Sven Alskog
News Editor
Idaho State University President Arthur Vailas made his annual State of the University Address on Wednesday, Oct. 29 inside the Bistline Theatre in the Stephens Performing Arts Center.
Much of the focus for the president during his address was on the continued efforts in research from ISU faculty and students.
“We are a transforming university that has made and will continue to make a significant impact in this country,” said Vailas.
Multiple projects were discussed including the opportunity to work with NASA on the upcoming International Space Shuttle mission, continuing research with isotopes and ongoing efforts to create a new kind of semiconductor.
ISU is one of 99 Carnegie high research activity institutions.
A new tagline was introduced to those in attendance of “Discover Opportunity,” which the president stated multiple times throughout the night the university offers plenty of.
He credited the work of all involved for what he stated is a university that has the performance to prove it is making a significant impact.
“Greatness only comes from people in it and people who support it,” said Vailas.
The president discussed the position he thinks the university is in to enhance the capabilities of the state as a whole.
“We continue to bring in big grants. Years ago we had some smaller ones. Now we are bringing in million dollar grants,” said Vailas.
“We are using engagement with government, industry and others to enhance the experience for faculty as well as students,” he added.
Aside from research and grants, much of the speech was focused around the increased success rate found within what was described as the K-12 pipeline.
Multiple programs exist through the university to allow high school students to receive college credit through dual-enrollment programs.
One of these is the Bridge program for students at risk. The other is the START Program for graduates who have GEDs.
The program has seen a drastic increase in numbers in recent years.
“When I started there were around 300 participants,” stated Vailas. “Now 2,100 students are all earning credits with no requirement to return to ISU. The retention rate to return is actually quite high, around 80 percent.”
For participants in the Bridge Program there is a 78 percent retention rate, while for the START Program the number is 76 percent.
According to Vailas, the national average for similar programs is between 4.6 and 11.8 percent, what he described as pretty risky.
“It says something about the institution,” said the president. “The faculty are putting extra time into advising.”
With programs such as the Veteran’s Sanctuary and TRiO excelling on campus, the hope is that the university will continue to appeal to a broad range of potential students.
“We are an institution that embraces diversity,” said Vailas.
“We’re not just thinking about Idaho. We’re embracing the entire globe. We’re trying to bring world values to Idaho,” he added.
This has led to increases in out of state students who attend ISU.
“We have become an institution that is attractive to non-residents,” said Vailas.
The president also highlighted some of the larger achievements from over the last year during his speech.
Benny’s Pantry, which helps to provide food for those who need it, distributed more than 3,400 pounds in the spring of 2014 alone.
Advising has expanded to include both face-to-face and online options, with Vailas adding that the university is working toward virtual advising.
ISU was also ranked fifteenth nationally in regard to being an affordable university with the highest salary within six months of graduation.
Other programs have also excelled, namely the Career Path Internship (CPI) program. This offers opportunities for students to gain experience within their selected field.
“We are investing $2 million in CPI this coming year,” said Vailas. “That was previously $200,000. The program is receiving national interest.”
He mentioned a 76 percent retention rate for CPI students as another indicator of the success of the program.
A continued emphasis at ISU will continue to be given to programs in the health professions field. The university currently is Idaho’s only institution to sponsor accredited graduate medical and dental education programs.
The Pharmacy program has also branched out to create the first full-service tele pharmacy in Arco, falling in line with the mission to help out small communities.
“We are a university that reaches out into rural areas,” said Vailas.
Overall, ISU offers 15 operating clinics throughout the state, with 50,000 to 60,000 outpatient visits being conducted in them each year.
“We are the university that thinks outside of the box,” stated the president. “Coming up with new, innovative ways to enhance the experience for patients.”
Vailas also mentioned that the tuition/fee increase of 3.5 percent is the lowest in 26 years.
