University of Idaho emphasizes stabilization, research partnerships and pending decisions on Phoenix deal, DEI reorganization and medical education

Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst for the Legislative Services Office, opened the University of Idaho segment of the Jan. 27 Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee hearing with a five‑year overview that placed the university’s FY2025 base budget at about $196.3 million and reported enrollment at 12,286 students.

The nut graf: University of Idaho leaders told the committee they recovered from earlier structural budget stress through a large FY2021 reduction, voluntary separations and other adjustments, have strengthened cash and restricted reserves, and are managing several unresolved strategic matters — a possible affiliation with the University of Phoenix, a reorganization of offices after a State Board of Education decision about DEI functions, and a potential change in the WAMI/medical education partnership.

President C. Scott Green described aggressive cuts taken after he joined the university and said the institution “took a $26,000,000 reduction to our budget” in FY2021. He told the committee the university has improved liquidity and currently “maintains sufficient cash reserves to support its short term and long term obligations,” although…