Boise State budgets for growth, touts student success; president says DEI staffing cut and legal defense paid with non‑taxpayer funds

Boise State University officials told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 29 that the university is focusing on student success and workforce alignment while requesting FY2026 funding to address market pressures for faculty and staff.

Kevin Campbell introduced the BSU budget, citing enrollment “more than 27,000 students” and roughly 1,980.9 full‑time positions. He told the committee that personnel costs represent 81.8% of BSU’s expenditures, operating costs 16.5% and capital 1.7%. Campbell summarized prior cuts, enhancements and consolidations and said BSU planned to use FY2026 operational capacity funding toward CEC (cost‑of‑employment compensation) needs.

President Marlene Tromp highlighted programs and recent institutional changes. On LAUNCH, she said about 1,300 Boise State students are enrolled and that about 600 use LAUNCH as their only financial support, with the program channeling students into workforce‑priority fields such as nursing, computer science, radiologic sciences, mechanical engineering and education.

DEI and campus centers: Tromp said Boise State has reduced staff tied to previous diversity‑center models and “transformed” operations toward student success centers that serve broader populations (veterans, rural students, first‑generation students). She said an earlier BUILD program that housed a DEI certificate was closed in October 2024 and that overall staff reductions numbered five; Tromp added the university may expand some functions under the new student‑success focus.

Institute for Advancing American Values and campus speech: Tromp described the institute as a campus initiative to host a wide range of viewpoints and to promote civil dialogue. She said the university’s faculty senate adopted the Chicago principles and that student government likewise passed a related statement, framing the institute’s work as supporting academic freedom and robust campus debate.

Legal defense cost: Senator Carlson asked whether state funds were being used to defend the university in the so‑called Big City Coffee litigation. Tromp replied that the university “used only non‑taxpayer funds to support the defense of that lawsuit” and said the university spent about $1,500,000 and did not expect a large additional cost from an appeal at that time.

Micron and workforce development: Tromp and committee members discussed Boise State’s role in preparing workers for semiconductor and related industries. Tromp cited university equipment and training (for example, an XTron tool used in semiconductor work) and said the university is expanding engineering, computer science and related programs to meet employer demand.

UF 100/200 and course options: Tromp clarified that the required first‑year general education courses (UF 100/200) have many sections and students can choose subject matter; she said no student is required to take a specific gender‑themed section and that curriculum aligns with state law and board directives.

Ending: Committee members asked Tromp for written assurances that courses comply with Idaho statutes on nondiscrimination and dignity; Tromp agreed to provide the committee with requested details about legal costs and to respond in writing about course compliance.