Boise State presents FY2026 request; president defends LAUNCH enrollment gains, free-speech institute and says $1.5M used to defend lawsuit

BOISE, Idaho — Boise State University leaders told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Wednesday that the university is seeking FY2026 enhancements to support faculty and staff compensation, highlighted growth in graduation rates tied to student-success reforms, and defended a set of campus changes and programs that have drawn legislative questions.

Kevin Campbell of the Legislative Services Office opened the university overview and reported Boise State has more than 27,000 students and a base budget of about $294.4 million. “This slide shows a five-year history of appropriations and expenditures,” Campbell said, noting the university’s mix of personnel and operating costs. Campbell identified recent state adjustments and enhancements, and said Boise State’s FY2026 request includes operational capacity enhancement funding and an enrollment workload adjustment.

Dr. Marlene Tromp, president of Boise State University, said the LAUNCH program enrolls roughly 1,300 students at Boise State and that 600…