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As we reflect on the 2023-24 academic year, there is much to celebrate as Vandals. We’re approaching several long-standing goals and continue to lay a strong foundation for the future at the University of Idaho.
Steady enrollment growth remains paramount to our success. As many universities across the country struggle, we’re excelling. After welcoming our second-largest freshman class in history last fall, we carried much of our growth into the spring semester. Our spring enrollment was up nearly 6% over 2023. Signs are also pointing to another great class of Vandals arriving in the fall, with our UI Bound orientation event attendance up 9% so far this spring.
In addition, we increased both our graduation rate and our freshman retention rate in 2023. Both of these metrics are critical as we strive to provide every student that starts at the U of I every opportunity to earn a degree.
Our faculty continue to punch above their weight in winning research grants. In fiscal year 2023, we shattered last year’s record for research expenditures with nearly $136 million. We continued to bring in transformative grants this spring.
Shelley McGuire is leading an $11 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to launch a research center in women’s nutrition and health. Most recently, Tara Hudiburg landed a $15 million grant from the National Science Foundation to establish the EMBER (Embedding Molecular Biology in Ecosystem Research) Institute.
The U of I’s leadership in water research took a step forward with the hiring of Kendra Kaiser as director of the Idaho Water Resources Research Institute. Kaiser will begin in July and her presence in Boise will help build our programs, particularly in Southwest Idaho.
Our nuclear engineering programs continue to gain momentum. Late last year, the U of I joined the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium’s development of the Intermountain West Nuclear Energy Corridor. The new Tech Hubs program brings funding to regions identified for their high potential for globally competitive innovation.
Late last year, the Chronicle of Education evaluated research categories under a new nationwide rubric. They determined which universities will qualify for the highest indicator of research activity, R1, in the next release in late 2025 or early 2026 and identified the U of I as one of the universities that will move up. Thanks to our hard work and strategic investment, we are on the cusp of reaching our goal of being recognized among the top research institutions in the nation.
Support from alumni, community partners and private donors fuels much of our success at the U of I. The Vandal Family’s generosity was on full display in April as we shattered our Vandal Giving Day record. Over 1,889 minutes, the U of I raised over $1.1 million from 2,324 gifts.
The Brave. Bold. Unstoppable. campaign is going strong, with more than $430 million donated to the U of I. We’re on track to reach our goal of $500 million by the end of 2025.
Looking ahead, the 2024-25 academic year is filled with opportunities. We’ll begin composing our strategic plan to guide us in the years ahead and we will be seeking input from alumni, employees, students and community members. Vandal football is looking to make another deep playoff run and our U of I soccer team will defend its Big Sky title in the fall. Mark your calendars for U of I Homecoming, Sept. 28 to Oct. 5.
I hope you’re able to spend time with friends and family this summer, perhaps exploring our beautiful state. We appreciate the support of our Vandal Family as we strive to elevate and illuminate our students.
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