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WELCOME BACK TO THE "DIALOGUE" WEB EXTRA.
JOINING ME IS BOB KUSTRA, PRESIDENT OF BOISE STATE
UNIVERSITY.
THANKS FOR STAYING.
GLA THANK YOU.
>> WE WANTED TO TOUCH ON SOME OF THE LARGER ISSUES MUCH WHAT SOME
HAVE CALL A KIND OF CAREERISM THAT HAS CREPT INTO THE
DISCUSSION OF HIGHER ED.
IN OTHER WORDS, A DEGREE IS NOT WORTH IT IF IT DOESN'T GET YOU A
JOB EITHER REALLY SOON OUT OF COLLEGE OR SHORTLY THEREAFTER
AND YOU SHOULD BE TAKING IN SCHOOL WHAT YOU THINK YOU'LL BE
DOING AS A CAREER.
YOU'VE WRITTEN ABOUT THIS IN SOME ESSAYS.
ONE SAYS SAYS IT OFTEN ENOUGH AND A COLLEGE EDUCATION WILL
BECOME IRRELEVANT.
>> HI A CHANCE TO ATTEND A CLASS AND TALK TO SOME STUDENTS.
THE ONE MESSAGE I LEFT THEM WITH, LOOK, YOU MAY THINK YOU
KNOW WHERE YOU'LL WIND UP IN LIFE AND CAREER.
FORGET T. OFTENTIMES YOU WINDING DOING SOMETHING YOU NEVER
THOUGHT YOU WOULD BE DOING.
I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE A PRACTICING ATTORNEY IN THE CITY
OF ST. LOUIS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE.
LOOK WHERE I AM NOW.
IT'S A VASTLY DIFFERENT APPROACH TO LIFE.
I TOLD THEM THAT.
MY POINT WAS DON'T GET SO NARROW IN YOUR ACADEMIC FOCUS THAT YOU
FAIL TO GET A BROADER PERSPECTIVE OF LIFE, A BROADER
PERSPECTIVE OF HISTORY, WHO WE ARE ON THIS PLANT ET, WHAT LNS
PLANET, WHAT OUR PLACE IN IT IS.
IT WAS THE DEGREE I TOOK IN A SMALL LIBERAL ARTS SCHOOL MANY
YEARS AGO.
YOU SPECIALIZE, YOU GET TO THE MASTER'S LEVEL THERE'S ALL KINDS
OF TONS TO GET A MASTER'S DEGREE WHETHER IT'S AN MBA, OR IN
SOCIAL SCIENCES OR EDUCATION.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR STUDENTS TO FOCUS ON THAT BROAD,
GENERAL CURRICULUM AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL AND GET AN
OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORLD IN WHICH THEY ARE
GOING TO BE LIVING IN THEIR CAREERS.
>> SO WHEN YOU EMPHASIZE BEING A METROPOLITAN RESEARCH
INSTITUTION OF DISTINCTION, THAT'S NOT SAYING THAT THE OTHER
ASPECTS OF THE DEGREE AREN'T AS IMPORTANT.
PEOPLE SHOULD REALIZE IF NOT INTERESTED IN SCIENCE OR MATH,
STILL VIABLE.
>> SURE.
YOU TAKE THE CHAIR OF OUR MATERIAL SCIENCE ENGINEERING
PROGRAM, DARYL BUTT.
HE GRADUATED FROM PENN STATE.
WE HAD AN ARTS AND HUMANITIES PROGRAMMING BOARD THAT WE
GATHERED FACULTY TOGETHER AND DARYL SHOWED UP.
I WAS SURPRISED.
I SAID, WOW, YOU'RE AN ENGINEER.
HE SAID, HEY, I TOOK EVERY LIBERAL ARTS COURSE I COULD GET
MY HANDS ON AS AN UNDERGRAD AT PENN STATE.
WHEN YOU'RE TALKING LIBERAL ARTS MAYBE IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT THE
WORD ARTS IS THERE BECAUSE IT TENDS TO BELIE THE FACT THAT A
LIBERAL ARTS DEGREE IS ABOUT SCIENCE AS WELL.
IT'S ABOUT MATH AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY, LANGUAGE, WHATEVER
ELSE.
>> YOU WONDER SOMETIMES IF STUDENTS ARE NOT TAKING THE
MAJOR THAT THEY WOULD REALLY BE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
SOMETHING LIKE FRENCH OR DRAMA.
BECAUSE SOMEBODY SAID YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO GET A JOB WITH
THAT.
THEN MISSING THEIR PASSION ALL TOGETHER.
>> WELL, THE PRESIDENT OF BISHOP KELLY HIGH SCHOOL OUGHT TO BE
ABLE TO TELL THEM A TALE OR TWO BECAUSE RICH IS A MAJOR IN
HISTORY FROM STANFORD UNIVERSITY AND HE WOUND UP RUNNING THE
PRINTING DIVISION FOR H.P. FOR MANY YEARS.
I THINK HE'S A PRETTY GOOD ROLE MODEL OF WHAT YOU CAN BE IN THIS
COUNTRY WITH A GOOD, SOLID UNDERGRADUATE LIBERAL ARTS
DEGREE.
>> AND I KNOW BOB TALKED ABOUT THAT FROM WHITE CLOUD ANALYTICS,
WHEN HE'S LOOKING FOR SCIENCE PEOPLE TO WORK WITH HIM HE ASKS,
WHAT'S THE LAST BOOK YOU'VE RED.
SEGUEING HERE, BOISE STATE DOES IN FACT HAVE SOME CRITICAL
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE ECONOMY, WITH THE SURROUNDING ECONOMY.
IT'S PART OF THE ENGINE OF THE ECONOMY NOW.
JUST HAD AN IGM GRANT OF I THINK $700,000 THAT YOU'VE DECIDED TO
SPEND IN THE COMPUTER SCIENCES AREA.
THAT WOULD MATCH UP STUDENTS WITH BUSINESSES IN SOME
RESPECTS?
>> IT'S GOING TO HIRE SOME FACULTY TO INCREASE THE OUTPUT
OF COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJORS.
THE SOFTWARE ENGINEERING FIRMS OF BOISE ARE SAYING, LOOK,
YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB OF PRODUCING A LIMITED NUMBER AND
THEY ARE REALLY GOOD STUDENTS.
WE HAVE GREAT RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY WHEN OUR STUDENTS GET
INTO THE COMPANIES.
IT'S LIKE THERE'S NOT ENOUGH.
ONE OF OUR LOCAL COMPANIES ACTUALLY HAD TO SET UP AN OFFICE
IN BOULDER FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF PICKING OFF THE
GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER.
SO THIS IS REALLY A GREAT COMPANY HERE IN BOISE.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS INVESTING, REINVESTING IN THE
COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM HERE TO CONNECT WITH THE COMMUNITY AND
SERVE THE COMMUNITY IN AN IMPORTANT FASHION.
I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE PROSPECT OF THE IGM PROGRAM.
AS A MATTER OF FACT WE HOPE IT'S GOING TO BE INCLUDED IN THE
GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AGAIN THIS YEAR.
WE HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WILL SUPPORT IT.
WE'LL PUT ADDITIONAL FUNNING INTO THE COMPUTER SCIENCE
DEPARTMENT WHICH WILL GIVE US EVEN MORE FACULTY AND MORE
RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY.
WE HAD 19 LICENSING AGREEMENTS JUST THIS LAST YEAR WITH LOCAL
COMPANIES WHO ARE USING THE SUPREME COURT WALL PROPERTY THAT
WAS DEVELOPED IN OUR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND SOME OF OUR
SCIENCES.
THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PARTNERSHIP THAT I WOULD SAY GO
15 YEARS BACK BOISE STATE WAS A SCHOOL.
JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE WENT TO SCHOOL.
TODAY BOISE STATE IS A UNIVERSITY THAT IS SERVING THE
COMMUNITY AND THE STATE IN SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS BEYOND WORK
FORCE DEVELOPMENT.
THESE RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS AND THE ABILITY TO USE RESEARCH THAT
OUR FACULTY PRODUCED IS ONE OF THE KEY WAYS WE CAN ENHANCE THE
ECONOMY.
>> HOW IMPORTANT TO YOU WAS IT AS AN ADMINISTRATOR TO HAVE THE
LARRY SELL LEN COLLEGE APPLIED TECHNOLOGY MORPH INTO THE
COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO?
THOSE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING TRAINED, OF COURSE, TO GO
DIRECTLY INTO THE ECONOMY.
>> THAT WAS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE MUSTS IN THE FIRST YEARS OF MY
PRESIDENCY.
THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND COMING OUT
OF THE PARKING LOT AT THE TACO BELL ARENA AND LOOKING UP AT A
DIESEL TECHNOLOGY SIGN AT THE SAME TIME THAT WE'RE PRODUCING A
PH.D IN GEOSCIENCES.
HAS TO BE VERY CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE TO FIGURE OUT, WHO ARE
YOU?
WHAT IS YOUR MISSION AND ROLE?
HOW CAN YOU BE A COMMUNITY OR TECHNICAL COLLEGE ON ONE HAND
AND AT THE SAME TIME OFFERING PH.Ds IN THE STEM DISCIPLINES.
WE DECIDED EARLY ON THAT IT MADE GOOD SENSE TO CREATE A COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
WE HAD OUR DETRACTORS.
THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO THOUGHT, WHAT -- PEOPLE WITHIN BOISE
STAT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
THIS IS OUR BREAD AND BUTTER.
THESE ARE STUDENTS WE'RE GIVING AWAY.
THE FIRST TWO OR THREE YEARS WE DID LOSE QUITE A FEW STUDENTS.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE FACT THERE'S LIKE 9,000 STUDENTS AT DWI, THE
QUESTION IS HOW MANY OF THOSE WOULD BE AT BOISE STATE?
WE MAY BE A SCHOOL OF 25, 26,000 STUDENTS INSTEAD OF 22,678.
BUT IT MAKES GREAT SENSE BECAUSE IT FOCUSES A NEW MISSION AND
ROLE IN THE VALLEY ON COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.
IT FREES US UP TO BE A METROPOLITAN RESEARCH
UNIVERSITY, TO FOCUS MORE ON GRADUATE PROGRAMMING AND ALSO TO
INCREASE OUR ADMISSION STANDARDS.
WE HAVE DONE THAT REGULARLY AND THE QUALITY OF OUR STUDENT BODY
IS IMPROVING.
>> THE GPAs ARE COMING IN, ALSO YOUR RETENTION IS MOVING UP
AND YOU HAVE MORE FULL-TIME STUDENTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT
COMMUTING IN AND OUT, TAKING A CLASS HERE AND THERE.
>> RIGHT.
>> I READ ALL OF YOUR STATE OF THE UNIVERSITY ADDRESSES.
AS SOON AS YOU CAME IN YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE NEED
FOR A COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
IT HAPPENED.
AS SOON AS YOU CAME IN YOU STARTED TALKING ABOUT WE'RE
GOING TO START DOING MORE FUND-RAISING.
YOU RAISED $185 MILLION.
YOU ARE NOT -- YOU DON'T MINCE WORDS.
YOU SAY WHERE YOU FEEL THE INSTITUTION SHOULD BE GOING.
HOW IS IT THAT SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED IN THIS SHORT A PERIOD
OF TIME?
WHEN PEOPLE DRIVE BY THEY SEE MANY MORE BUILDINGS THAN THEY
USED TO.
THEY PROBABLY THINK THE STATE IS DOING PRETTY WELL, BUT IN FACT
YOUR STAFF AND OTHERS HAVE HELPED RAISE THAT MONEY.
>> YES.
>> WHAT HAS MADE ALL THIS HAPPEN IN JUST NINE YEARS?
>> LET'S TAKE THE BUILDINGS.
THIS IS WHERE I THINK THE PEOPLE WHO WORK WITH ME NEVER GET THE
CREDIT THAT I GET AND THEY DESERVE IT BECAUSE IT WASN'T
EVEN MY IDEA.
THE SOAKED YEAR I WAS HERE, ONE OF MY LEGAL COUNSEL CAME TO ME
AND SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?
THIS BUILDING PROPOSITION ISN'T GOING TO GET ANY BETTER.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE GIVING US ANY MONEY.
>> THEY BEING THE STATE.
>> RIGHT.
WE NEED A STRATEGIC FACILITIES FEE.
WE STARTED AT $25 A SEMESTER.
TODAY IT'S AT $225.
>> YOU WORK WITH STUDENTS ON THAT.
>> WE DID.
WENT TO THE STATE BOARD MEETING WITH US, SAID, WE THINK THIS IS
THE ONLY WAY TO GROW THE UNIVERSITY AND TO ALLOW IT TO
PROSPER.
OVER THE YEARS EVERY STUDENT ADMINISTRATION, EVERY STUDENT
LEADER JUMPED ON THAT PROGRAM.
THAT'S RESPONSIBLE FOR 19 BUILDINGS ON OUR CAMPUS.
SO WHEN I GOT HERE IN 2003, I REMEMBER MY JOB INTERVIEWS.
THE PEOPLE WHO I INTERVIEWED WITH, THE STAFF, FACULTY, THERE
WAS THIS PENT-UP INTEREST IN MOVING UP, MOVING OUT.
AND IT'S JUST -- THERE HAD TO BE SOME DIRECTION.
>> YOU WERE CHANNELING WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE?
>> I THINK I WAS CHANNELING WHAT WAS ALREADY THERE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF FRUSTRATION IN THE COMMUNITY.
FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THERE WAS A STATE BOARD THAT PUT A DAMPER
ON WHAT BOISE STATE WAS ALLOWED TO DO.
IT WASN'T SUPPOSED TO GET TOO BIG FOR ITS BRITCHES.
IT WAS SUPPOSED TO STAY SMALL.
>> NOT DUPLICATE PROGRAMS.
>> EXACTLY.
NOW THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THE GOVERNOR UNDERSTANDS THAT THIS
UNIVERSITY, BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY, IS BOISE'S
UNIVERSITY.
IT'S THE UNIVERSITY THAT SERVES THE CITY.
WE'RE THE ONLY UNIVERSITY WHOSE MISSION AND ROLE IS TO SERVE THE
TREASURE VALLEY.
WITH THAT MANDATE NOW SO CLEARLY DELINEATED BY THE BOARD AND WITH
ALL OF THIS PENT-UP INTEREST IN COMPETENCE AT BOISE STATE IT WAS
REAL EASY FOR ME TO PUT THE PIECES TOGETHER.
BUT IT WAS ALL THERE, MARCIA.
>> IT DOESN'T COME WITHOUT RUFFLING SOME FEATHERS.
THE UNIVERSITY THAT HAD A LOT OF THE ATTENTION AND DOES BENEFIT
FROM A DIFFERENT KIND OF FUNDING STRUCTURE IS THE UNIVERSITY OF
IDAHO.
IT'S NO SECRET THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW COMMENTS MADE AND
EVERYTHING, FEATHERS RUFFLE ABOUT THIS FLAGSHIP ISSUE,
WHATEVER.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT IT SEEMS LIKE YOUR INTENT WAS TO RAISE THE PROFILE OF
BOISE STATE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I THINK IF YOU TAKE A LOOK AT OUR PEERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY,
YOU WILL FIND THAT IN KENTUCKY THERE IS A FLAGSHIP LAND GRANT
UNIVERSITY CALLED THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY, BUT THERE'S A
UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE THAT'S GROWING AT LEAST AS BIG AS THE
UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.
GO TO CINCINNATI, THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI IS A LARGE
METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY AND OHIO STATE IS UP TO THE NORTH.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO, SALT LAKE, THE UNIVERSITY OF UTAH.
THEN THERE'S UTAH STATE THAT IS THE LAND GRANT.
IN MOST STATES WHERE THERE'S A BIG CITY AND WHERE THERE IS A
LAND GRANT INSTITUTION YOU'RE ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE THIS
TENSION, BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT IN THE MEANTIME, NUMBER ONE
AS DANE NELLIS AND I OFTEN REMIND EACH OTHER AND THE PEOPLE
WE'RE TALKING TO, OUR FACULTIES ARE WORKING TOGETHER EVERY DAY
OF THE WEEK.
WE HAVE FACULTIES IN MANY DISCIPLINES THAT HAVE JOINT
PROGRAMMING, THEY HAVE JOINT GRANTS FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION OR WHATEVER IT IS.
MEANWHILE, IN THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL WHICH MEETS ONCE A MONTH
WHERE THE PRESIDENTS SIT AROUND THE TABLE, IF YOU WALKED INTO
THAT MEETING YOU WOULD SAY, TENSION?
WHERE IS THE TENSION?
>> EVERYTHING SMOOTHED OVER AFTER THE COMMENT ABOUT
INEBRIATION?
>> THAT WAS A DIFFERENT SUBJECT.
THAT WAS ABOUT A FOOTBALL GAME, ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NEEDED TO, YOU
KNOW, OBVIOUSLY OUR FANS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT TREATMENT AND
THINGS LIKE THAT.
TOTALLY DIFFERENT ISSUE.
IF PEOPLE STILL WANT TO GO BACK AND VISIT THAT, THAT'S THEIR
BUSINESS, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THAT HERE IN
THE STATE OF IDAHO THERE'S A ROLE FOR EACH OF THE THREE
UNIVERSITIES AND THE FOUR-YEAR LEWIS CLARK COLLEGE.
WE ALL HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES AND MISSIONS.
WE WERE JUST YESTERDAY ON THE PHONE WORKING WITH INL, ON A
VERY INTERESTING CONVERSATION ABOUT HOW WE CAN BECOME EVEN
MORE FULL-FLEDGED PARTNERS OF INL, AND THAT'S NOT UNCOMMON ON
A REGULAR BASIS FOR DUANE NELLIS AND ART AND I TO FIND OURSELVES
WORKING TOGETHER IN COMMON PURSUIT OF AN IDAHO GOAL.
>> YOU MENTIONED YOU WORK WITH THE STUDENTS ON THIS FACILITIES
FEE, WHICH WAS VERY IMPORTANT IN GETTING NEW STRUCTURES.
ONE AREA THAT I KNOW IS OF CONCERN IS TUITION.
WE HAVE SEEN AN INCREASE IN TUITION YEAR AFTER YEAR AFTER
YEAR.
I THINK YOU WROTE ALMOST TONGUE IN CHEEK SEEMS LIKE THERE'S
NEVER NOT A GOOD -- THERE'S ALWAYS AN EXCUSE TO RAISE
TUITION.
THE IN-STATE TUITION HAS BEEN RAISED PROPORTIONATELY MORE THAN
OUT OF STATE.
OVER $5,000 RIGHT NOW.
FIRST OF ALL, DO YOU THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE KIND OF A --
ARE WE SEEING POTENTIALLY A BUBBLE RIGHT NOW AND EDUCATION
BECOMES MORE AND MORE EXPENSIVE WE'RE GOING TO SEE FEWER AND
FEWER STUDENTS TAKING TRADITIONAL DEGREE?
ARE WE REACHING THAT POINT RIGHT NOW?
>> FIRST OF ALL, LET ME REMIND FOLKS THAT OF THE 15 WESTERN
STATES, THE STATE OF IDAHO'S TUITION IS 13th.
THERE'S LOTS OF STATES AHEAD OF US.
WE'RE FROM ONE OF THE BARGAIN STATES WHEN IT COMES TO TUITION.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, THAT DOES CONCERN
ME.
I WORRY SOMETIMES THAT OUR FACULTYIES DO NOT QUITE
APPRECIATE HOW DRAMATICALLY THE LANDSCAPE COULD CHANGE AND YOU
COULD IN FACT -- WHERE ARE THESE MOOCs GOING?
WHERE ARE THE MASSIVE ONLINE COURSES GOING?
IF STUDENTS FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TAKE THOSE WHY WON'T THEY?
>> THEY ARE FREE RIGHT NOW.
PROBABLY NOT FOREVER.
>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN EMPLOYER DECIDES HE REALLY DOESN'T CARE
ABOUT THE BACHELOR'S OF ART DEGREE IN WHATEVER IT IS.
I'LL TAKE A BADGE IN THIS AND A BADGE IN THAT.
GIVE ME FOUR ORR FIVE BADGES OF SPECIFIC COMPETENCY AND FORGET
YOUR UNDERGRADUATE DEGREE.
THAT'S SCARY.
I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD DISCOUNT THE FACT THAT THAT
COULD HAPPEN.
I THINK IT COULD.
I THINK THEREFORE IT'S INCUMBENT ON US IN LARGE PUBLIC
UNIVERSITIES LIKE BOISE STATE, NORTH IDAHO, THAT WE FOCUS OUR
ENERGIES ON ALL ASPECTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROCESS, THAT WE
PLACE AS MUCH FOCUS ON THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES AS ON THE
SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING.
I THINK YOU'LL FIND ACROSS THE STATE THAT WE'RE PRETTY GOOD AT
THAT.
>> MAYBE WORK WITH THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES TO SAY THIS IS THE
VALUE OF A FOUR YEAR DEGREE AS OPPOSED TO WHAT YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT IS THE BADGES, PEOPLE CAN GET A CERTIFICATE AFTER TAKING A
COURSE ONLINE AND PRESENT IT TO THEIR EMPLOYER.
>> YES.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT.
>> IT COULD HELP -- >> OF COURSE IT COULD.
COMMUNITY COLLEGES DO THAT REGULARLY.
I WOULDN'T DOUBT COLLEGES OF ENGINEERING WILL BE DOING THAT
IN THE FUTURE.
IN THE MEANTIME WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING THE WELL ROUNDED
PERSON WHO CAN MAKE DECISIONS, TO INNOVATE, TO BE THE FUTURE
LEADER IN BUSINESS, HEALTH CARE, GOVERNMENT, WHATEVER IT IS, I
REALLY BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT IT TAKES A LIBERAL ARTS EDUCATION.
OF COURSE YOU CAN HAVE A MAJOR.
YOU CAN HAVE TWO MINORS.
YOU CAN HAVE A DOUBLE MAJOR.
WE CAN'T FORSAKE THIS INCREDIBLE EDUCATION TRADITION THAT WE HAVE
ESTABLISHED IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT WE HAVE BUILT.
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE POSITIONS LIKE MINE, OUR JOB IS TO PROTECT
IT.
TO PRESERVE IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE DO EVERY TIME WE MARCH UP TO THE STATE CAPITOL
AND REMIND THEM THAT THEY JUST CAN'T TAKE THE SIZE OF HIGHER
EDUCATION BUDGET DOWN ANY LONGER BEFORE IT'S NOTHING BUT A
PRIVATE GOOD INSTEAD OF THE PUBLIC GOOD THAT BENEFITS ALL
TAXPAYERS WHETHER YOU'RE GOING TO COLLEGE OR NOT.
>> DO YOU THINK WE'LL SEE AN INCREASE IN TUITION AGAIN?
>> YOU WILL.
YES, YOU WILL.
THE STATE BOARD IS TALKING ABOUT LIMITING TUITION TO 3%.
WE AT BOISE STATE ARE ACTUALLY TALKING ABOUT CHANGING THE WAY
WE CHARGE FOR TUITION.
HISTORICALLY SCHOOLS, I'M SURE MANY OF YOUR VIEWERS AND THOSE
READING ONLINE KNOW THAT WHEN THEY WENT TO SCHOOL THEY PAID
FOR 12 HOURS TO BE A FULL-TIME STUDENT, THEN THEY COULD TAKE 15
OR 18 HOURS.
YOU COULD DO THAT WHEN YOU WERE BEING SUBSIDIZED BY THE STATE,
BUT AS THE STATE TAKES AWAY THE SUBSIDY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
PRICE PER CREDIT HOUR AND PRICE THE PRODUCT MORE REALISTICALLY.
THIS IS NOTHING NEW.
THERE'S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES ALL OVER AMERICA,
MAYBE EVEN A MAJORITY, THAT CHARGE ON A PER CREDIT BASIS
THESE DAYS.
WE HAVE NOT DONE THAT IN THE STATE OF IDAHO.
I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE NEXT MOVES IN THIS REARRANGING THE
BUSINESS MODEL, REINVENTING THE BUSINESS MODEL THAT WORKS AS TO
HOW WE FINANCE HIGHER EDUCATION INTO THE FUTURE.
>> I'M JUST THINKING OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD.
DOES THAT MAKE A DISINCENTIVE FOR SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO GO INTO
LANGUAGES OR SCIENCES WHERE THERE ARE LABS SO THEY ARE
TAKING MORE CREDIT HOURS BECAUSE OF THAT AND HAVE TO PAY MORE?
>> THE LAB SOMETIMES YOU CAN WORK IT OUT SO THE LAB IS
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE THREE HOUR COURSE.
WE WOULDN'T WANT TO USE A DISINCENTIVE ON A SCIENCE
STUDENT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO DISS INCENT STUDENTS WHO CAN TAKE MORE
CLASSES.
WE'RE EXAMINING HOW TO DEAL WITH THIS.
THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HAS A SPECIFIC PROGRAM, I WON'T GO
INTO THE DETAILS, BUT IT TRIES TO DEAL WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE
EITHER SMART ENOUGH OR INDUSTRIOUS ENOUGH TO TAKE 18
HOURS.
THEY FIGURED OUT A WAY TO DO IT WITHOUT PENALIZING THEM.
>> WE HAD A QUESTION FROM A VIEWER ABOUT WHAT MANAGEMENT
BOOKS YOU LIKE TO READ TO UNDERSTAND BETTER HOW TO DO YOUR
JOB.
>> WELL, THERE'S A GUY NAMED COLLINS WHO WROTE A BOOK CALLED
GOOD TO GREAT I THINK THE NAME IS.
I HOPE I'M RIGHT ABOUT THAT.
I LIKE HIS BOOK.
THERE'S ONE MESSAGE I TOOK AWAY FROM HIS BOOK THAT IS IF YOU'RE
GOING TO DO A GOOD JOB IN YOUR ORGANIZATION YOU BETTER HAVE THE
RIGHT PEOPLE ON THE BUS.
I SPEND A LOT OF TIME COACHING IN MY JOB, WORKING WITH MY
DIRECT REPORTS, WORKING WITH PEOPLE, HELPING THEM BE MORE
PRODUCTIVE, MOTIVATING THEM IN MANY WAYS.
MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHAT I WOULD CALL DRILLING DOWN.
I THINK WHEN YOU'RE OVERSEEING A UNIVERSITY, JUST YESTERDAY I HAD
LUNCH WITH A GROUP OF 10 TO -- 13 STUDENTS.
IT WAS A FOCUS GROUP.
I LEARNED THIS FROM MY POLITICAL DAYS WHEN I USED TO BE IN
POLITICS.
WE HAD TO HAVE FOCUS GROUPS OF TAXPAYERS WHO WOULD COME AND
ELUS WHAT THE ISSUES WERE.
I THOUGHT IF I DID THAT IN POLITICS WHY CAN'T I USE A FOCUS
GROUP OF STUDENTS TO TELL US WHAT'S RIGHT AND WRONG WITH
BOISE STATE.
SO WE GAVE THEM A FREE LUNCH YESTERDAY, EVEN THOUGH I TOLD
THEM THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH.
I SAID, WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM?
WHETHER IT WAS PARKING, BOTTLENECKS, FOOD, HOUSING, WE
WENT THROUGH THE LIST.
THE MANAGEMENT BOOKS I READ, IT'S LIKE LINCOLN.
THEY USED TO SAY LINCOLN MANAGED BY WALKING AROUND.
I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF TRUTH TO THAT.
YOU DON'T EVEN REALLY NEED TO WALK AROUND.
BUT YOU DO NEED TO ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS AND DRILL DOWN INTO
THE ORGANIZATION.
THAT NOT JUST SIMPLY SHOW UP FOR THE JOB EVERY MORNING AND SAY,
I'M PRESIDENT.
MY JOB IS TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND ASK FOR MONEY.
MY JOB IS TO GO TO THE DONOR AND ASK FOR MONEY.
MY JOB IS TO KNOW THAT STUDENT WHO SETS FOOT ON THE CAMPUS FOR
THE FIRST TIME GETS FIRST CLASS TREATMENT.
GETS AN ORIENTATION PROGRAM THAT'S THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY.
I NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY THAT I CAN TRACK HOW THAT'S WORKING.
WE DO THAT.
WE REALLY TRY TO DRILL DOWN TO GET -- LAST YEAR THE STUDENTS
TOLD ME THERE'S NO PLACE TO SIT IN THE QUADRANGLE.
NOW WE HAVE ALL THESE BENCHES.
>> I NOTICED THAT.
>> ALL THESE CA IMFROM ONE OF THOSE FOCUS GROUPS WHERE WE
DRILLED DOWN TO SEE WHAT'S WRONG.
INTERNET ACCESS IS A BIG THING THESE DAYS.
STUDENTS ARE DOWNLOADING ALL KINDS OF STUFF.
>> HOPEFULLY THIS SHOW.
>> YES.
WIPING OUT THE BROADBAND.
BUT GET NEWS IS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO FOCUS ON THE LITTLE
THINGS THAT IF YOU IGNORE THEM BEFORE YOU KNOW IT YOU'RE GOING
TO DEVELOP A REPUTATION AS A SCHOOL THAT DOESN'T CARE.
WE NEVER WANT THAT TO HAPPEN.
>> FROM A MANAGER PERSPECTIVE HOW DO YOU DEAL TWH YOU MAKE THE
TOUGH DECISIONS.
I REMEMBER SEEING SIGNS ALL AROUND TOWN, FIRE KUSTRA.
DO YOU JUST WALK BY THEM?
>> THAT NEVER REALLY BOTHERS ME MUCH.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, SOMEBODY TOLD ME A LONG TIME AGO, IF
SOMEBODY ISN'T COMPLAINING YOU'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB.
I SEE THESE SIGNS STILL.
I DON'T KNOW WHO IS PUTTING THEM UP.
IF THEY THINK THEY ARE BOTHERING ME, IT JUST REMINDS ME I DID MY
JOB.
THAT'S WHAT IT DOES.
I'M THINKING, WELL, APPARENTLY I'M DOING MY WORK.
AS LONG AS THE STATE BOARD THAT HIRED ME AND HAS THE ABILITY TO
FIRE ME AT ANY POINT THINKS I'M DOING MY JOB THAT'S ALL I NEED
TO KNOW.
I JUST THINK IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
I DO THINK THAT ONE OF THE TOUGHEST THINGS ABOUT A JOB IS
TO HAVE TO FACE UP TO SOMEBODY WHO IS NOT PERFORMING OR THERE'S
A PROBLEM, AND I HAVE HAD TO DO THAT.
MORE THAN ONCE.
IT'S NEVER EASY.
YOU TRY TO DO IT AS DELICATELY AS POSSIBLE.
MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU TRY TO PROVIDE A CUSHION FOR SOMEBODY
SO THERE'S TIME FOR THEM TO FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.
BUT THAT'S -- THAT ALL GOES WITH THE JOB.
WHEN I WAS IN POLITICS, BACK IN THE STATE SENATE IN THE STATE OF
ILLINOIS, ONE DAY I LOOKED IN THE MIRROR AND I SAID, YOU KNOW,
SOMEDAY I WOULD LIKE TO RUN A REALLY COMPLEX ORGANIZATION AND
SEE IF I COULD PULL IT OFF.
WHEN YOU'RE A LEGISLATOR YOU HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR OWN
VOTING INVOLVED AND THAT'S ABOUT IT.
MAYBE TWO EMPLOYEES.
IT'S NOT EXACTLY A COMPLICATED JOB.
BUT WHEN YOU HAVE THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE YOU CITED EARLIER AT A
UNIVERSITY AND ANY OF THOSE CAN GO WRONG ON ANY GIVEN DAY, IT IS
MASSIVE RESPONSIBILITY.
SO WHEN I TOOK THIS JOB, MY GOAL WAS I WANT TO SEE IF I CAN DO
THIS RIGHT.
I HAVE MADE SOME MISTAKES.
WHO WOULDN'T MAKE A MISTAKE IN A JOB LIKE THIS SHOWING UP 365
DAYS A YEAR?
OVER ALL, I REALLY THINK I HAVE PROVEN TO MYSELF THAT IN FACT IF
YOU ARE DEDICATED TO WHAT YOU DO AND YOU BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO
AND YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY SINCERE WITH PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE TO GET TO THE OBJECTIVE YOU SET, YOU CAN BE
SUCCESSFUL.
I THINK BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY AND ALL OF THE PEOPLE I WORK
WITH ACROSS THE COLLEGE, IN THE COLLEGES, THE DEANS, THE CHAIRS.
THEY ALL COME TO WORK DEVOTED TO IMPROVING THE LIVES OF OUR
STUDENTS.
THAT'S A VERY GRATIFYING FEELING TO TAKE AWAY AT THE END OF THE
DAY.
>> OF COURSE NOW THERE'S PEOPLE THAT WANT YOU TO GO BACK TO
POLITICS.
>> AND THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN, I GUARANTEE YOU, MARCIA.
MY WIFE SAYS SHE WILL COME VISIT ME IF THAT HAPPENS.
AND SHE GETS THE DOG, WHICH IS THE BIGGEST PART OF THE PROBLEM.
I KNOW, WE HAVE JOKED ABOUT IT.
GOVERNOR ANDRES AND OTHERS HAVE FROM TIME TO TIME JOKED WITH ME,
YOU'VE GOT TO GET ON THE BALL BALLOT.
I HAVE BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
PLUS WHEN I WAS IN POLITICS IT WAS A DIFFERENT BALLGAME.
IT WAS A TOTALLY DIFFERENT GAME.
>> THE GRIDLOCK NOW -- >> TELLING YOU ABOUT THIS RADIO
SHOW I DID OF THE LAST GREAT SENATE WITH THIS GUY DESCRIBING
THE U.S. SENATE IN THE '70s WHEN YOU HAD BIPARTISAN
FRIENDSHIPS ACROSS THE AISLE AND THEY WOULD COME TOGETHER, LOOK
OUT FOR EACH OTHER, PROTECT EACH OTHER.
IN ONE CASE THE GUY TOLD A STORY OF SENATOR DIRKSEN TELLING
SENATOR BYE FROM INDIANA, THOSE ARE FROM DIFFERENT PARTIES, HOW
TO GET REELECTED.
WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?
WHERE DO YOU FIND THAT IN THE U.S. SENATE TODAY OR ANY OTHER
LEGISLATIVE BODY?
SO I REALLY ENJOY WHAT I'M DOING.
I LOVE WORKING WITH LEGISLATORS ON THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN
SIDE.
WE REALLY ENJOY THE RELATIONSHIP WE HAVE WITH THE IDAHO
LEGISLATURE.
ANOTHER THING ABOUT THE IDAHO LEGISLATURE THAT I THINK IS
REALLY SPECIAL IS THAT WHEN I WAS IN THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE
IT WAS ON THE BORDERLINE OF BEING A PROFESSIONAL
LEGISLATURE.
WE WERE IN SESSION A LOT.
WE WERE PAID -- EWAS PAID $28,000.
IN THOSE DAYS 28,000 IS MORE THAN WHAT WE'RE -- THIS IS A
TRUE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.
THIS IS ONE OF THE LAST OF ITS KIND IN THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS A TRUE CITIZEN LEGISLATURE THAT COMES IN FOR
THREE OR FOUR MONTHS EVERY YEAR, DOES THEIR BUSINESS, GOES HOME
TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR BUSINESSES AND
WHATEVER.
THERE'S NOT MANY OF THESE LEFT.
IN CALIFORNIA I THINK THE SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS ARE
MAKING AS MUCH IF NOT MORE THAN THE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.
THEY ARE ENORMOUS.
AT LEAST $200,000 A YEAR TO BE A STATE SENATOR.
>> THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE COACHING A FOOTBALL TEAM.
>> EXACTLY.
I THIS EVENING R THINK THESE LEGISLATORS DESERVE A LOT OF
CREDIT.
THEY ARE POORLY PAID.
THEY SPEND LONG HOURS.
TAXPAYERS WOULD NEVER BELIEVE.
THESE FOLKS ARE AT WORK AT 8:00 A.M. AND NEVER OUT BEFORE 6:00
P.M. AND THEN THEY START THEIR EVENING ROUNDS OF RECEPTIONS,
TAKING CARE OF THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO TOWN TO LOBBY THEM FOR
ONE THING OR ANOTHER.
IDAHO LEGISLATURE IS A PRETTY UNIQUE PLACE.
REALLY IS.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO GO THERE.
>> NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO THERE.
BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO TALK FURTHER ABOUT YOUR
PRIORITIES FOR BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY.
YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO BOB KUSTRA, PRESIDENT OF BOISE STATE
UNIVERSITY.
THANKS FOR TUNING IN TO THIS "DIALOGUE" WEB EXTRA.