Educational opportunities are enhanced through cooperative teaching and research efforts with nearby Washington State University. Of the 9,500 students at the main University of Idaho campus, nearly 2,000 are enrolled in the College of Graduate Studies. The Department of Biological Sciences has a graduate enrollment of over 30 students. The University of Idaho is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges. The Department of Biological Sciences is housed in Life Sciences South and the Richard D. Gibb Life Sciences Building, a research annex completed in 1986 as part of a multi-million dollar expansion and renovation project.
Laboratories are spacious and well-equipped with modern instrumentation.
Greenhouse and small-animal facilities are available for departmental use in Gibb Hall. The department has access to all university computers via the campus network. There are also PC's available to graduate students for wordprocessing. These are located in the graduate student offices in Life Sciences South. Current library holdings exceed 1.5 million items.