The Idaho State Board of Education has hired a consulting firm to look for ways to consolidate services and create potential efficiencies at Idaho’s four-year institutions. 
Chicago-based Huron will immediately begin visiting campuses and working with staff at the University of Idaho, Lewis-Clark State College, Idaho State University, and Boise State University to look for opportunities where services could potentially be consolidated to reduce or avoid operating costs. Board members say the firm will conduct an intensive review of all back-office functions to determine which can be delivered at lower cost and higher quality by combining services currently being managed separately at each college and university.
The Idaho Legislature approved Governor Butch Otter’s $250,000 budget request to hire an operational systems integration consultant, stemming from recommendations made by Otter’s Higher Education Task Force that convened last fall. Huron will develop and present a report to the State Board at its December meeting.
If the Board accepts recommendations, it will then decide whether they can be implemented through Board policy, or if legislative approval is required. (Idaho State Board of Education)
