Originally published on August 20, 2025, on IdahoEdNews.org
BOISE, ID In an attempt to put more money in the hands of students, Boise State University will expand on the largest fundraising campaign in its history.
On Wednesday, Jeremiah Shinn, the interim president, unveiled a $150 million scholarship endowment initiative.
Three thousand students would receive need-based $2,000 scholarships from the endowment if it were fully financed. According to Shinn, that wouldn’t be sufficient to meet all of the needs. However, for a student who might not otherwise be able to afford Boise State, a $2,000 scholarship could be the difference.
When describing the scholarship program during Boise State’s annual State of the University address on Wednesday morning, Shinn stated, “This is our greatest need.”
Days prior to the commencement of autumn courses, Boise State hosts the address as part of their back-to-school tradition. As they checked into their dorms in preparation for Monday’s first day of classes, some students pulled laundry baskets filled with personal possessions outside Boise State’s Morrison Center. Over 1,000 students, educators, and staff gathered to hear Shinn, demonstrating the back-to-school spirit inside the Morrison Center.
However, Wednesday’s speech had a distinct vibe. Marlene Tromp, the president of Boise State since 2019, is no longer there. She has accepted the position at the University of Vermont. Shinn, who became interim president in May, replaced her.
Shinn, who is not running for president permanently, made a few casual allusions to the turmoil at the biggest university in the state.
He stated, “I don’t mean to alarm you, but we are in a time of transition,” to some audience laughter.
Shinn made an effort to calm fears. He committed to organizing a roadshow this autumn, holding meetings with faculty and students at every college to talk about the changeover.
Shinn, however, also made an effort to stress that Boise State is not stagnating. He gave the example of fundraising.
He said that Boise State’s $500 million unrestrained fundraising campaign was far ahead of schedule. The university has raised $465 million for student aid, athletics, faculty support, and endowment positions, three years before the drive’s 2028 goal. Donors view Boise State as a wise investment, according to Shinn.
He claimed that this is how belief manifests itself.
Shinn listed additional important milestones.
Over the past five years, Boise State’s research portfolio has increased by 43 percent. According to Shinn, this puts the university in the running for theCarnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education’s coveted and possibly profitable R1 research classification.
The 96% graduation rate of Boise State’s student-athletes is among the greatest in the country.
Additionally, Boise State’s enrollment is anticipated to rise by more than 500 students this fall, but many other universities are finding it difficult to draw in students from a declining pool of college-age kids.
Shinn asked the professors and staff in the audience to help incoming students find their place on campus by reaching out to them in particular.
He stated that students just require one person. And this one person can be any one of us in this room.
