SS 2.1: Expanding access to education in the American West

How did the land-grant mission shape University of Idaho?

As the United States marks its 250th anniversary through the America250 commemoration, University of Idaho is exploring its own place in the American story. In this episode, Mario Pile, student ombuds, retention specialist in the College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences (go.uidaho.edu/4oXnBl9) and a member of U of I’s America250 committee, discusses the Morrill Act, the land-grant mission and the founding of University of Idaho. The conversation explores how higher education expanded beyond the nation's elite, the university's earliest years and the enduring value of educational opportunity.

Visit our website go.uidaho.edu/vandaltheory. Email us at vandaltheory@uidaho.edu. Learn about Idaho’s premier research university, University of Idaho, at uidaho.edu. 

Music  “Young Republicans” by Steve Combs (go.uidaho.edu/3U3MNHs) via freemusicarchive.org, not modified (go.uidaho.edu/3Q6LeY5). 

Chapters (00:00) What is America 250? (01:29) Getting to know Mario Pile (01:50) What is a land-grant university? (02:38) The early years of University of Idaho (03:53) Expanding access to higher education (05:59) What U of I brought to the state of Idaho (08:20) Final thoughts