Boise State president outlines budget, student success gains, defends use of non-tax funds for lawsuit

Boise State University President Marlene Tromp told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 29 that BSU has improved graduation rates, continues to expand workforce programs, and used non-tax funds to defend a recent lawsuit that the university is required by state law to defend.

Tromp opened the university's presentation after a Legislative Services Office briefing and said Boise State has 27,000-plus students and a base of instructional and operating activity that the university manages under a responsibility-centered budget model. "We operate on a responsibility-centered management model," Tromp said. "Our academic units are responsible for determining how much revenue they're taking in and balancing their budget around that intake of revenue." She added that the model has helped BSU close a structural deficit and maintain a balanced budget.

Why it matters: Committee members pressed BSU on several items including how LAUNCH is working, the university's approach to centers and staffing after state board policy on DEI, a pending appeal in a civil lawsuit, and how BSU would use potential state funding to add program capacity.

Key fiscal and program points:…