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Idaho State President Pledges Greater Oversight after Forensic Lab Financing Missteps; outlines FY2026 request
Summary
Idaho State University President Rob Wagner told JFAC the university will return unused forensic pathology funds, improve controls to respect legislative intent and accountability, and requested FY2026 operational capacity and enrollment workload adjustments while outlining steps on student success and health‑sciences partnerships.
Idaho State University President Rob Wagner told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 29 that the university will return remaining funds tied to an Eastern Idaho forensic pathology project, tighten controls to ensure legislative intent is followed and pursue strategic investments to support enrollment and health‑sciences workforce needs.
Wagner and Legislative Services analyst Kevin Campbell also briefed the committee on ISU’s FY2026 budget request, which seeks $907,300 in operational capacity enhancement, $233,700 for endowment adjustments and $988,100 in enrollment workload adjustment. Campbell told the committee ISU serves more than 12,000 students and that personnel comprises about 74.8% of the university’s expenditures.
The return of the forensic pathology funds and a requested audit were raised as part of an announcement at the start of the hearing. Campbell said the Legislative Services Office has prepared a report and “an audit is being requested and is just now in process.” Wagner said ISU became aware of the situation in late 2023, acknowledged shortcomings in tracking and ownership of the appropriation, and said, “legislative intent is law and it's incredibly important for us as an institution.” He told the committee ISU had spent a small portion on a consultant and that the remaining funds were transferred to the county following a memorandum of understanding; under his leadership ISU concluded the remaining funds will be returned and the university will improve invoice procedures and other accountability protocols.
Campbell warned the committee of a technical data error in the budget book slides related to tuition and fees beginning fund balance; he said the data were those submitted in the budget process but did not match the State Treasury beginning balance and that he was tracking down the problem. He also reviewed ISU’s five‑year appropriations and expenditures and noted reappropriated tuition and fees can make year‑to‑year comparisons misleading.
On student success and institutional organization, Wagner described restructuring of two student resource centers tied to diversity programming. He said the diversity resource center and the gender resource center were closed and two full‑time positions were reassigned: one to student involvement to better support student clubs, and the other to the office of equal opportunity and Title IX, which now reports directly to the president. Wagner said those changes were part of a broader effort to increase completion rates and that ISU created a pooled Bengal Success Center serving students across campuses.
Wagner also discussed health‑sciences workforce training and partnerships. He told senators and representatives ISU’s health‑sciences enrollments have risen “over 700 students in the last 5 years” and highlighted a new doctor of nurse anesthesia program launched with industry partners; he said the program drew more than 200 applicants for 25 seats. Wagner described formal and developing partnerships with ICOM and with community colleges to create clearer front‑end and back‑end pathways so graduates are more likely to stay and practice in Idaho, particularly in rural areas.
Committee members pressed Wagner on several operational matters, including how ISU will use operational capacity enhancement and the enrollment workload adjustment. Wagner said the university aims to balance the FY2026 budget a year ahead of schedule and stressed the challenge of competing with private sector wages to recruit and retain employees.
Several members referenced federal grant pauses announced nationally during the hearing. Wagner said ISU briefly estimated a potential exposure of about $25 million in federal funding uncertainty and that the university was monitoring a court injunction and coordinating with national associations and state fiscal staff to assess impacts.
Ending: Wagner closed by emphasizing ISU’s statewide role: that 92% of ISU students are from Idaho and that the university seeks “more efficient on ramps and off ramps” for a broad set of students, including certificates, associate and bachelor’s degrees, and retraining for non‑traditional students.
