Idaho university presidents outline enrollment gains, workforce priorities and responses to DEI resolution

Four public university presidents appeared before the Idaho Senate Education Committee to summarize enrollment trends, workforce programs and the institutions' responses to a statewide resolution affecting campus diversity offices.

The presidents said Idaho institutions are seeing enrollment gains in key workforce areas and that state investment returns economic benefits. "Our resident enrollment across all 8 Idaho public institutions is up," Lewis‑Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton told the committee, adding that Idaho institutions award more than 18,000 credentials annually and "for every tax dollar that is invested in higher education in Idaho, taxpayers receive an average annual rate of return of 4.6%." Boise State President Marlene Trump said Boise State serves about 33,000 learners and reported a rise in Idaho students: "We have grown our incoming class of Idaho students by 11 and a half percent this year and by a remarkable 52% in the last 5 years."

The presentations stressed workforce alignment and economic impact. Scott Green, president of the University of Idaho, said the university generated about $2.7 billion in annual output and highlighted a $15 million wildfire preparedness grant and a large research…