University Innovation Fellows - User contributions [en]

Priorities:North Idaho College Student Priorities

2025-12-09T21:38:00Z

Marita.diffenbaugh:

= '''North Idaho College – Strategic Priorities''' =
''via NIC Innovation Fellowship Project (2025–2026)''

These priorities emerged from NIC Innovation Fellows’ design sprints (Aug–Dec 2025), interviews, and Lean Canvas iterations. Each project addresses the challenge of scattered, siloed information and builds toward an organized, AI-supported communication ecosystem.
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=== '''Priority 1: Searchable, Two-Way Communication Hub''' ===
Create a unified, tagged content hub with clear update cycles.

'''Tactics:''' Map student journeys, assign content owners, build prototype hub, and pilot with student feedback.
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=== '''Priority 2: AI-Assisted Information Workflows''' ===
Implement ethical AI tools to keep content fresh and relevant.

'''Tactics:''' Define secure AI use cases, develop feedback loops, test during NIC AI Hackathon, and measure impact.
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=== '''Priority 3: Industry–Education Collaboration Events''' ===
Expand programs like Industry Collaboration & Coffee and NIC AI Hackathon to build trust and align with industry workflows.

'''Tactics:''' Host quarterly sessions, design challenge briefs, showcase prototypes, and collect partner feedback.
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=== '''Priority 4: Student-Centered Feedback''' ===
Measure what matters—confidence, time-to-answer, and connection to opportunities.

'''Tactics:''' Deploy feedback plan after pilots and share insights at showcases and leadership reviews.



[[Category:Student Priorities]]
[[Category:North Idaho College ]]
{{CatTree|North_Idaho_College}}

School:North Idaho College

2025-12-09T21:36:17Z

Marita.diffenbaugh:

North Idaho College is a comprehensive community college established in 1933 on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene at the headwaters of the Spokane River. NIC's vibrant college community includes 5,000+ students enrolled in credit courses and more than 4,400 students taking non-credit courses. College faculty and staff relentlessly focus on providing a rich, rewarding higher education experience for every student.

NIC offers a broad spectrum of career paths for students to choose from, with more than 80 academic degree and career and technical education certificate programs. These career pathways at NIC cover various interest areas, including arts, communications and humanities; healthcare; science, technology, engineering and math; business administration and management; manufacturing and trades; and social sciences and human services.

With state-of-the-art facilities, the college's beautiful main campus is in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, a waterfront city of 52,400 residents. Coeur d'Alene lies within Kootenai County, which is home to 165,000 citizens. The larger city of Spokane, Washington, is just 34 miles west. The greater Spokane-Coeur d'Alene metropolitan area, with a population of 734,000+, is the economic and cultural center of the U.S. Inland Northwest.

NIC plays a vital role in the region's economic development by preparing competent, trained employees for area businesses, industries and governmental agencies. NIC's service area is the Idaho Panhandle, which includes Kootenai, Benewah, Bonner, Shoshone and Boundary counties.

Beyond Coeur d'Alene, NIC meets the diverse educational needs of residents of Idaho's five northern counties with the NIC at Sandpoint, online services and courses and comprehensive outreach services. The college's regional facilities include the NIC Parker Technical Education Center in Rathdrum and the Workforce Training Center in Post Falls. https://www.nic.edu/about/



[[Category:Schools]]
[[Category:North Idaho College ]]
{{CatTree|North_Idaho_College}}

Fellow:Marita Diffenbaugh

2025-12-08T23:24:24Z

Marita.diffenbaugh: /* Bio */

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;Name:Marita Diffenbaugh
;School (Cohort):North Idaho College (2025 cohort)
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;Country:United States of America
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==Bio==
Marita Diffenbaugh is a visionary educator, speaker, and author. As the Director of Innovation at North Idaho College, she leads transformative initiatives that elevate student learning, workforce readiness, and community collaboration. Her 26-year career in Idaho’s education system spans classrooms, schools, school districts, universities, and the State Department of Education. She is the founding principal of Elevate Academy North, a career technical school in Post Falls, Idaho, where she pioneered a model of multi-disciplinary, competency-based learning rooted in strong community partnerships.

Marita holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Education with a Technology emphasis, and an Education Specialist Degree in Executive Educational Leadership. She has shared her expertise at local, national, and international conferences, offering insights on learner-centered design, digital citizenship, and professional development in both in-person and virtual settings.

Marita champions educational environments where students and communities thrive through connection, purpose, and innovation. She is committed to helping others recognize their value and potential. She believes every person has something extraordinary to offer the world—and she works to create spaces where that potential can flourish.

==Achievements==
Author, L.E.A.R.N.E.R., Finding the True, Good, and Beautiful in Education https://www.connectedd.org/marita-d
Co-Founder, Elevate Academy North https://www.bluum.org/idaho-new-school-fellow-brings-career-technical-education-north/
Co-Founder, North Idaho College X-Labs: https://nic.edu/x-labs/
Researcher, Competency-Based Education: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14782103211031342

==Social media profiles==
https://nic.edu/x-labs/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marita-diffenbaugh-031736380/

[[Category:North Idaho College (2025 cohort)]]
[[Category:Student Contributors]]

{{CatTree|North Idaho College}}

File:Marita Diffenbaugh .jpg

2025-12-08T23:23:02Z

Marita.diffenbaugh:

Photo of Marita Diffenbaugh

User:Marita.diffenbaugh

2025-11-10T19:59:59Z

Marita.diffenbaugh: Redirect to Fellow Page

#REDIRECT [[Fellow:Marita Diffenbaugh]]

Fellow:Marita Diffenbaugh

2025-11-10T19:59:58Z

Marita.diffenbaugh: Created Fellow Page - 2025

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|[[File:OOjs UI icon userAvatar.svg|300px]]
|-
|
;Name: Marita Diffenbaugh
;School (Cohort): North Idaho College (2025 cohort)
;Majoring in: Education and Innovation
;Country: United States of America
;Email: [[Special:EmailUser/Marita.diffenbaugh]]
|}

==Bio==
Marita Diffenbaugh is a visionary educator, speaker, and author. As the Director of Innovation at North Idaho College, she leads transformative initiatives that elevate student learning, workforce readiness, and community collaboration. Her 26-year career in Idaho’s education system spans classrooms, schools, school districts, universities, and the State Department of Education. She is the founding principal of Elevate Academy North, a career technical school in Post Falls, Idaho, where she pioneered a model of multi-disciplinary, competency-based learning rooted in strong community partnerships.

Marita holds a Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Education with a Technology emphasis, and an Education Specialist Degree in Executive Educational Leadership. She has shared her expertise at local, national, and international conferences, offering insights on learner-centered design, digital citizenship, and professional development in both in-person and virtual settings.

Marita champions educational environments where students and communities thrive through connection, purpose, and innovation. She is committed to helping others recognize their value and potential. She believes every person has something extraordinary to offer the world—and she works to create spaces where that potential can flourish.

==Achievements==
Author, L.E.A.R.N.E.R., Finding the True, Good, and Beautiful in Education https://www.connectedd.org/marita-d
Co-Founder, Elevate Academy North https://www.bluum.org/idaho-new-school-fellow-brings-career-technical-education-north/
Co-Founder, North Idaho College X-Labs: https://nic.edu/x-labs/
Researcher, Competency-Based Education: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/14782103211031342

==Social media profiles==
https://nic.edu/x-labs/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marita-diffenbaugh-031736380/

[[Category:North Idaho College (2025 cohort)]]
[[Category:Student Contributors]]

{{CatTree|North Idaho College}}