News Release
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January 11, 2006
Note: For the full text of Kustra�s speech go to:
http://www2.boisestate.edu/pres/presspeeches.htm
President Kustra's Spring Address Focuses on Statewide
Community College Initiative
On the heels of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne�s proposal to take the first step
toward creating a statewide community college system, Boise State President
Bob Kustra focused on the university�s role in the governor�s initiative
during his �Spring Update� address today.
Kustra spoke to Boise State faculty and staff as they prepare this week for
the Jan. 17 start of the 2006 spring semester at Idaho�s largest university.
Praising Kempthorne�s recommendation to devote $5 million to start a
community college network, Kustra emphasized the need for such a system in
Idaho and affirmed Boise State�s preparedness to do its part to establish a
community college in southwest Idaho.
�There was good news Monday night in the governor�s State of the State
message for our plans to create a community college on our West campus and
distributed classroom sites across the valley,� Kustra said. �As you may
remember, we had plans on the drawing board for a limited number of students
last January, but chose to hold off on implementation pending the governor�s
leadership on a statewide community college system.
�It was wise to wait. The governor�s new community college initiative
includes opportunities for state and local funding for our new community
college students. If the Legislature approves his plan, we should be able to
start up a contingent of community college students this fall with
discounted tuition. Such a plan holds us financially harmless so no current
university funds are diverted to the new community college mission.�
Other highlights in the speech included a favorable review of Kempthorne�s
proposed higher education funding allocations for fiscal year 2007 and an
update on the early phase of a comprehensive fund-raising campaign.
�For those of you who listened to the governor�s address on Monday, you know
that he had a very positive message to send in regard to higher education,�
Kustra said. �In addition to supporting our interest in a community college
effort, his budget recommendation is favorable to us as well.�
Kustra noted that the governor�s recommendations affecting higher education
in general and Boise State in particular included:
� A 3 percent salary increase for state employees
� $351,900 to fully fund Boise State�s enrollment workload adjustment
� A 1.9 percent inflationary increase to cover the increased operating costs
� Fully funding the 3.5 percent increased cost of health insurance for state
employees
� $2.1 million for Boise State for equipment replacement, classroom and
faculty office remodeling, and property acquisition
� $1 million for research activities related to Idaho�s science and
technology core competencies of power and energy; agriculture/biosciences;
imaging; and nanosciences and materials
� Earmarking $9 million of the $25.1 million total for alterations and
repair funding in the capital budget exclusively for higher education
�Overall, he has recommended a 4.8 percent increase for higher education,�
Kustra remarked. �The last time we enjoyed that sort of increase was six
years ago, in fiscal year 2001, and if funded, this increase would double
what we have received for each of the last three years.�
Kustra informed the crowd of about 400 that more details about a
comprehensive campaign would be spelled out in his State of the University
address in August. But he gave some early indications of what to expect.
Without a major infusion of financial support, Boise State will struggle to
transform itself into a metropolitan research university of distinction, he
said. Yet at the same time, the university cannot continue to rely on state
support and student fees � two of its major funding sources � to cover the
costs necessary for such changes. Hence, the campaign in which donors, �both
those who have already shown their generosity,� he said, �and those who
still remain to be cultivated and solicited on behalf of our students, will
be our principal source of future capital construction funding.�
For that reason and others, Boise State is planning a comprehensive campaign
that, in addition to raising funds for programming and scholarships, will
help the university build the infrastructure required of a 21st century
metropolitan university, Kustra said.
�Our comprehensive campaign will, indeed, be comprehensive,� he added.
�First, in the sense that it will raise funds for programs, scholarships and
capital construction; second, in the sense that it will engage all of our
colleges and programs in an equal-opportunity strategy to identify funding
for priorities across the campus. That�s not to say that we will be equally
successful, but we will employ every strategy we can uncover to help
identify funding opportunities.�
Other topics during Kustra�s address included Boise State�s role in the
effort to curb the projected nursing shortage in Idaho and nationwide,
improving the undergraduate experience, a commitment to minority students,
and greater internationalization on campus.
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Media Contact: Frank Zang, (208) 426-5391, frankzang@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007