In 1995, after finishing his fourth term as Idaho Governor, Cecil D. Andrus founded The Andrus Center for Public Policy. His goal was to create a center “dedicated to independent, non-partisan policy formation on critical issues confronting Idaho, the American West and the United States.”[1] The Andrus Center is also known for perpetuating its founder’s “common sense, problem solving approach” to policy analysis.[2] During the eighteen year since its creation, the Center has brought together policy experts, top government officials, and business leaders to discuss and deliberate on topics ranging from “the environment, wildland fire policy, water resources, journalism and public policy, national security, civil liberties and rural development.”{C}[3]
Although the Andrus Center is a Boise State University affiliated organization, it does not receive funding from the university. Considered a non-profit (501(c)(3)) organization, the Andrus Center relies on financial support from private donors.[4] However, despite this lack of financial support, the Center understands the importance of fostering a strong relationship with Boise State University. Chairman Cecil Andrus acknowledged that this “relationship opens many doors that will enhance public programming and make the center a premier source of teaching and learning on a variety of public affairs topics.”[5] In addition to developing educational connections with Boise State University, the Center also prides itself on its strong community ties, especially with The Idaho Statesman newspaper. Due to the reciprocal nature of this relationship, the Idaho Statesman has acted as a sponsor for many of the Center’s events and conferences.{C}[6]{C}
In addition to hosting annual events, conferences, and public forums, the Center also focuses its energies on producing a wide array of publications. Publications take the form of conference transcripts, white papers, reports and newsletters. This literature provides an opportunity for the Center’s staff and affiliates to reflect on the work the Center has done. All of these publications, in addition to preserving the historic legacy of the Center itself, work to increase community and regional awareness of environmental and public policy issues in Idaho. The Center’s most recent publication, “Life in the West: People, Land, Water, and Wildlife in a Changing Economy,” was published in 2010 as a white paper summarizing the events from a conference of the same name.{C}[7] In addition to the public events, and publications, the Andrus Center is also making itself available to a wider and more varied audience through the social media outlets of Twitter and Facebook.
Sources
https://twitter.com/AndrusCenter
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Andrus-Center-for-Public-Policy/108659729167507?fref=ts
http://www.andruscenter.org/index.html
http://www.andruscenter.org/history.html
http://sspa.boisestate.edu/andruscenter/about-the-andrus-center
Andrus, Cecil D. and John C. Freemuth, “Policy After Politics: How Should the New Administration Approach Public Land Management in the Western States?” Journal of Land, Resources and Environmental Law vol. 21 (2001): 1-11.
White Paper, “Life in the West: People, Land, Water, and Wildlife in a Changing Economy,” (Boise: The Andrus Center for Public Policy, 2010): 1-2
{C}[1] http://www.andruscenter.org/index.html
{C}[2] http://sspa.boisestate.edu/andruscenter/about-the-andrus-center
{C}[3] http://sspa.boisestate.edu/andruscenter/about-the-andrus-center
{C}[4] http://www.andruscenter.org/history.html
{C}[5] http://sspa.boisestate.edu/andruscenter/about-the-andrus-center/
{C}[6] http://www.andruscenter.org/history.html
{C}[7] White Paper, “Life in the West: People, Land, Water, and Wildlife in a Changing Economy,” (Boise: The Andrus Center for Public Policy, 2010).
