November 16, 2006

Dear Friends:

It’s hard to believe that it’s already November, and that we’ll be celebrating the Thanksgiving holiday next week. This is a great time of year to be at Boise State University, with campus activities in full swing, a host of athletic events on the calendar, and a chill in the air that makes just walking across campus invigorating.

As we head into late fall, the intellectual excitement that is such an integral part of campus life also seems to intensify. In our classrooms, research labs, and informal gatherings across campus, our students are grappling with concepts and ideas that they may have been first introduced to only a few months ago. Our faculty and staff are equally engaged as they teach, conduct research, and participate in public service for our state and region.

While it’s a busy time at Boise State, the Thanksgiving season also reminds us of our blessings, and how thankful we are for this fine university. Here are just a few reasons those of us who attend, work at and support Boise State University are so thankful:

Boise State’s civic-mindedness. Boise State was one of several hundred schools across the nation chosen for the first President’s Higher Education Honor Roll for Community Service. In the academic year that ended last spring, more than 1,660 Service-Learning students contributed 35,465 hours of service to the Treasure Valley.

Our great graduates who have gone on to stellar teaching careers. Recent examples include Parma High School teacher Mick Sharkey, who was named the Idaho Teacher of the Year; Beverly Ann Lewellen, who was named Educator of the Year by the Ontario (Ore.) Chamber of Commerce; and Jakki Mohr, a business professor at the University of Montana who last year was named that state’s Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation.

The staunch financial support of our donors. The Boise State Foundation raised $15.6 million during the 2006 fiscal year, its second-best fund-raising year ever.

Our award-winning faculty. The list includes mathematician Justin Moore, who won an international prize by capturing the Young Scholar’s Competition at a symposium in Vienna, Austria; adjunct English professor Alan Heathcock, who won a National Magazine Award for his story “Peacekeeper”; Jane Shimon, an associate professor of kinesiology who was named the Idaho Collegiate Teacher of the Year by the Idaho Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Larry McNeil, a professor of photography in the Art Department, who was honored with an “All Roads” photo award from National Geographic; and nursing professor Pat Taylor, who this week was named 2006 Idaho Nurse of the Year for Academic Education by the March of Dimes’ Idaho chapter.

The continued success of the Talkin’ Broncos. Last weekend, Boise State’s debate and speech team extended its winning streak to 11 consecutive tournaments. Coach Marty Most’s team is the defending champion of the biennial national forensics tournament, and in 2006 it won a third consecutive regional championship and concluded its first undefeated season in school history.

Our continuing emergence as a metropolitan research university of distinction. Guided by our strategic vision, we are well on our way to achieving our objectives of academic excellence, public engagement, a vibrant culture and exceptional research.

Our record-setting enrollment. For the ninth time in the last 10 years, Boise State set an all-time enrollment record for higher education institutions in the state of Idaho with a fall head count of 18,876 students, which also marked a 25 percent increase in our enrollment since 1996.

The enhanced academic quality of our students. As an example, among the new students who have arrived on our campus, Boise State has enrolled five National Merit Scholars in each of the past two years.

The growing popularity and prestige of our graduate programs. With the approval of Ph.D. programs in electrical and computer engineering and geosciences, Boise State now has four doctoral programs. That’s in addition to close to 60 master’s degree programs, including Idaho’s first Executive MBA program. Moreover, the university’s fall 2006 enrollment of graduate students grew by 132, an increase of almost 9 percent.

The university’s expanding research agenda. With an infusion of $23.8 million for externally funded research and sponsored projects for the fiscal year that ended June 30, Boise State is clearly making significant progress in the discovery and creative processes that improve the quality of life in Idaho.

The growing reputation of our College of Engineering. Earlier this year, the college moved up from 19th to 12th place in the U.S. News & World Report list of best engineering programs among public, comprehensive universities.

The success of our football team. As the nationally ranked Broncos flirt with an undefeated season and a possible berth in the Bowl Championship Series, the national spotlight continues to shine brightly on all of Boise State.

Lastly, please remember our men and women in the armed forces during the upcoming holidays. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who serve our country, and we pray for the safety of all our troops during this holiday season.

We have so many things to be thankful for, and chief among those for me personally is your continued support of our students, faculty and staff, all of whom make us proud to be part of the Boise State family. Have a great Thanksgiving!

Best regards,

Bob