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Purpose, Functions, and Objectives of the University of Idaho

The highest aspiration of a university is to imbue the human mind with knowledge, tolerance, and vision, and to stimulate a lasting attitude of inquiry. The University of Idaho shares this aspiration with universities everywhere. The particular purpose, functions, and objectives of the university have been defined as follows:

Purpose. In the widest sense, the purpose of the University of Idaho, a publicly supported comprehensive land-grant institution, is to serve the people of the state and nation as a major center for the preservation, advancement, and transmission of knowledge. Deriving from this purpose are the functions to be performed and the objectives to be achieved through the interaction of the various components and publics of the university.

Basic Functions and Objectives. Since its founding, the functions of the university have been viewed as threefold--teaching, research, and service. The broad objectives relating to these functions are, respectively:

  1. To offer undergraduate and graduate academic programs of excellent quality in the liberal arts and sciences and in many professional disciplines so that qualified students may develop into responsible, thinking citizens, provided with a sound general education, prepared for a lifetime of learning, and equipped with the professional and technical skills needed by society.
  2. To add to knowledge through research, scholarship, and creative activities in both fundamental and applied fields, and to seek ways of applying that knowledge to the betterment and enrichment of humanity.
  3. To make readily available to all people of the state the results of research and the rich heritage of human culture embodied in the arts and sciences.

Unique Functions of the University. As a part of the coordinated system of higher education that encompasses the state universities and college and the public community colleges, the University of Idaho has historically had certain unique functions. Specifically, the university serves the state as:

  1. Its comprehensive land-grant institution, with primary statewide responsibility for instruction, research, extension, and public service in agriculture, architecture, engineering, forestry and wildlife, law, mining and metallurgy, and in designated areas in the arts and sciences, business, and education.
  2. The institution with principal responsibility for research, research-oriented graduate education, and the granting of the Ph.D. degree. As a concomitant of this responsibility, UI's faculty members conduct research as a clearly defined element of their professional duties.
  3. The institution responsible for the state's role as a partner in regional cooperative programs in medical and veterinary medical education.
  4. A center for professional education, operating accredited professional programs in architecture, chemistry, education, engineering, forestry, family and consumer sciences, law, music, and wildlife, fishery, and range sciences, and also offering comprehensive programs in the preparation of public-school teachers, administrators, and counselors.