Boise State University once again has exceeded its benchmark number for yearly bachelor’s degree graduates set when the state adopted the goal to ensure that 60 percent of Idahoans between 25 and 34 had a degree or certificate by 2020.
Boise State has exceeded the state’s yearly benchmark every year since it was set by the Idaho State Board of Education nearly a decade ago.
The goal was set to better prepare Idaho’s workforce for the economy of the future. It is expected to be highly technology-driven with rapidly changing demands for both the specific skills and competencies delivered by college majors and disciplines, as well as the critical thinking, teamwork and communications skills imparted during the college experience.
Boise State has increased its overall number of annual graduates to nearly 4,200 this year, up from 3,052 in 2008-2009. That includes 3,141 bachelor’s degree recipients — well above the 60 percent benchmark of 2,986.
Today, 58,714 graduates of Boise State University live in Idaho — some 19,000 more than in 2008-2009.
“Everyone at Boise State should be proud of these results, which show how a public university can achieve great outcomes with focus and determination,” said university President Bob Kustra.
Boise State’s success in working toward Idaho’s goal can be attributed to a few factors:
- A years-long devotion to boosting first-year retention and the undergraduate student experience, which recently earned Boise State recognition from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities as one of five campuses in the nation leading the way on innovative approaches to boosting retention and graduation rates.
- A steady commitment to the state board’s Complete College Idaho plan, devoting new state funds each year to boosting advising opportunities for students and in securing lecturers and faculty to open new course opportunities to help students stay on track and on time.
- A nimble, student-centered approach to adapting to evolving job and skills demands, leading to the creation of new majors like Gaming, Interactive Media and Mobile Technology; and to a campus-wide effort to provide all students the chance to go beyond their majors to get the hands-on experiences and cross-disciplinary skills employers are demanding.