Idaho State University facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Idaho State University

Former names	Academy of Idaho (1901–1915) Idaho Technical Institute (1915–1927) University of Idaho—Southern Branch (1927–1947) Idaho State College (1947–1963)
Motto	Latin: Veritas Vos Liberabit
Motto in English	"The truth will set you free"
Type	Public research university
Established	March 11, 1901; 124 years ago (March 11, 1901)
Parent institution	Idaho State Board of Education
Accreditation	NWCCU
Academic affiliations	ORAU Space-grant
Endowment	$75 million (2021)
President	Robert W. Wagner
Academic staff	826 (Fall 2019)
Students	12,301 (Fall 2022)
Undergraduates	10,017 (Fall 2022)
Postgraduates	2,284 (Fall 2022)
Location	Pocatello , Idaho , United States 42°51′40″N 112°26′02″W / 42.861°N 112.434°W / 42.861; -112.434
Campus	Small city, 1,000 acres (4.0 km2)
Other campuses	Boise Meridian Idaho Falls Twin Falls
Newspaper	Idaho State Journal
Colors	Orange and black
Nickname	Bengals
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division I FCS - Big Sky
Mascot	Benny the Bengal
Location in Idaho Show map of Idaho Location in the United States Show map of the United States

Idaho State University (ISU) is a public research university in Pocatello, Idaho. It was started in 1901 as the Academy of Idaho. Today, ISU offers over 250 different study programs.

You can find ISU's main campus in Pocatello. It also has other locations in Meridian, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls. The university is known for its high level of research activities. More than 12,000 students attend Idaho State. About 57 percent of students are female and 43 percent are male. There is one teacher for every 13 students at ISU.

History of Idaho State University

Swanson Hall was the first permanent building on campus.

Idaho State University began on March 11, 1901. Back then, it was called the Academy of Idaho. It opened its doors to students on September 22, 1902. Theodore Swanson helped find John W. Faris to be the first leader. By 1910, almost 300 students were attending the academy. The school bought more land in Pocatello as it grew.

In 1915, the Academy of Idaho changed its name to Idaho Technical Institute. After World War I, many more students joined the school. Enrollment grew to over 1,000 students. In the early 1920s, the school chose the Bengal as its mascot. Coach Ralph Hutchinson helped make the tiger the mascot. He also chose orange and black as the school's official colors.

The school changed its name again in 1927 to the University of Idaho–Southern Branch. It was still a two-year school at that time. During World War II, Idaho was one of many colleges that helped train Navy officers.

In 1947, the school became a four-year college. It was officially named Idaho State College. Carl McIntosh became the first president of Idaho State College. He was one of the youngest college presidents in the U.S. In December 1948, Idaho State College was approved to offer four-year degrees. By 1949, 2,000 students were enrolled.

In 1963, the college changed its name for the last time to Idaho State University. This new name showed its status as a full public university. Over the years, ISU continued to grow. Richard Bowen was president from 1985 to 2005. During his time, new buildings like the Stephens Performing Arts Center were built.

Arthur Vailas became president in 2006. He retired in 2017. Kevin D. Satterlee then became president in 2018.

Interesting Places at ISU

The main campus in Pocatello is about 4,550 feet above sea level.

Idaho State works with the Idaho National Laboratory and other universities. Together, they started the Center for Advanced Energy Studies in 2007. This center helps with research in energy.

In 2011, ISU bought a building to create the Research and Innovation in Science and Engineering Complex (RISE). This complex focused on growing giant crystals for nuclear science. It also had labs for lasers and imaging. Later, this building became the William M. and Karin A. Eames Advanced Technical Education and Innovations Complex. It now hosts many College of Technology programs.

Academic Programs at ISU

The Career Path Internship (CPI) program started in 2011. It helps students get real work experience while they are still in school. All CPI internships are paid jobs. They are related to what students are studying or their career goals. In 2016, the CPI program offered about 1,000 internships.

ISU offers two doctoral degrees in nursing. One is a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in nursing. It started in summer 2013 and is the only one in Idaho.

ISU is a top place for nuclear training. The Energy Systems Technology and Education Center (ESTEC) at ISU helps train technicians. It is a regional center for nuclear education for nine states.

ISU also has a doctoral experimental psychology program. It is the only one of its kind in Idaho. This program started in fall 2011. A new geosciences doctoral program began in August 2013.

The Center for Sports Concussion at ISU opened in 2009. It teaches about how to identify and manage concussions. This center helps athletes in eastern Idaho with testing.

The university gives out The Teaching Literature Book Award. This award is for the best book on teaching literature at the college level. It is given every two years.

Research at ISU

At the CORE, ISU students and teachers study autism. They work to understand it better. In 2010, ISU got a new biochemistry lab.

In 2012, ISU researchers found clues about how to stop a chemical in the brain. This chemical can cause dementia and strokes. This research helps in the fight against dementia.

In 2013, ISU researchers found something interesting about fish. Fish showed signs like autism after being in water with certain medicines. This study was shared widely.

Health Sciences at ISU

Idaho State's Kasiska Division of Health Sciences (KDHS) has many health programs. The KDHS Family Medicine Residency Program is the only medical training program sponsored by an Idaho university.

The ISU Health Center has over 10,000 student visits each year. It treats many medical issues. The costs are lower than other health services.

In 2009, Idaho State opened a new campus in Meridian, Idaho. This campus offers health professional programs. In 2011, the Delta Dental Clinic opened there. It helps low-income patients and trains dentists. The clinic has 17 treatment rooms.

The ISU Meridian Health Science Center plans to open a new anatomy and physiology lab. This lab will use virtual tools to help students learn about the human body.

Arts at ISU

In 1998, Idaho State University received a large gift of $10 million. This money helped start the $34 million Stephens Performing Arts Center. Construction began in 2002. Many private donors helped fund the center.

In fall 2013, ISU started offering a bachelor's degree in dance. This is the only dance major of its kind in Idaho's university system. ISU's School of Performing Arts now has majors in music, theatre, and dance.

Student Life at ISU

Idaho State University's Administration Building

Students at ISU have their own government called the Associated Students of Idaho State University (ASISU). Students elect a president and vice-president each year. The ASISU Senate is made up of 20 students. They help decide how the student budget is spent.

The Student Activities Board plans many events on campus. These include concerts, movie nights, and homecoming activities.

Reed Gym has many fun facilities. These include a climbing wall, a swimming pool, and tennis courts. The Pond Student Union has a movie theater, a billiard room, and a bowling alley. It also hosts many student club events.

ISU has over 140 student groups. These groups are for different interests like academics, culture, and social activities. Cultural groups often host big "Cultural Nights" celebrations. There are also four fraternity and sorority chapters at the university.

Student media includes The Bengal, a weekly student newspaper. KISU-FM (91.1) is the student radio station. It plays music and NPR programs. It also covers ISU women's sports.

The Pond Student Union, or SUB, is a central spot on campus. It has the campus bookstore, student offices, a bowling alley, and a movie theater. It also has the Outdoor Adventure Center and a craft shop.

The Rendezvous Complex was built in 2007. It is a large building with 50 classrooms. It also has a big computer center and 80 student apartments. The Mind's Eye Art Gallery is also located there.

The Cooperative Wilderness Handicapped Outdoor Group (CW HOG) helps people of all abilities enjoy outdoor activities. It started in 1981 and is run by volunteers.

In 2010, Reed Gym opened a new addition called the Student Recreation Center. It has almost 100,000 square feet for recreation. This includes more space for weights and exercise. It also has racquetball courts, a track, and a climbing wall.

Student Housing at ISU

ROAR Banners on the Fine Arts Building

Idaho State University offers several places for students to live. These include residence halls and apartment buildings.

Residence halls are Rendezvous Hall, Turner Hall, Nichols Hall, Owen Hall, and Redfield Hall. On-campus apartments include Bengal Studios, McIntosh Manor, Pulling Courts, Ridge Crest Townhomes, Schubert Heights, University Courts, and West Campus Apartments.

Students with children can live in McIntosh Manor, Pulling Courts, and Ridge Crest Townhouses. These homes are in the Pocatello/Chubbuck School District.

Sports at ISU

The Idaho State University sports teams are called the Bengals. They play in the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA Division I FCS. The ISU football team won a national championship in 1981. The boxing team also won national championships in 1953 and 1957.

In recent years, ISU has done well in track and field. The women's track and field team won their first outdoor Big Sky conference title in 2007.

Home football games are played at the ICCU Dome. This stadium can hold 12,000 people for football games. It is the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States. The ICCU Dome also hosts indoor track and field events.

For many years, the Bengals had rivalries with the Boise State Broncos and the University of Idaho Vandals. Now, their main rivals include the University of Idaho, the Weber State Wildcats, and the Portland State Vikings.

Idaho State also has a rugby program. They offer scholarships to rugby players. The team has done well in various tournaments.

The ASISU Minidome was built in 1970. Students voted to approve its construction. It was later renamed Holt Arena in 1988. This arena hosts many events each year.

Davis Field is where ISU's track and soccer teams play. It was built in 1936 and was first called the "Spud Bowl." It was renamed to honor Bud Davis, a former ISU president.

ISU started a softball program in 1976, but it was stopped in 1983. It was brought back in 2007. In 2011, Idaho State built Miller Ranch Stadium for the softball team. In 2013, ISU won the first regular season Big Sky softball title.

The ISU cross country team runs on the Centennial Course. This course opened in 2002.

Reed Gym is the home for Idaho State women's basketball, tennis, and volleyball. It was updated in 2002. It can seat 3,040 people. Sometimes, the men's basketball team plays there too.

In 2011, ISU's athletic department received full certification from the NCAA. This meant they met all the rules for college sports. ISU built a new softball complex and increased funding for women's sports to meet these rules.

In 2011, ISU got a new basketball court and football field. The basketball court is called Idaho Central Credit Union Court at Holt Arena. Reed Gym's court is also called Idaho Central Credit Union Court.

In 2013, ISU Athletics finished third in the Big Sky Conference President's Cup. This was their highest finish ever. Idaho State also placed first in the conference for overall academics. A record 183 student-athletes were named to Big Sky All-Academic teams that year.

University Leaders

Famous People Who Attended ISU

• Jared Allen – NFL defensive end
• Don Aslett – author and business founder
• Ron Boone – former ABA player and current announcer
• Wally Buono – winningest coach in Canadian Football League history
• Bill Byrne – athletic director
• Shay Carl Butler – YouTube content creator
• Jeff Charleston – NFL defensive end
• Jeff Cook – former NBA player
• Evan Dietrich-Smith – NFL offensive lineman, Super Bowl champion
• Stacy Dragila – 2000 Olympic gold medalist in pole vault
• Matt Gutierrez – NFL quarterback
• Josh Hill - NFL tight end
• Merril Hoge – ESPN commentator and former NFL player
• Eddie Johnson – NFL punter
• Stanley L. Klos – author and former basketball player
• Dirk Koetter – NFL head coach and offensive coordinator
• Marvin Lewis – NFL head coach and defensive coordinator
• Dustin Lind - director of hitting for the San Francisco Giants
• Fred S. Martin – Idaho senator

U.S. Sen. James McClure

• James A. McClure – U.S. Senator
• Bruce Nelson – former CEO of Office Depot
• William Petersen – actor, star of CSI: Las Vegas
• Charles Potts – poet and publisher
• Ed Sanders – boxer, 1952 Olympic gold medalist
• Antonio Taguba – retired U.S. Army major general
• Sue Ane Langdon – actress
• Roger Williams – pianist

See also

In Spanish: Universidad Estatal de Idaho para niños

• Eli M. Oboler Library