MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) -- University of Idaho President Duane Nellis says the results of a lack of investment in public higher education in Idaho and the rest of the nation are now becoming apparent with increased global competition.

Speaking Friday at his official inauguration ceremony, Nellis says the nation's current college degree completion rate of 40 percent isn't good enough and action must be taken to prevent it from falling further.

He says land-grant institutions such as the University of Idaho in particular must increase efforts to prepare young people to "solve the resource needs of our shrinking planet."

He says he wants the university to become more entrepreneurial and increase recruitment of students statewide.

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Information from: The Moscow-Pullman Daily News, http://www.dnews.com

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