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PRESENTATION OF "DIALOGUE" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION IS MADE
POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA MOORE
CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION, COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE MOORE FAMILY'S
LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.
COMING UP, HE'S BEEN AT THE HELM OF IDAHO'S LARGEST PUBLIC
UNIVERSITY FOR ALMOST A DECADE.
A CONVERSATION WITH BOISE STATE PRESIDENT BOB KUSTRA ABOUT THE
CHALLENGES AND REWARDS OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE 21st CENTURY.
THAT'S "DIALOGUE," NEXT.
STAY TUNED.
HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "DIALOGUE."
I'M MARCIA FRANKLIN.
WHEN BOB KUSTRA ARRIVED AT BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY IN 2003 AS ITS
6th PRESIDENT, IT WAS WITH AN AMBITIOUS AGENDA TO BOOST THE
SCHOOL'S RESOURCES, OUTPUT AND REPUTATION.
NEARLY TEN YEARS LATER, WHAT'S BEEN ACHIEVED, AND WHAT
CHALLENGES STILL REMAIN?
JOINING ME TO TALK ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION AT BOISE STATE AND
BEYOND IS BOB KUSTRA.
WELCOME.
DR. KUSTRA, WHO HAS A PH.D IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, CAME TO BOISE
STATE FROM THE MIDWESTERN HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION, WHERE HE
WAS PRESIDENT.
HE ALSO SERVED AS PRESIDENT OF EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.
NOW, BEFORE ACADEMIA, CAME POLITICS.
PRESIDENT KUSTRA SERVED TWO TERMS AS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
OF ILLINOIS AND TEN YEARS IN THE ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE.
HE NOW OVERSEES AN INSTITUTION WITH MORE THAN 20,000 STUDENTS
AND 2400 STAFF, INCLUDING MORE THAN 670 INSTRUCTORS.
THE ANNUAL BUDGET OF BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY IS NEARLY $405
MILLION.
THAT'S $180 MILLION MORE THAN WHEN PRESIDENT KUSTRA ARRIVED.
TEN YEARS.
DOES IT SEEM LIKE ALMOST TEN YEARS?
>> NO, IT DOESN'T.
I REMEMBER WHEN I HIT THE FIVE YEAR MARK THE PRESS REMANDED ME
THAT WHEN I CAME I SAID I WOULD STAY ONLY FIVE YEARS.
THEY WONDERED WHAT I WOULD DO NEXT.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO GO THIS FAST.
>> YOU MUST LIKE IT.
>> IT'S THE BEST JOB I HAVE EVER HAD OF ANYTHING I HAVE EVER
DONE.
>> I MENTIONED THAT BUDGET NUMBER.
FISCAL YEAR, $223.9 MILLION WHEN YOU ARRIVED.
FISCAL 2013, $404.9 MILLION.
THAT'S A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
WE KNOW IT'S NOT COMING FROM GENERAL FUND SUPPORT, THE STATE.
THAT FUNDING HAS BEEN STATIC IN 2002 YOU GOT AROUND $74 MILLION
N.2013 FROM THE STATE IF WE CAN PUT THAT UP, GENERAL FUND
SUPPORT, $74.5 MILLION.
IT'S NOT COMING FROM THE STATE SUPPORT.
>> ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WE'RE
SERVING NOW AS OPPOSED TO TEN YEARS AGO.
CLEARLY, THE INCREASED FUNDING IS COMING FROM TUITION, FROM
RESEARCH DOLLARS, AND OTHER AREAS.
TUITION AND RESEARCH MAKES UP MOST OF IT.
>> BUT WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE STATE?
SHOULD IT GIVE YOU MORE MONEY?
>> THERE'S NO QUESTION.
ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES IN HIGHER EDUCATION, THE PRESIDENTS OF
IDAHO'S PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, WOULD BE ABLE TO
MAKE A STRONG CASE, AND WE HAVE MADE A STRONG CASE FOR THE FACT
THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO VALUE HIGHER EDUCATION AS A PUBLIC
GOOD IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS STATE, THEN WE CAN'T ALLOW
HIGHER EDUCATION TO SLIP TO THE VERY LAST PRIORITY EVERY STATE
BUDGET SESSION.
THAT'S REALLY WHAT'S HAPPENED HERE IN IDAHO.
IN FAIRNESS IT'S HAPPENED ABOUT IN 49 OTHER STATES AS WELL, BUT
THAT DOESN'T MAKE IT RIGHT.
>> FEDERAL SUPPORT IS ONE AREA THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THAT GROWTH.
WE HAVE SOME STUNNING FIGURES.
2002, 44.1 MILLION.
FISCAL YEAR 2014, $117.7 MILLION IN FEDERAL GRANTS AND CONTRACTS,
A LOT OF THEM FOR RESEARCH INTO THE SCIENCES.
DO YOU THINK THIS IS SUSTAINABLE WITH THE STIMULUS GOING AWAY AND
FISCAL ISSUES ON THE FEDERAL LEVEL?
THIS AMOUNT OF FEDERAL MONEY?
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A COMPLETE ANSWER TO THAT.
IS THINK IT'S SUSTAINABLE FOR US BECAUSE WE'RE STILL GROWING OUR
GRADUATE PROGRAMMING, ATTRACTING AND RECRUITING NEW FACULTY.
EVERY MEMBER THAT COMES IN BRINGS HIS OR HER OWN RESEARCH
AGENDA.
WE'RE GOING TO BE OKAY BECAUSE WE'RE GROWING, BUT SOME OF THE
UNIVERSITIES THAT ARE MORE TRADITIONAL AND CAN'T JUSTIFY
GROWTH IN NUMBERS OF FACULTY, THEY MAY WELL SEE SOME OF THEIR
GRANTS DROP OFF BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN THEY START
CUTTING OUT IN WASHINGTON TO AVOID THE FISCAL CLIFF, THE NSF,
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH COULD TAKE A HIT AS WELL.
>> YOU HAVE A FIRM IN D.C. THAT HELPS KEEP YOUR PROFILE UP.
>> YES.
IT'S BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
NO QUESTION OUR PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND THE PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR IS NOTHING MORE THAN THE LEAD FACULTY MEMBER ON
A GRANT, THIS FIRM PUTS THOSE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS IN TOUCH
WITH THE VARIOUS AGENCIES WHERE THEY COULD LIKELY GET THE
FUNDING TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO IN PURSUING THEIR RESEARCH.
>> YOU'VE MADE RESEARCH MORE PH.D, MORE GRADUATE PROGRAMS A
HALLMARK OF YOUR TENURE.
ARE YOU EVER CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MIGHT -- SOME MIGHT CALL
THE MON ITYIZATION OF EDUCATION?
CERTAIN THINGS GET MORE MONEY THAN OTHERS.
ENGINEERING, THE SCIENCES, NOT SO MUCH THE HUMANITIES.
DOES THAT WORRY YOU?
>> IT DOES.
THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT WHEN YOU GO TO THE NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A LOT OF MONEY FOR THE
HUMANITIES.
WHAT WE HAVE TO DO WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES IS
DEPEND ON PRIVATE GIVING.
BEFORE WHEN WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR
MONEY AT BOISE STATE, WE DID A CAMPAIGN FOR FIVE YEARS AND CAME
UP WITH $186 MILLION.
>> BUT ONLY 2 MILLION IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCES.
>> IT'S DEFINITELY LOWER THAN THE COLLEGE OF BUSINESS.
THE BUILDING WAS BUILT WITH THAT CAMPAIGN.
IT'S TOUGHER TO GET MONEY FOR THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES, BUT
MONEY FORT ARTS AND HUMANITIES IS OUT THERE, IT'S JUST GOING TO
COME MORE LIKELY FROM PRIVATE DONORS, PRIVATE GIVING,
FOUNDATIONS.
WE JUST EMPLOYED A NEW VICE PRESIDENT FOR UNIVERSITY
ADVANCEMENT WHO HAS AS ONE OF HER TOP PRIORITIES WORKING WITH
OUR CORPORATE AND FOUNDATIONS DIRECTOR TO FIND THE FOUNDATIONS
WHO ARE INTERESTED IN CONTRIBUTING TO UNIVERSITIES
WHEN IT COMES TO THE ARTS A HADN'T HUMANITIES.
AS YOU KNOW, MARCIA, I HAVE THE ARTS AND HUMANITIES INSTITUTE
ONE OF MY PRIME OBJECTIVES OF MY PRESIDENCY.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE PROGRAMMING IN PLACE BUT WE DON'T HAVE THE
FACILITY TO DO IT JUSTICE.
THAT'S ONE OF MY NEXT STEPS IN THIS JOB.
>> ALONG THE LINES OF THIS ISSUE OF NEEDING MORE MONEY, A LOT OF
YOUR BUILDINGS ARE IN DOUBT.
I KNOW IT'S A PRIORITY FOR YOU TO GET MORE PROFESSORSHIPS AND
CHAIRS ENDOWED.
RELATED TO ME PREVIOUS QUESTION, WHAT'S THE TIPPING POINT WHERE
THE MONEY THAT COMES IN IS SO TIED TO AN INDUSTRY OR PERSON OR
POINT OF VIEW THAT A PROFESSOR OR STUDENT DOESN'T FEEL THEY
COULD DO RESEARCH THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE CRITICAL OF THAT
ENTITY?
YOU'RE LOOKING FOR MONEY ANY PLACE YOU CAN, OF COURSE.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO HOW DO YOU FACTOR THAT IN?
>> THIS IS AN ISSUE RAISED ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN HIGHER
EDUCATION.
IT'S PROBABLY A MUCH MORE DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR THE LARGER
PUBLIC RESEARCH UNIVERSITIES IN AMERICA.
THEIR FACULTIES HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS MANY TIMES OVER.
THE FACT IS AT BOISE STATE WE HAVE REALLY NEVER BEEN IN A
POSITION WHERE WE HAVE HAD TO WORRY ABOUT A COMPANY COMING IN,
GIVING US MONEY, THEN SAYING AT THE SAME TIME, NOW LOOK, YOU
HAVE TO LAY OFF ANY CRITICISM OF WHAT WE DO.
OCCASIONALLY OUR FACULTY WILL, AND THAT'S THEIR RIGHT, MAKE
COMMENTS, PUBLISH RESEARCH PAPERS, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO DO
THAT'S CRITICAL OF AMERICAN INDUSTRY.
>> SO YOUR BUSINESS BUILDING, WHICH IS PAID FOR WITH MONEY
FROM -- [AUDIO NOT UNDERSTANDABLE]
IN IF A PROFESSOR WANTED TO LOOK AT THAT PARTICULAR INDUSTRY --
>> THAT'S CALLED ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND WE NEVER STEP IN THE
WAY OF A PROFESSOR'S FREEDOM TO PUBLISH WHAT HE OR SHE THINKS IS
APPROPRIATE.
WE HAVE NEVER REALLY SINCE I HAVE BEEN HERE HAD A PROBLEM
WITH THAT.
>> TALK TO ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR EMPHASIS ON GETTING MORE
PH.D PROGRAMS, BECOMING A RESEARCH INSTITUTION OF
DISTINCTION, ALSO ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH
GETTING A GENERAL EDUCATION AND THE GRADUATION RATE.
AT THE SAME TIME THAT YOU'RE BRINGING IN MORE RESEARCH AND
HIGHER END STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS, THE DOLLAR HAS NOT
MOVED ALL THAT MUCH ON THE GRADUATION RATE AT BOISE STATE.
I BELIEVE THE FOUR YEAR RATE IS 8%, THE SIX YEAR RATE IS 6%.
A THIRD OF PEOPLE SIX YEARS LATER ARE GRADUATING.
I KNOW THAT NUMBER HAS BEEN OF CONCERN TO YOU.
>> RIGHT.
WHY IS IT NOT MOVING?
>> WELL, AGAIN, THE COHORT IS WHAT WE FOLLOW.
>> WE'RE SEEING STUDENT ENROLLMENT BUT WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT GRACIOUS RATES.
>> THE COHORT IS WHAT WE FOLLOW.
THE COHORT YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT SIX YEARS OUT SO WE'RE GOING
BACK A GOOD NUMBER OF YEARS.
FOR ONE THING WE HAD A COMMUNITY COLLEGE EMBEDDED WITHIN BOISE
STATE FOR YEARS.
JUST RECENTLY THE COLLEGE OF WESTERN IDAHO WAS CREATED SO
THOSE STUDENTS WHO WENT INTO BOISE STATE AS FIRST YEAR
FULL-TIME STUDENTS AND THEN LEFT, THEY WEREN'T COUNTED.
IN FACT THAT'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM ABOUT THAT STATISTIC,
THAT METRIC, IS THAT IT LEECHES OUT SO MANY STUDENTS.
SAY A STUDENT TRANSFERS INTO BOISE STATE.
WE HAD OVER 1,000 STUDENTS TRANSFER IN THIS FALL.
THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE COUNTED.
WHEN THEY GRADUATE THEY WILL NOT BE COUNTED IN THE GRADUATION
RATE BECAUSE IT HAS TO BE THAT ORIGINAL COHORT OF FIRST YEAR
FULL-TIME STUDENTS.
YOU MISS A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT WAY.
SO NATIONALLY THERE'S A GREAT ARGUMENT GOING ON NOW WITH THE
IPEDS, THE FEDERAL AGENCY THAT KEEPS TRACK OF THESE NUMBERS.
THEIR ARGUMENT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO FIND A BETTER WAY OF TRACKING
STUDENTS TO GIVE UNIVERSITIES CREDIT FOR STUDENTS.
AGAIN, THOSE COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS THAT FOR SO MANY YEARS
WE PROCESSED AND LEFT AFTER TWO YEARS, THAT WAS NEVER COUNTED AS
A STUDENT THAT GRADUATED.
>> EVEN IF THOSE STUDENTS WERE COUNTED, THE NUMBER I'M GUESSING
FOR YOU AS AN ADMINISTRATOR IS STILL LOW.
WHAT'S GOING ON THAT OUR GRADUATION RATES ARE SO LOW,
PARTICULARLY IN METROPOLITAN INSTITUTIONS, BUT ALSO WE HAVE
THIS GOAL COMING UP HERE, THE STATE BOARD HAS ENDORSED, OF 60%
OF IDAHOANS 25 TO 34 YEARS OLD BY 20/20 SHOULD HAVE SOME SORT
OF DEGREE.
>> BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY IS THE ONLY UNIVERSITY THAT'S AHEAD OF
ITS ANNUAL METRIC IN TERMS OF ACHIEVING THAT GOAL BY 20/20.
WE WILL HAVE NO PROBLEM REACHING THAT GOAL.
SOME OF OUR SISTER INSTITUTIONS ARE STILL STRUGGLING TO MEET
THAT NUMBER.
WHAT'S GOING ON, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, IS REALLY A CULTURAL
ISSUE FOR METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITIES.
OBVIOUSLY, PEOPLE WHO COME TO METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITIES ARE
WORKING FULL-TIME, MORE OFTEN THAN THEY ARE IN SMALL, RURAL,
RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES.
YOU GO OFF TO COLLEGE AT A SMALL RURAL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL THERE'S
NOT MUCH TO DO BUT GO TO SCHOOL FOR FOUR YEARS AND MOVE ON.
IF YOU GO TO SCHOOL IN BOISE YOU CAN TAKE A COURSE ONCE A
SEMESTER, MAYBE TWO THE NEXT SEMESTER AND OVER SEVEN OR EIGHT
YEARS GRADUATE.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY PEOPLE IN BOISE MANAGED TO GET THROUGH
BOISE STATE IN THAT FASHION.
ESPECIALLY IN THIS ERA, WITH STUDENTS WHO DON'T HAVE THE
PRESSURE I HAD WHEN I WENT TO SCHOOL, IF I HAD GONE HOME TO MY
PARENTS AFTER FOUR YEARS AND SAID, HEY, MOM AND DAD, IT'S
GOING TO TAKE AN EXTRA SEMESTER, THEY WOULD HAVE KICKED ME OUT OF
THE HOUSE.
THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T GOING TO PAY FOR T. STUDENTS HAVE ALREADY
CUT THIS DEAL WITH THEIR PARENTS, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT TAKE
FIVE, SIX, IN FACT OUR CALIFORNIA KIDS WHO ARE COMING
TO US NOW, THEY ARE BEING TOLD IN THE CAL STATE SYSTEM THAT
IT'S GOING TO TAKE I THINK FIVE AND A HALF YEARS TO GET OUT OF
THE CALIFORNIA STATE SYSTEM.
SO THEY COME TO US BECAUSE WE HAVE A FINISH IN FOUR PROGRAM
WHERE IF THEY SIGN UP AND SAY THEY WANT OUT IN FOUR YEARS
WE'LL GET THEM OUT IN FOUR YEARS.
>> YOU HAVE A BOTTLENECK.
I HAVE TALKED TO A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SAY I WISH I COULD
HAVE GRADUATED SOONER BUT I COULDN'T GET THIS CLASS FOR LIKE
A YEAR PLUS.
>> RIGHT.
>> YOU HAVEN'T ADDED ALL THAT MANY PROFESSORS IN LINE WITH AS
MANY STUDENTS AS YOU HAVE I'M SURE BECAUSE OF FUNDING ISSUES.
>> RIGHT.
>> PEOPLE AREN'T BEING ABLE TO GET THROUGH IN TIME.
>> BY THE WAY, THE BOTTLENECK ISSUE IS ONE THAT ISN'T AS
SERIOUS AS IT WAS LAST YEAR AND NOT AS SERIOUS LAST YEAR AS THE
YEAR BEFORE.
OUR BIGGEST BOTTLENECK PROBLEM WAS AROUND 2009 AND 2010.
WE STARTED HIRING MORE ADJUNCT FACULTY, MORE FULL-TIME
LECTURERS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE NEWER INVENTIONS, SOMEBODY WHO TEACHES
12 HOURS.
>> THEY ARE ADJUNCT, BASICALLY.
>> BUT THEY ARE FULL-TIME WITH BENEFITS.
>> DO THEY?
>> THEY DO.
FOR A LONG TIME HIGHER ED WAS CRITICIZED FOR USING PEOPLE, NOT
GIVING THEM ANY BENEFITS.
THAT'S THE REASON WHY SOME OF THOSE BOTTLENECK COURSES ARE NOW
BEING ADDRESSED.
ONLINE EDUCATION IS THE OTHER.
>> THANK YOU FOR SEGUEING.
WE SEE A PERSON IN FRONT OF WHITE BOARD.
THIS NEW SYSTEM OF MASSIVE OPEN ONLINE COURSES, WE SEE COURSE
SERA, ED EX.
YOU'VE WRITTEN A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT THINGS ON THIS AND I'M
TRYING TO GET A BEA BEAD ON WHERE YOU FALL N. ONE OF YOUR
COMMENTS YOU SAID WE HAVE TO FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE.
COME UP WITH A WAY TO GET SOME COURSES ONLINE.
THEN SOMETHING ELSE WHERE YOU SAID, ESPECIALLY WE NEED TO
CONCENTRATE ON OTHER THINGS.
WE CAN ENCOURAGE OUR STUDENTS TO SIGN UP FOR THESE BUT WE CAN'T
SPEND A LOT OF RESOURCE ON IT.
WHERE DO YOU COME DOWN?
WILL BOISE STATE JOIN ONE OF THESE?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE NEED TO DO AND I THINK COLORADO
STATE UNIVERSITY JUST FIGURED OUT A WAY TO DO THIS, WE HAVE TO
TAKE A LOOK AT THESE MOOKS.
IF IF THEY ARE REAL AND WE CAN DIRECT OUR STUDENTS TO IT, WHY
NOT TELL A STUDENT, HEY, THERE'S AN INTRO CLASS IN COMPUTER
SCIENCE.
GIVE THEM A CREDIT FOR IT.
ABSOLUTELY.
THAT'S WHAT COLORADO STATE JUST FIGURED OUT A FIEWS FEW WEEKS
AGO.
THAT'S A BRILLIANT IDEA.
WHY SHOULD WE DUPLICATE WHAT A STUDENT CAN GET ONLINE WHEN IN
FACT WE CAN COVER IT FOR THEM AND GIVE THEM CREDIT FOR T. WE
HAVE TO MAKE SURE THEY JUMP THROUGH THE RIGHT HOOPS, THAT
THERE'S SOME KIND OF STANDARDIZED TESTING PROCEDURE
SO WE CAN VERIFY THEY TOOK WHAT THEY SAID THEY TOOK OR THE
UNIVERSITY WHEREVER IT IS VERIFIES IT, BUT I LIKE THIS
IDEA.
OF USING SOME OF THESE TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS AS THEY
MOVE THROUGH THE PIPELINE.
>> ON THE SAME ISSUE OF ONLINE EDUCATION, WE SAW A BIG DUSTUP
AT THE ELECTIONS OVER THE LAWS ONE OF WHICH REQUIRED ONLINE
COURSES.
AS BOTH AN ADMINISTRATOR AND SOMEBODY WHO HAS BEEN IN PUBLIC
OFFICE AS YOU WERE, WERE YOU GLAD TO SEE THOSE DEFEATED AT
THE POLLS?
WAS IT GOING TO AFFECT YOUR -- >> IT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT WHAT
WE DO.
>> AS AN EDUCATION ADMINISTRATOR WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THEM?
>> I THINK IT'S UNFORTUNATE IF ANYONE IN THE STATE OF IDAHO OR
BEYOND DEVELOPS THE ATTITUDE, WE DON THINK TECHNOLOGY HAS A ROLE
IN EDUCATION.
IT DOES.
IT'S WORKING RIGHT NOW IN THE STATE OF IDAHO.
IT'S WORKING IN 49 OTHER STATES AND WORKS AT BOISE STATE.
25% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE TAKING AT LEAST ONE ONLINE COURSE.
THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE OVER THE COMING YEARS AS WE FIND MORE
AND MORE WAYS TO DEVELOP THOSE INTRODUCTORY COURSES.
THE INTRODUCTORY COURSES ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE UPPER
DIVISION COURSES WHERE YOU WANT THE CONTACT WITH THE FACULTY
MEMBER, THE MENTORING, WHERE YOU WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE
IN SEMINAR LIKE THINKING AND DECISION MAKING.
IN THE INTRODUCTORY COURSES IT'S SO EASY TO DO THAT IN SOME MASS
FASHION.
BY THE WAY, THE UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO YEARS AGO WAS GIVEN A
GRANT BY THE PEW CHARITABLE TRUST FOUNDATION TO DO JUST THIS
AND THEY ARE STILL OPERATING ONE OF THEIR BASIC MATH COURSES IN
SOME KIND OF LARGE ROOM WHERE EVERYBODY HAS A COMPUTER AND
THEY ARE TAKING THEIR COURSES ONLINE WITH SOME GRADUATE
ASSISTANTS AROUND THE ROOM.
>> DID YOU TAKE A POSITION ON THOSE?
>> I DID NOT.
THAT'S A MATTER FOR K-12.
THE PRESIDENTS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT AND WE ALL DECIDED TAKE IT'S
VERY DIFFICULT.
WE ALL HAVE SCHOOLS OF EDUCATION WHO PRODUCE TEACHERS.
WE BELIEVE IN OUR TEACHERS.
THE LAST THING WE WANT TO DO IS GET IN THE MIDDLE OF THE
INTRAMURAL FIGHT BETWEEN SCHOOL BOARDS AND TEACHERS AND
SUPERINTENDENT LUNA AND WHATEVER.
THAT DID NOT HAVE A VERY GOOD FUTURE FOR ANY OF OUR
UNIVERSITIES.
WE STAYED OUT OF IT, BUT ALL OF US IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN IDAHO
REMAIN COMMITTED TO USING TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> I WOULD BE REMISS AND WOULD GET MANY PHONE CALLS IF I DID
FOR THE ASK YOU ABOUT SPORTS AT YOUR INSTITUTION.
YOU'VE MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE TO THE BIG EAST.
SOME ARE DERIDING IT AS THE BIG LEAST BECAUSE SOME TEAMS HAVE
PULLED OUT.
GOING TO RECONSIDER?
>> NOT YET.
WE STILL HOPE THAT IT'S GOING TO STABILIZE.
WE HAVE ALREADY INVITED TULANE AND EAST CAROL UNIVERSITY --
EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY INTO THE CONFERENCE.
WE WILL BE PLAYING LOUISVILLE NEXT YEAR.
LOUISVILLE JUST RECENTLY JUMPED.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE CONFERENCE, UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI,
MEMPHIS IS IN THAT CONFERENCE, TEMPLE IS IN THAT CONFERENCE.
THERE'S SOME VERY STRONG AFFILIATIONS NOT JUST ON THE
ATHLETIC SIDE.
ACADEMICALLY WE'RE ABLE TO JOIN THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF
INVENTORS, WHICH IS ON THE CAMPUS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
SOUTH FLORIDA.
ANOTHER ONE OF THE BIG EAST SCHOOLS.
THERE'S AN ACADEMIC CONNECTION AND A RESEARCH CONNECTION TO
THIS CONFERENCE THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
IF YOU LOOK AT THE BASKETBALL SCHOOLS THOUGH ARE SOME FINE
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.
>> YOU BASKETBALL TEAM WILL HAVE TO GO DOWN AS A RESULT OF THIS
MOVE.
ANY TIME YOU PRESS ON ONE SIDE ANOTHER COMES OUT.
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF TRAVEL ON THE FANS' OR
ATHLETES' SIDE?
I THOUGHT, WE'RE IN THE WEST.
IS MY GEOGRAPHY WRONG?
>> WE CERTAINLY HOPE OUR FANS WILL FOLLOW THE TEAM.
WE'RE NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE STUDENT ATHLETES.
IF YOU'RE TALKING FOOTBALL THEY ARE GOING TO GET ON A CHARTERED
JET AND FIND THEIR WAY TO THE FOOTBALL FIELD THEY ARE
COMPETING ON WITHIN A MATTER OF HOURS.
IF I WAS DEALING WITH THE OLYMPIC SPORTS I WOULD NOT ALLOW
-- WE TOOK THAT OFF THE TABLE IMMEDIATELY.
THERE'S NO WAY WE WOULD SEND OUR VOLLEYBALL PLAYERS ACROSS THE
COUNTRY THROUGH TWO OR THREE AIRPORTS TO PLAY IN THE BIG
EAST.
THAT'S THE BIG CRITICISM I HAVE OF A SCHOOL LIKE RUTGERS, FOR
EXAMPLE, WHICH JUST DECIDED TO GO TO THE BIG 10 AND THEY ARE IN
NEW BRUNSWICK, NEW JERSEY.
IT'S ONE THING TO DO IT IN FOOTBALL WHEN IT'S RELATIVELY
EASY TO GET TO CAMPUSES IN THE MIDWEST IN RURAL LOCATIONS.
NOW TRY IN ANY OF THE OLYMPIC SPORTS YOU'RE GOING THROUGH TWO
OR THREE AIRPORTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S FAIR TO THE STUDENTS.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY SIGNED UP FOR AND IT'S GOING TO
HURT THEIR ACADEMICS AS WELL.
>> I WAS KIDDING WITH YOU BEFORE THIS INTERVIEW, I WAS CHECKING
EVERY COUPLE HOURS, TYPING IN CHRIS PETERSEN, MAKE SURE THERE
WAS NO NEW NEWS THERE.
THE BADGERS MAY TALK WITH HIM, COUPLE DAYS AGO IT WAS ARC.
THE LATEST IS YOUR HIGHEST PAID STAFFER AND ONE WITH THE
REPUTATION AL CURRENCY AS YOU LIKE TO PUT IT, ANY PLANS ON
LEAVING?
>> WELL, I CAN NEVER SPEAK FOR CHRIS UP TO THE MOMENT, BUT I DO
HAVE A VERY STRONG FRIENDSHIP WITH CHRIS PETERSEN.
WE TALK REGULARLY.
I KNOW CHRIS LOVES BOISE STATE.
HE LOVES LIVING IN IDAHO.
EVERY YEAR PEOPLE COME AFTER HIM LIKE THIS.
I'M NOT LIVING IN ANY DREAD FEAR THAT AS OF THIS MOMENT HE'S
LOOKING AT SOMETHING ELSE.
I THINK HE'S PLEASED.
HE'S WATCHING A NEW FOOTBALL COMPLEX RISE AT THE END OF THE
STADIUM BUILT FOR HIM RIGHT ABOUT THE TIME HE WAS THINKING
ABOUT GOING TO STANFORD, SO IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT RECRUITING
TOOL FOR HIM AND AS HE CONTINUES TO COMPETE WITH THE PAC 12 FOR
FOOTBALL PLAYERS THIS FACILITY WILL DO HIM VERY WELL.
>> DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT THERE CAN BE TOO MUCH EMPHASIS ON
SPORTS OR WHAT'S BEEN CALLED THE DISTRACTED UNIVERSITY BY
SOMEBODY?
>> WELL, IT MAY BE THAT WAY FOR LARGE PUBLIC RESEARCH
UNIVERSITIES WHO MAY GET IT OUT OF WHACK EVERY NOW AND THE THEN.
FOR A SCHOOL LIKE BOISE STATE THAT'S TRYING TO GROW I DON'T
THINK THERE'S ANY QUESTION THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO USE
FOOTBALL AS A VEHICLE TO GET THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE SO WE CAN
ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT FUNDING FOR THE ACADEMIC SIDE OF THE
EQUATION.
WHEN FRANK DEFORD FROM "SPORTS ILLUSTRATED" CAME HE HE SAID,
YOU KNOW, ANOTHER SCHOOL TRIED TO PULL OFF WHAT YOU PULLED OFF,
NOTRE DAME.
KNUT ROCK THEY DID IT.
TODAY IT'S KNOWN AS A GREAT ACADEMIC UNIVERSITY.
THE FACT IS I THINK YOU CAN USE FOOTBALL IN A POSITIVE FASHION
GIVEN THE INCREDIBLE ATTENTION IT GETS, IT ALLOWS YOU TO GROW
OTHER PARTS OF THE UNIVERSITY.
>> CAN IT MAKE SO MANY PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE THAT THE
UNIVERSITY BECOMES FLOODED WITH NEW APPLICANTS BUT NOT ENOUGH
TEACHERS OR COURSES TO KEEP UP WITH THE POPULARITY BEGINNED UP
BY THE SPORTS?
>> WE LOVE WHEN YOU HAVE A STANDING LINE FOR PEOPLE COMING
INTO THE UNIVERSITY.
THAT'S A GOOD THING.
WE WON'T TAKE ANY MORE THAN WE CAN AFFORD TO EDUCATE IN ANY ONE
YEAR, BUT FRANKLY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO
ARE NOW INTERESTED IN BOISE STATE FROM OUR OF STATE, 38% OF
OUR NEW CLASS ARE COMING FROM OUT OF STATE, A PRETTY GOOD SIGN
THAT THE VALUE OF THE BOISE STATE DEGREE HAS RISEN
SUBSTANTIALLY.
>> YOU GET OUT OF STATE TUITION.
>> FRANKLY THAT'S THE NEW TUITION MODEL.
THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, 45% OF THEIR STUDENTS COME FROM OUTSIDE
THE STATE OF OREGON.
THEY ARE BUILDING THEIR ENTIRE BUSINESS MODEL, ONLY 4% OF THEIR
BUDGET COMES FROM THE STATE.
>> WE HAVE A TUITION GRAPHIC, SOMETHING LIKE $11,000 FOR OUT
OF STATE, $5,000 FOR INSTATE STUDENTS.
>> TWICE.
>> THE SALARIES FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVOLVED IN SPORTS, THE
MONEY YOU BRING IN FROM SPORTS IS VERY LARGE.
WHEN YOU GET A TELEVISION CONTRACT AS YOU'RE LOOKING
FORWARD TO WITH THE BIG EAST, HOW MUCH OF THAT MONEY THAT YOU
DERIVE FROM SPORTS GETS PUT BACK INTO ACADEMIA?
>> FOR STARTERS IF YOU LOOK AT THE STICK WILL SKY CENTER BUILT
A FEW YEARS AGO, WE TAKE $600,000, NOW $800,000 OUT OF
THAT REVENUE ANNUALLY AND PUT IT INTO AN ACADEMIC FUND TO BUILD A
NEW BUILDING.
IT WILL STILL BE A FEW YEARS BEFORE WE GET ENOUGH TO DO THAT,
BUT MY POINT IS THAT THAT STICK WILL SKY CENTER THAT EVERYBODY
THINKS IS SO GREAT FOR FOOTBALL IS DELIVERING $600,000, NOW
$800,000 A YEAR TO AN ACADEMIC FUND TO BUILD A BUILDING.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MEDIA MONEY, SOME OF THAT MONEY FINDS
ITS WAY BACK INTO THE OVER ALL UNIVERSITY.
A GOOD PORTION OF IT OF COURSE WILL GO TO KEEP THE ATHLETIC
PROGRAM FUNDED INDEPENDENTLY OF THE REST OF THE UNIVERSITY.
WE USE VERY LITTLE FUNDING FROM THE UNIVERSITY FOR ATHLETICS.
ATHLETICS HAS ITS OWN BUDGET.
THEIR JOB IS TO RAISE THAT BUDGET.
BY THE WAY, THAT BUDGET IS ABOUT HALF THE SIZE OF THE AVERAGE
ATHLETIC BUDGET YOU'LL FINE IN THE TOP 25 FOOTBALL TEAMS IN THE
NATION.
>> AS WE WRAP UP, WE HAVE ONLY TWO OR THREE MINUTES LEFT, I
WANT TO ASK YOU GOING FORWARD WHAT YOUR PRIORITY IN THE
LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING UP.
>> THE BIGGEST PRIORITY WE HAVE IS HELPING THE LEGISLATURE
UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE NO LONGER THE STATE SUPPORTED UNIVERSITY
WE USED TO BE.
WHEN WE WERE THE STATE SUPPORTED UNIVERSITY THERE WERE LOTS OF
RULES AND REGULATIONS COMING FROM STATE GOVERNMENT.
WE WERE AN APPENDAGE OF STATE GOVERNMENT.
WE HAVE TO HELP THE LEGISLATURE UNDERSTAND WE NOW NEED THE
FREEDOM AN FLEXIBILITY TO BUILD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT BUSINESS
MODEL TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY.
>> COULD BE CHARGING PER CREDIT --
>> PER CREDIT HOUR.
IT COULD BE GETTING INDEPENDENTS FROM PURCHASING, INDEPENDENTS
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THERE ARE SO MANY RULES AND REGULATIONS THAT SLOW DOWN WHAT
WE CAN DO IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES WHEN IN FACT WE'RE LESS TALIBAN
ONE QUARTER OF A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY TODAY.
WE'LL STILL BE LOOKING FOR OUR $73.5 MILLION OR WHATEVER BOISE
STATE TOOK AWAY LAST YEAR, WE HOPE WITH A LITTLE INCREASE, IF
THEY GIVE US THE FLEXIBILITY WE'LL BE ABLE TO BE A BIGGER,
BETTER UNIVERSITY INTO THE FUTURE.
>> WHAT ABOUT YOU?
YOU'RE LOOKING AT TEN YEARS IN JULY BEING HERE.
YOU'VE ACCOMPLISHED QUITE A BIT.
YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS I'M SURE YOU'D LIKE TO DO WITH YOUR LIFE.
I KNOW YOU'LL NEVER COMPLETELY RETIRE, BUT RETIRING FROM YOUR
CURRENT POSITION.
>> I WAS VISITING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF CONCORDIA THE OTHER
DAY.
HE WAS OVER HERE TO VISIT HIS LAW SCHOOL.
ON THE WAY OUT I SAID, HOW LONG YOU BEEN DOING THIS?
HE SAID 30 YEARS.
I SAID, THAT MUST BE AN ALL TIME RECORD.
HE SAID, I'M ONLY ONE-THIRD OF THE WAY THERE.
WHAT CAN I TELL YOU?
I LOVE THE JOB.
I'M NOT GOING TO STAY HERE FOREVER, OF COURSE, BUT I REALLY
LIKE WHAT I'M DOING AND I KNOW THE DAY WILL COME I'LL WAKE UP
AND THINK, I NEED TO BE IN A BOAT FISHING.
>> WEREN'T YOU WRITING SOMETHING?
>> I AM DOING SOME WRITING AND OF COURSE THE RADIO SHOW IS A
MAJOR PREOCCUPATION OF MINE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THAT INTO THE FUTURE BEYOND MY PRESIDENCY,
BUT I'M ALSO INTERESTED IN DOING SOME CONSULTING AND HELPING
GOVERNING BOARDS GET BETTER AT WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO IN FIGURING
OUT UNIVERSITIES.
I HAVE AN ACTIVE AGENDA BUT MY FIRST PRIORITY IS TO MOVE THIS
UNIVERSITY FORWARD AND LIVE IN THIS BEAUTIFUL STATE.
I GET TO DO BOTH.
THAT'S A BLESSING AND THE BEST JOB OF MY LIFE.
>> YOU HAVE BEEN LISTENING TO PRESIDENT BOB KUSTRA.
WE'LL GO INTO MORE DEPTH ABOUT SOME OF THESE EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT ISSUES.
THANK YOU FOR TUNING IN TO THIS EDITION OF "DIALOGUE."
I'M MARCIA FRANKLIN.
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LEGACY OF BUILDING THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.
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