Ricks Receives Candidacy Status for Four-Year Accreditation

Ricks College, which is in the process of changing to Brigham Young University—Idaho, received notice on 22 March that it is a candidate for full accreditation of its proposed bachelor’s degree programs. Candidacy status was granted by the Commission on Colleges and Universities of the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges.

Work is continuing on the transition process. Ricks President David A. Bednar said the school will continue to be officially known as Ricks College until the beginning of this fall semester, when the first upper-division classes will be offered.

The accreditation commission reviewed the college’s plan to introduce 46 bachelor’s degree programs during the next five years. As the next step in the accreditation process, the commission plans to undertake a full-scale evaluation of BYU—Idaho in the spring of 2004.

The new university will offer both integrated and specialized bachelor’s degrees. Integrated degrees will require students to study in multiple disciplines and will provide broad-based preparation for employment and life. These integrated degrees will require up to 45 hours in the principal area of study, while specialized degrees will require approximately 70 hours. BYU—Idaho will also continue to offer associate degrees.

BYU—Idaho is expected to experience an increase in the size of the student body during the next few years. The projected number of students on campus is roughly estimated at 9,200 for 2001–02 to 11,600 for 2005–06. The school will maintain its student-faculty ratio of 25 to 1.