Colleges in Iowa and New Hampshire have teamed together to offer students a rare blend of instruction and experience in the political process.

Marlin Fitzwater, former presidential press secretary, came up with the idea of a partnership with a college in Iowa known as “Engaging Students: First in the Nation.’’Fitzwater is founder of Franklin Pierce College founded the Fitzwater Center for studies in communications and the political process.

On Tuesday, Franklin Pierce announced a joint partnership with Wartburg College of Waverly, IA.

“We believe this project will provide unparalleled opportunities not only to educate students but to educate the nation as well during the 2008 presidential election cycle,’’ Fitzwater said.

The project started last winter and will culminate with the selection of 10 scholars from each state to travel to both states during the 2008 presidential primary campaigning.

Both institutions will embrace our historic ‘first in the nation’ status to create a collaborative curriculum between the two campuses focused on the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary,” explained Dr. Fred Waldstein, professor of political science and director of the Wartburg Leadership Institute.