Pocatello-based Idaho State University has requested additional funding from the state to expand the Idaho Dental Education Program, idahoednews.org reported Feb. 11.
Six notes:
1. The Idaho Dental Education Program provides postgraduate dental education for students through a partnership between Idaho State University and Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.
2. First-year students are taught at Idaho State University and go on to complete the remaining three years of their dental education at Creighton University.
3. The program currently accepts 32 students, but ISU is looking to increase enrollment to 36 students in response to an influx of applicants.
4. The program normally receives between 30 and 50 applicants each year, but that number has grown to 120 applications, according to Jeff Ybarguen, the program's director.
5. ISU requested an additional $54,000 per year to support the expanded program.
6. Mr. Ybarguen told idahoednews.org that students who are not accepted into the program tend to enroll at more expensive schools that increase their student loan debt, which then makes it hard for them to return to Idaho to practice. However, 70-80% of IDEP’s graduates return to practice in Idaho.