POCATELLO — 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 earlier this month.

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 this year. Wagner said during the June 17 meeting that he believes this increase, and the projected continued increase, are due to the university’s efforts in recruitment.

“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 to 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.”

With this process, 26 new degree programs, 49 new academic certificates, 10 new College Technical Education programs and 31 program discontinuances have occurred. ISU was also classified as a profession-based high student access medium earnings university, meaning that the institution offers broad access to students of many demographics with a focus on career-aligned degrees, with students earning above average income following graduation.

“Importantly, we continue to grow our research enterprise, even in the face of some uncertainty,” Wagner said.

Nearly $40 million was allotted in external research awards in fiscal year 24, which is a 45 percent increase since 2018. Students received over $4 million in externally sponsored wages, fellowships and stipends according to Wagner. Research toward health sciences is also taking place.

In relation to enhancing physical infrastructure, a new life sciences facility that will replace the Gale Life Sciences Building is in the works. 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 groundbreaking will be held in August for a large-scale remodel of the Physician Assistant expansion facilities, which received funding last year.

Wagner also shared plans for a co-location in Twin Falls in partnership between the College of Southern Idaho 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 bachelors 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 is 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 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.