Austen Hunzeker
News Editor
Idaho State University President Robert Wagner detailed several academic wins and campus milestones in his annual report to the Idaho State Board of Education during a meeting held at the ISU Alumni Center over the summer.
According to Wagner, ISU has prioritized its efforts in five areas as identified in Wagner’s Bold Path Forward initiative that took place last year — enrollment growth and student success, academic and research focus, enhancing physical infrastructure, external relationships and partnerships, and employee engagement and connection.
“ISU had its highest enrollment in 10 years in the 2024-2025 academic year,” Wagner said. “All indications are that this will continue for Fall of ’25.”
A total of 13,477 students attended ISU last year. Wagner stated during the June 17 meeting that he believes the increase and the projected continued increase are due to the university’s recruitment efforts.
“Literally meeting prospective students where they are with the experience of ROAR events at all of our campuses across the state,” Wagner said about the reasons for student enrollment growth. “These are proving to be very successful and enhancing access to Idaho State University.”
The opening of the Bengal Success Center in 2024 has allowed for student and faculty access to academic support and instructional expertise, said Wagner, adding that ISU’s continuing education program has also served approximately 35,000 students.
The Idaho Needs Connectivity Leading University Distance Education (INCLUDE) is bringing ISU dual enrollment courses and telehealth services to 28 rural high schools, Wagner said. He also commented on how 88 percent of ISU graduating students from 2023 are employed full-time, mostly in Idaho, among many other aspects, aiding ISU’s mark on enrollment growth and student success.
In accordance with academic and research focuses, Wagner presented the successes of healthcare-related studies offered at ISU.
“These programs are having an immediate impact in communities across the state,” Wagner said. “ISU is committed to continuing its aggressive academic program prioritization process that supports students and workforce demand.”
Through this process, 26 new degree programs, 49 new academic certificates, 10 new College Technical Education programs, and 31 program discontinuances have been implemented. ISU was also classified as a profession-based, high student access, medium earnings university, meaning that the institution offers broad access to students from diverse demographics with a focus on career-aligned degrees, with students earning above-average incomes following graduation.
“Importantly, we continue to grow our research enterprise, even in the face of some uncertainty,” Wagner said.
Nearly $40 million was allocated in external research awards in fiscal year 2024, representing a 45 percent increase since 2018. Students received over $4 million in externally sponsored wages, fellowships, and stipends according to Wagner. Research in the health sciences is also underway.
In relation to enhancing physical infrastructure, a new life sciences facility to replace the Gale Life Sciences Building is in development. The Idaho Legislature granted ISU $14 million earlier this year for this project, and the university is currently in the process of facilitating a naming gift, which will be announced later this year.
A large-scale remodel of the Physician Assistant expansion facilities, which received funding last year, is also in the works. Wagner also shared plans for a co-location in Twin Falls in partnership between the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) and ISU.
“This co-location will encourage even stronger partnerships between ISU and CSI with shared resources and collaborative programs that enhance student experience and success and will increase our capacity to offer bachelor’s and graduate degrees in Magic Valley,” Wagner said. “We are still in the early planning and discussion stages, and if it is viable, we will bring a formal request to the board for approval in the future.”
For Wagner, partnerships and collaboration are necessary.
“When we partner, the state of Idaho wins,” Wagner said.
Wagner recalled how ISU was the first university in Idaho to sign a super agreement with the Idaho National Laboratory, or INL. ISU has also stayed busy collaborating with various other Idaho educational institutions.
Wagner invited President Lori Barber of the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) and President Dean Fisher of CSI to briefly discuss the impact collaboration between institutions has provided.
“When we partner, Idaho wins, but really, when we partner, it’s students that win,” Barber said.
With employee engagement and connection in mind, Wagner also announced that ISU will achieve a balanced budget for fiscal year 2026.
“I appreciate the hard work of all our institutional community members,” Wagner said. “It truly took a village to arrive at this point.”
Following Wagner’s report, ISU students took the stand to share their individual thoughts and backgrounds pertaining to their experiences at ISU, overall speaking on topics such as Gov. Brad Little’s LAUNCH initiative, why they chose ISU, how dual credits from high schools transferred to ISU seamlessly, how to influence others to pursue continuing education, on-campus living and staying in Idaho after graduation.
Moving forward, Wagner, alongside Barber, Fisher, and other partners, hopes to create easier avenues for current and prospective students to access educational opportunities in Idaho.