LOOKING FOR A GREAT GIFT? (AND GET ONE FOR YOURSELF, TOO!) HERE IT IS Stunning color photos are combined with informative text in this 232-page book about the geology, ecology, pre-history, history and politics of the Snake River Plain. Don't miss this in-depth look at one of the most unique regions in the world. ORDER TODAY ... ----------------------------------------------ORDER FORM Name __________________________________________ Allow one week for shipping. Address ________________________________________ Please make checks payable to Boise State University. City ------------------------------------------­ State ----------------------------- Send orders to: Boise State University Phone ( ) _________________________________ Office of University Relations 1910 University Drive ____ hardcover at $39.95 $ _______ Boise, ID 83725 __ softcover at $29.95 $ _______ Phone (208) 385-1577 _$2._ shipping per book $ ____ TOTAL $ ____ North Fork of the Payette River near Smith's Ferry If you float this river, try to spot the logging history. The beauty and recreational opportu­ Good forest practices yield the wood nities offered by the Payette River and paper products people need area above Smith's Ferry attract while still providing magnificent thousands of visitors every year. For forests for all to enjoy. most, it's hard to tell that the Boise Cascade forests here have been selectively logged three times in the last 50 years. ~ Boise Cascade \(til Idaho Region Operations We care for our forests, naturally. o thon '95 BSU Calling Alumni &Friends Sept. 25 - Oct. 26 a II BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY VOL. XX, NO.4 SUMMER 1995 FEATURES NO PLACE UKE HOME 16 Home, once again, has become the focal point for many Americans. BUSINESS AS USUAL 20 But for many people, businesses are being run out of the home. CLASSES ON TV 24 Telecourses are convenient, but are they effective? SCHOOL'S OUY - 28 ... And home is "in" for some families that have opted to home school. DEPARTMENTS FIRSY WORD 7 CAMPUS NEWS 8 GIVING 15 SEARCH 32 ALUM NOYES 36 GALLERY 46 FOCUS is published quarterly by the Boise State University Office of News Services. PRESIDENT: Charles Ruch PROVOST AND VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC = warhawk AFFAIRS: Daryl Jones VICE PRESIDENT FOR FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION: Buster Nee! Air Museum VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS: David S. Taylor EDITOR: Larry Burke STAFF WRITERS: Bob Evancho, Edie Jeffers, Amy Stahl and Melanie Threlkeld McConnell PHOTOGRAPHY: Chuck Scheer EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Brenda Haight ALUMNI NEWS: Donna Conner TECHNICAL ASSISTANTS: John Kelly, Trina Olson, Arianne Poindexter and Mike Spencer ADVERTISING SALIS: P.V. Quinn & Co., 411 S. Fifth Street, Boise, Idaho 83702 Phone: (208) 385-0338 PUBLISHING INFORMATION: FOCUS' address is BSU Education Building, Room 724,1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725. Phone: (208) 385-1577. Letters regarding editorial matters should be sent to the editor. Unless otherwise specified, all articles may Caldwelllndusbial Airport be reprinted as long as appropriate credit is given to 4917 Aviation Way the author, Boise State University and FOCUS Galdvvell, Idaho magazine. Diverse views are presented and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of FOCUS or the {208} 454-2854 official policies of Boise State University. Paid For By The Idaho Travel Coundl ADDRESS CHANGES: Send changes (with address label if possible) to the BSU Alumni Office. 1910 University Drive, Boise, Idaho 83725. 1f you receive -- duplicate copies of the magazine, please notify the Alumni Office at the above address. Friends of the university who wish to receive FOCUS may do so by submitting their names and addresses to the Alumni Office. I·MAIL: Readers can contact FOCUS electronically at [email protected] Make sure they have the staff and capabilities to produce your entire magazine, catalog or brochure entirely in-house, from start to finish. Next, be sure to choose a printer that you can view as your partner. Because as your partner, they will be just as concerned as you with quality, price and delivery. At Century, we not only have what it takes to do the job from start to finish, but eagerly accept the responsibilities of being your printing partner. For quality in printing and service, call: ABOUT THE COVIR: Our homes are changing. Offices are replacing extra bedrooms, while kitchen tables are subbing for school desks. Century Publishing Company Extra phone lines, fax machines and computers are becoming the new household appliances. PO Box 730 This issue of FOCUS lakes a look at how Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814 technology is allowing us to work, teach our children, and earn college degrees from the comfort of our homes. We explore the reasons a (208) 765-6300 home-based operation works for some and not for others, and the challenges many people face. (800) 824-1806 Julie Erb illustration. 6 FOCUS a a MOVING TOWARD A DISTRIBUTED CAMPUS By Charles Ruch, President number of projects have been second building in that complex will become of industrial or school buildings. Each site g initiated over the past six a home for the Raptor Research and Techni­ provides easy access for students enrolling in ~ months to expand the capacity cal Assistance Center. In cooperation with courses delivered at that location. ~ of Boise State University to the University of Idaho and with a planning In late fall1994, the State Board ofEduca- ~ Amake post-secondary education accessible grant from the 1995 Legislature, plans are tion assigned to BSU the responsibility of a to all interested citizens in our region. Each under way for a new Engineering!fechnol­ offering upper-division courses leading to a plays an important role in the development ogy building. These new proposed academic baccalaureate degree in business in the Magic of a university designed to accommodate buildings, when combined with recent stu­ Valley. ,consequently, we will distribute increased demand for higher education and dent housing additions, a new child-care higher education in this discipline in Twin to respond to the changing demo­ Falls starting this fall. graphics and economics of the The main campus, branch cam­ greater Treasure Valley. Taken to­ pus and various sites all require gether, we are coming to view this students to come to a specific loca­ model of higher education as a dis­ tion. Through the use of distance tributed campus. learning models, we also are able A university with a distributed to distribute higher education campus is committed to providing courses directly to students - at a high degree of access to its pro­ home or at work. grams and services. Such a campus While BSU has always enjoyed would include a full-service main a strong role in delivering instruc­ campus, one or more branch cam­ tion through television, radio and/ puses that would offer complete or computer, our plans are to ex­ degree programs, several additional pand and further coordinate our sites where courses are offered, and efforts in this regard. With the as­ an interlocking use of distance sistance of a $1.3 million grant from learning facilities, such as television, radio or center, and athletic complex improvements, the Economic Development Administration computer networks. are shaping our main campus to serve into and a $700,000 match from the Idaho Legis­ Characteristic of such an institution is that · the 21st century. lature, we will develop a distance learning the same faculty are responsible for instruc­ In Canyon County, plans are moving ahead network for the 10 rural counties served by tion throughout the campus distribution net­ to expand our current branch campus. A BSU. The hub of this interactive television work. This assures constancy among offer­ $2 million appropriation from the Legisla­ network will be our Canyon County branch. ings and eliminates issues of transferability. ture will be used to complete the renovation Of course, our nationally recognized The high standard usually associated with of our current facility. Phase I was com­ master's degree program in instructional and the main campus is found regardless of where pleted in 1994. The remodeled building can performance technology is delivered world­ courses are offered. In sum, the faculty as­ accommodate growth in enrollment and pro­ wide through computer networks. And BSU sure excellence; the distributed campus maxi­ grams, but only for the short term. Long­ Radio provides radio programming and pub­ mizes access. range plans call for continued construction lic service information to an area that in­ Here is how we are building toward this of a full-service branch campus where com­ cludes southern Idaho and parts of Nevada model of a university to serve the citizens of plete curricula through the associate level or and Oregon. Idaho and beyond: beyond may be offered. A branch campus Higher education that is accessible is one Construction continues as we expand the will not duplicate housing, activities, athletic of the hallmarks of Boise State University. main campus. The 56,000-square-foot Gen­ or administrative services of the main cam­ Through the notion of a distributed campus, eral Academic building will be out to bid this pus and will be located for convenient ac­ we are positioning the institution to provide fall. When occupied in spring 1997, this new cess. With an additional $3 million appro­ higher education to the ever growing, more facility will include 980 classroom seats, seven priation from the Legislature, land acquisi­ place-bound population of the 21st century. science labs, a 150-station computer lab de­ tion and facility design for the branch cam­ It is a stimulating, but daunting challenge. signed to be operated 'round the clock,' and pus will be undertaken this year. As always, I would appreciate your com­ a new home for the physics department. Even with these two locations in Canyon ments and reactions. I can be reached at Their move from the Science-Nursing Build­ County, our current and future plans call for (208) 385-1491 or at [email protected] ing will permit the renovation of chemistry further distributed sites.