Direct Academic Support — $43 million

As Idaho’s largest public university, Boise State has an obligation and commitment to link its academic mission with that of its community partners and address issues of mutual benefit such as economic development and livability. University initiatives in business, science and engineering, education, health care, public policy and the arts have already demonstrated the vital role Boise State plays as a partner in these efforts.

New Doctoral and Master’s Programs

Universities continually examine their array of offerings and develop programs that respond to market needs, community interests and expanding disciplinary knowledge. Boise State’s academic plan focuses on creating breadth and depth in graduate programs to parallel those existing strengths in current undergraduate offerings. New graduate programs on the planning boards include a:

  • Ph.D. in Biomolecular Science
  • Ph.D. in Public Policy
  • Ph.D. in Educational Leadership
  • Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering
  • Master’s in Community and Regional Planning
  • Master of Arts in Dramatic Writing
  • Master of Arts in Spanish

Establishing Research Centers

Research centers provide the environment for faculty and students to make important advancements that cannot readily be made independently. Centers by nature are interdisciplinary and bring faculty and students together from a variety of disciplines to work on common issues and problems. They have the ability to generate grants and become self-supporting over time. The university proposes establishing interdisciplinary centers around the following unifying themes:

  • Innovation and entrepreneurship
  • Imaging and memory
  • Health policy
  • Math education
  • Biomechanics and human performance
  • Alternative energies and sustainability

Improving Partnerships with Elementary and Secondary Education

While other nations are investing more resources in human capital, the United States is facing an achievement gap that threatens its preeminence as a world leader. Because research suggests that the single most important factor in determining student performance is the quality of the teacher, Idaho must develop and retain high-quality teachers. Through partnerships with the public schools, Boise State will hire faculty and support initiatives that focus on preparing more K-12 teachers and school administrators in Idaho for:

  • Math and science
  • Special education
  • English language barriers
  • Educational leadership
  • Teacher in-service training and professional development programs in science, engineering and mathematics

Fulfilling Its Statewide Public Policy Mission

Boise State seeks ways to expand its work with the state and community to address important issues regarding public policy. As the state leader in the development of public policy research and graduates, Boise State must continue to invest in faculty and graduate students in signature centers of excellence that examine public issues and serve the greater good of Idaho. Examples include the emerging Energy Policy Institute and Center for Community and Regional Planning and the existing Center for Health Policy and Center for Idaho History and Politics. These efforts bridge the gap between academic scholarship and public policy development through educational programming, services to public and private sector clients, and independent research.

 

Fact: It is expected that more than 70 percent of Idaho’s school administrators will retire within the next 10 years. Preparing educators to be the next generation of Idaho’s school leaders is an opportunity for the College of Education to contribute to society.

Maria Klyutkina

Student

Maria Klyutkina

Born and raised in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Maria Klyutkina graduated in 2007 with a master’s degree in piano performance. Klyutkina traveled around the country during her studies at Boise State, performing solo and in chamber music ensembles in Oregon, Texas, Washington and New York. Her efforts earned her three gold medals at Music Festival Northwest and second place at the National Competition in Chamber Music in Texas.

Klyutkina plans on giving piano lessons and concerts and doing accompaniment until she begins to apply for the next step in her studies, a Ph.D. But the foundation for her success was laid by the dedicated professors at Boise State, she said.

“I received an amazing education at Boise State and met wonderful people there,” Klyutkina said. “My piano instructor, Dr. Jim Cook, was an inspiring, supportive and great teacher. Because of Dr. Cook’s instruction and that of the other professors in the program, I feel like I am able to reach all of my dreams.”