Boise State tells JFAC it improved graduation rates, defends course options and says lawsuit defense used non‑tax funds

Boise State University President Marlene Tromp told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Jan. 29 that Boise State has increased graduation rates, maintains curricular options that students may choose, and used non‑tax university funds to defend a lawsuit related to a campus coffee shop.

Tromp said Boise State has 1,300 students enrolled in the LAUNCH program, with about 600 of those students relying on LAUNCH as their sole financial support. She highlighted workforce‑oriented fields such as nursing, computer science and engineering and defended curricular reforms the university has made to focus on student success.

On policies arising from the State Board of Education's direction to end some DEI programs, Tromp said the university transformed and consolidated previous centers and reduced DEI‑related staff from eight to five while restructuring services to serve broader student success goals. "We have…