Background and considerations
Community Impact Programs (CIP) is the flagship program for President Tromp’s rural education initiative. CIP’s goal is to increase educational attainment rates in rural and/or geographically isolated regions of the state, support local employer and workforce needs, and establish Boise State as an essential part of each community.  Each CIP program was designed with community stakeholders and includes a specialized Community Leadership certificate, and a customized degree pathway. All programs incorporate a deep connection between community, university leadership, faculty, staff, and students through a combination of off-campus experiences and accessible online education. The result is an authentic effort to help improve the social and economic vitality of partner communities. The first three hub communities to participate in the program are McCall, Mountain Home and Payette.
Community Impact Certificate
One year (12 credit) certificate program delivered to CIP communities in a hybrid format. Each semester a 1-credit 2 day workshop is delivered in-person in communities and a 3 credit online course with direct community faculty involvement is delivered.  Current academic partners are COAS, COBE, Multidisciplinary Studies, Bachelor of Applied Science, Entrepreneurship, and Communication/Public Relations. Students may choose to continue their education in any academic program that Boise State University offers and utilize the CIP electives and any University Foundations courses that they have earned towards those degree programs.
Moving Forward
Boise State partners with communities to create an entire educational ecosystem customized for them. Programs are designed with University partners to create effective, innovative, deliverable, scalable, and cost-effective solutions. The ecosystem goal is to amplify the effects of individual programs on communities and create a rural educational infrastructure.  For CIP to be successful, it cannot be a single program delivered in isolation to a community. It must be a suite of education programs designed with communities to fit their needs. .Â
While Extended Studies leads the CIP plan and provides the vital link between students, communities, and the University, long-term success requires Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and University leadership engagement. This effort is resource-intensive for Boise State and local communities, and a long-term funding plan is needed even if no additional communities are added.
Connections to the Blueprint for Success
Investment in CIP directly supports the Boise State Blueprint for Success goals of G1 S3 and G5 S2, and additional links to the following goals and strategies:Â G1, S1-4, G2, 1-3, G3, S3, G4, S1 and 4, G5, S1-3 (shown below.) Â Scaling of this program could have a direct impact on reversing the 5 year decline in Idahoans going on to post-secondary education.Â
Goal 1 (G1). Improve Educational Access and Student Success
Strategy 1 (S1). Create and enact a comprehensive, strategic enrollment and student success plan, including components related to supporting the whole student, recruitment, retention, graduation, and addressing equity gaps.
Strategy 2 (S2). Integrate career education and experiential learning opportunities into the curriculum and the student experience to improve career readiness and post-graduation outcomes.
Strategy 3 (S3). Expand educational access for all Idahoans through improved outreach, communication, financial aid, philanthropy, online resources and education.
Strategy 4 (S4). Cultivate a commitment to high-quality, new and innovative learning experiences in all courses, curricula, and co-curricula.Â
Goal 2 (G2). Innovation for Institutional Impact
Strategy 1 (S1). Create an enduring culture of innovation.Â
Strategy 2 (S2). Build scalable university structures and align philanthropic and strategic investments that support innovation.Â
Strategy 3 (S3). Establish individual and collective opportunity and accountability for innovation.Â
Goal 3 (G3). Advance Research and Creative Activity
Strategy 3 (S3). Invest in a Grand Challenge Initiative to propel a transdisciplinary model for research and creative activity.
G4. Foster a Thriving Community
Strategy 1 (S1). Advance a learning and working environment dedicated to the flourishing sense of belonging, and freedom of expression among all the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the university.
Strategy 4 (S4). Foster a sustainable campus that is both environmentally and socially responsible as well as economically feasible.
G5. Trailblaze Programs and Partnerships
Strategy 1 (S1). Leverage existing partnerships and programs and develop new opportunities with Idaho employers and private partnerships to address workforce, research, educational, and service needs.
Strategy 2 (S2). Expand partnerships across Idaho to ensure rural communities have access to high-quality educational programming that fits their needs.
Strategy 3 (S3). Create interdisciplinary structures to facilitate meaningful connections and experiences for students, faculty, and staff.Â
Contact Us
Looking for academic program partners to support rural students?
Any academic programs interesting in partnering, please contact us at cip@boisestate.edu.