners and other research institutions worldwide.
- Enhances the federally funded research base in the State of Idaho.
Another UI – Idaho Falls Center program in Industrial Technology collaborates with Eastern Idaho Technical College in a shared state of the art Industrial and Manufacturing Science Laboratory. Graduates from these programs support the regional growth in in manufacturing related business.
Students in the Nuclear Engineering Program are able to work with many top researchers in the field because of our collaboration and colocation with the INL as they prepare for careers in nuclear energy.
Annually over 400 students are enrolled at the UI – Idaho Falls Center. They choose from 3 bachelor’s degrees, 18 master’s degrees, and 12 doctoral degrees. Along with students from the area, the Idaho Falls Center hosts students from around the world who come to study in Idaho Falls. In total, the educational and research activities of the UI – Idaho Falls Center impacts the region by over 9 million dollars annually.