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Boise State president defends program changes, says non‑tax funds covered lawsuit defense and outlines growth priorities
Summary
Boise State University President Marlene Tromp told JFAC she has transformed student‑success and equity support structures, defended the university's handling of a high‑profile lawsuit using non‑tax funds (about $1.5 million to date), and outlined FY2026 priorities including workforce programs tied to semiconductor growth.
Boise State University President Marlene Tromp told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 29 that the university has reshaped its student‑support centers, defended the institution in a recent lawsuit using non‑tax funds and detailed priorities for workforce and enrollment growth.
Tromp said BSU currently has about 1,300 students enrolled in the statewide LAUNCH program and that roughly 600 of those students rely on LAUNCH as their only financial support. She credited recent reorganization of several student‑support centers and a shift toward university‑wide student‑success programming with a marked improvement in graduation rates over the past five years.
On the questions about programs sometimes described as DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion), Tromp said the university had transformed or closed certain centers over the prior year, that staff levels had been reduced and that the work has been refocused on services for First‑Generation, rural and other student populations. She said UF 100/200 general education course sequences include many section topics and that a student is not required to take a gender‑focused section; students may choose sections that align with their interests.
Tromp told committee members the university spent about $1,500,000 from non‑tax funds to pay for the defense of a lawsuit (identified in questions as the Big City Coffee case) and said the university is obligated under state law to defend employees acting within the scope of employment. Tromp said she did not expect a materially larger amount from an expected appeal and that travel by staff who testified was taken as personal leave in some cases; she offered to provide the committee a detailed breakout of costs and funding sources.
Tromp described the Institute for Advancing American Values, which she said brings a range of viewpoints to campus programming and supported adoption of the Chicago principles by faculty and student government. She credited that work with creating civil civic dialogue on campus and cited Boise State’s “responsibility‑centered management” budget model as a driver of recent fiscal stability: Tromp said the university has closed a structural deficit, balanced its budget and reports the lowest administrative spend per student in the state.
On federal funding concerns, Tromp said university staff reviewed the Office of Management and Budget guidance and federal developments closely; she said restricted federal grant funds can only be spent as the grant specifies and that BSU was reviewing potential impacts. She also highlighted the university’s role in preparing talent for the semiconductor industry and said Boise State operates some unique research equipment used in semiconductor work.
Senators and representatives asked Tromp for written assurance that courses comply with Idaho Code sections cited by committee members (dignity and nondiscrimination statutes, Idaho Code 33‑138 and 33‑139). Tromp agreed to provide the committee a written response and said she would supply additional requested budget detail and a breakdown of legal defense expenses.
