University of Idaho highlights financial recovery, OPEB liability and pending Phoenix talks to JFAC

University of Idaho President C. Scott Green told the Joint Finance‑Approiations Committee on Jan. 27 that the university has steadily improved its financial position since taking aggressive reductions several years ago but still faces accounting and reserve challenges tied to other post‑employment benefits (OPEB) and restricted funds.

Green and Legislative Services Office analyst Kevin Campbell presented an overview of the University of Idaho’s FY2026 requests and answered questions about enrollment, research grants, the WWAMI medical education partnership and a potential affiliation with the University of Phoenix.

Why it matters: The University of Idaho is the state’s land‑grant research university; its budget, research partnerships, and professional program arrangements affect statewide workforce capacity, research activity and long‑term fiscal sustainability.

Details and committee discussion

Campbell presented the university’s base budget and fund structure, noting the University of Idaho’s FY2025 base was about $196.3 million and reporting an enrollment of approximately 12,286 supported by roughly 1,352 full‑time equivalent positions. Campbell explained how tuition and fees are reappropriated and summarized recent enhancements and reductions, including operational capacity enhancements and transfers of support functions to centralized state offices.

President Green summarized actions he said helped stabilize the university: an approximately $26 million base reduction implemented after 2019, voluntary separations and other measures intended to align expenses with revenues. Green said the university has positive total net position but that unrestricted and restricted components differ: the university reported a negative unrestricted net position and restricted net assets that together produce an overall positive total net position; accounting for a legacy retiree medical obligation required a large balance sheet adjustment when that program was phased out.

On federal grants and partnerships, Green said the university administers substantial federal research awards and sometimes subcontracts funds to partner institutions; he agreed to provide the committee a list of subrecipients and described the university’s compliance processes for those grants.

Medical education and other programs

Committee members asked about WWAMI (the regional medical education program) and a proposed partnership or expansion with the University of Utah School of Medicine. Green said discussions with Utah appeared promising and emphasized that any change would require state board approval and a process that could include legislation. Green also updated the committee on a previously announced, time‑limited agreement to pursue an affiliation with the University of Phoenix; he said the sellers extended an exclusivity window through June 10 and noted a break‑up fee arrangement that already provided the university $5 million to offset transaction costs.

DEI reorganization and student support

Committee members asked about the State Board of Education’s decision on DEI offices. Green said the university reorganized offices that had carried titles related to diversity and equity after the board’s resolution; specific positions were dissolved and many employees were reassigned to new roles serving broader student support functions (for example, some staff moved into the Dean of Students office). Green said student supports now emphasize first‑generation student success and a Vandal Success program and that some roles were not refilled pending review of needs.

Research, INL and water work

Green described partnerships with Idaho National Laboratory (INL) on nuclear and energy research and said the university is leading water resources research through the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRI). He noted a recently signed framework and ongoing research projects that support state water and energy priorities.

Next steps

Green and staff offered to supply additional materials requested by committee members, including subrecipient lists for federal awards and job descriptions for reassigned positions. No committee vote was taken; the university’s presentation will be part of JFAC’s ongoing deliberations.

Ending

Green closed by reiterating the university’s role as Idaho’s land‑grant research institution, citing enrollment growth, economic impact estimates and ongoing work to strengthen research, workforce and veteran services across the state.