We recently marked the start of a new era at Idaho State University. Our new five-year Strategic Plan was officially approved by the Idaho State Board of Education and our fall 2022 enrollments were up again for the second year in a row. These two accomplishments are exciting steps towards continuing to move our Bengal community forward.

Our Strategic Plan will help us establish how we will become the best version of ourselves. And to help us get there, Idaho State has defined campus values that represent our collective spirit and truly embody the culture that we want to promote.

Integrity - honesty in our actions and words

Community - fostering connections

Inclusivity - valuing all and building a culture of belonging

Teamwork - collaborating with compassion and respect

Shared Responsibility - all contributing to our success

Learning - continuous growth and development

These values will continue to help us build a positive culture where trust, compassion, stability, and hope are at the core of everything we do. With our values as the foundation for our academic environment, we have seen positive effects on our students. When we analyzed the data, we found significant trends that impact the very heart of our mission and highlight promising changes in student retention rates, compared to where we were two years ago.

• Freshman/first-year student retention is up 7.5%

• Idaho resident student retention rate is up 7%

• First-generation student retention rate is up 10%

• Historically underserved populations:

- Hispanic student retention rate is up 13%

- Black/African American student retention rate is up 16%

- Native American student retention rate is up 13%

We focused on the events and programs that elevate the student experience, removed barriers to student success, implemented curricular and programmatic changes that benefit our students, and overall, we embraced the concept of being student-centric in everything that we do. Our outstanding faculty that see and engage with our students every day are fundamental to this effort. Our staff that supports and advances our mission are the key to our success. The contributions that are made by our alumni and friends are critical in providing lasting support to our students. The work that we do, each and every day, continues to move Idaho State University forward.

Thank you for your continued dedication and I look forward to working with the entire University, our alumni, and the surrounding communities to meet our shared vision and goals.

Kevin Satterlee President