Boise State University

Boise State University is a public research institution located in downtown Boise, Idaho, an urbanizing and growing capital city that is the State's center of government, business, technology and health care.

Founded in 1932 by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965. With nearly 23,000 students, Boise State has the largest enrollment of higher education institutions in the state of Idaho.

Boise State offers 201 degrees in 190 fields of study and has more than 100 graduate programs, including the MBA and MAcc programs in the College of Business and Economics; Masters and PhD programs in the Colleges of Engineering, Arts & Sciences, and Education; and the MPA program in the College of Social Sciences & Public Affairs.

The university's athletic teams, the Broncos, participate in NCAA Division I athletics (FBS for football) as a member of the Mountain West Conference

History
Boise State University was founded in 1932 as Boise Junior College by the Episcopal Church, which created the school from the earlier St. Margaret's School, an Episcopal school founded in 1892 in nearby Christ Chapel. BSU's founding president was Middleton Barnwell, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. After two years the school became independent, and, in 1940, moved from St. Margaret's Hall to its present site along the south bank of the Boise River between Capitol Boulevard and Broadway Avenue.

In 1965, the school gained four-year status and began awarding baccalaureate degrees. Four years later, the school joined the Idaho state system of higher education and was renamed Boise State College. In 1974, the school gained university status to become Idaho's third state university. Boise State has grown to become the largest university in the state. Boise State now awards associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, and is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities. As of 2010, the university has over 75,000 living alumni.

Campus
The campus is nestled along the south bank of the Boise River, directly across from Julia Davis Park and Downtown Boise. The primary campus covers 175 acres (708,000 m²), and includes more than 170 buildings. As Boise State evolves into a Metropolitan Research Institution of Distinction, students and alumni are becoming increasingly involved in the University community. The campus sits at an elevation of 2,700 feet (823 m) above sea level.

Campus expansion plan
In 2005, University President Bob Kustra announced an ambitious road map for transforming Boise State University into a “Metropolitan Research University of Distinction.” An integral part of this plan is the integration of the “Campus Master Plan” to build and expand university infrastructure to support academic programs and create an attractive and accessible learning environment. The 10-year Campus Master Plan provides for a new set of buildings to be conceptualized, programmed, funded, designed, constructed and ultimately occupied by the campus community. In all, the university will add nearly 20 academic facilities, eight student life facilities, three administrative buildings, dozens of resident halls and apartment buildings, and make significant improvements to campus transportation infrastructure. Since 2005, the university has already completed or begun nearly a dozen major projects, including construction of the Interactive Learning Center, the Micron Business and Economics Building, the Norco Nursing and University Health Services Building, and the Environmental Research Building.

Albertson's Library
The school's library, named for grocery pioneer and longtime Boise resident Joe Albertson, is a 200,000-square-foot (19,000 m²) facility in the center of the campus. The library is said to be large enough to fit the entire student body of Boise State. It houses more than 550,000 books, has 80 public terminals for student use, and features a Starbucks and public lounge area. An extensive library remodel was completed in the mid-1990s.

Student Union Building
The "SUB" brings together an eclectic mix of services under one roof, including the Boise State Bookstore, Bronco Gear apparel shop, bowling lanes, arcade, an art gallery, several fast food restaurants, banquet facilities and other student services. The building is located along University Drive, and is connected to the "SPEC" or Special Events Center. This part of the building houses a smaller auditorium used for community productions, including the Idaho Dance Theatre. The SUB was recently remodeled and added significant space.

Morrison Center
The "Velma V. Morrison Center for the Performing Arts" has 2,000 seats in its primary performance hall, and hosts a wide variety of fine arts performances, including the Broadway in Boise series, concerts and other events. The venue opened its doors in April 1984. It is designed to be shaped roughly like the State of Idaho when viewed from above.

Other campuses
Boise State once operated a "West Campus" in Nampa, Idaho that featured a 65000 sqft building with 28 classrooms, a bookstore and a library. However, in January, 2009, the West Campus transitioned into the College of Western Idaho, a two-year community college. Additional education centers can be found at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Gowen Field and in Twin Falls, Idaho.

Campus events
An active student association provides a large number of activities and programs to engage students outside the classroom. In addition, the school rallies around its popular football program in the fall –  and to a lesser degree, men's basketball during the winter months.

The Distinguished Lecture Series brings speakers such as journalist Seymour Hersh, author Michael Cunningham and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Wałęsa to campus. Other notable lecturers are sponsored by the Brandt Foundation and the Campus Read Committee. The university hosts the Martin Luther King, Jr./Human Rights Celebration every January and presents numerous cultural festivals and activities, including the International Food Song and Dance Festival and the Seven Arrows Pow Wow.

Academics and organization
U.S. News & World Report has twice listed Boise State as one of the top up-and-coming schools in the nation for regional universities. Boise State’s College of Engineering was again ranked among the best undergraduate engineering programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report in its “Best Colleges 2013″ guidebook and rankings. Boise State shares the No. 13 ranking among public institutions and is tied for the No. 35 ranking among all undergraduate engineering programs. The rankings are based solely on a survey of engineering deans and senior faculty at all programs accredited by ABET (formerly known as Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology), conducted during the spring of 2012. Boise State improved on its 2012 rankings when it was tied for 15th among public schools and tied for 37th overall. The peer assessment score was 3.0 on a scale from 1 (marginal) to 5 (distinguished). Boise State has the highest admission requirements of all Idaho public universities. Roughly 80% of freshmen come to Boise State straight from high school. Over 76% of incoming freshmen have a 3.0 GPA or higher, and nearly 40% have 3.5 GPA or higher. With over 2,000 graduate students, Boise State also has the second largest graduate school enrollment in Idaho.

For the 2009–2010 academic year, Boise State had a student retention rate of almost 70%, a 6 year graduation rate of 26%, and a 4 year graduation rate of 6%, one of the lowest in the west. Both Boise State's graduation rate and retention rate are the second best among Idaho state universities and first among the "institutions that serve larger populations of adult continuing education students (which include a higher percentage of part-time or commuter students with dependents)". The university offers five doctoral degrees, 16 graduate certificates, 77 master's degrees, 99 baccalaureate degrees, and seven associate degrees. In 2010-11, the university awarded 11 doctorates, 641 master's degrees, 2,571 baccalaureate degrees, 219 associate degrees, and 157 certificates.

The school's more than 190 fields of study are organized into seven colleges:
 * Arts and Sciences
 * Business and Economics (COBE)
 * Education
 * Engineering
 * Graduate Studies
 * Health Sciences, and
 * Social Sciences and Public Affair (SSPA)

Publishing
Since 1971 the university has published the Western Writers Series, monographs focusing on authors of the American Frontier and American West. The university also maintains an on-line library of publications and documents related to Idaho history through the Albertsons Library.

Athletics


Boise State's athletic nickname is the Broncos. The official mascot is Buster Bronco. BSU fields many different teams in sports. Its men's teams include football, basketball, cross country, track and field, wrestling, golf, and tennis. Its women's teams include volleyball, basketball, cross country, swimming and diving, soccer, track and field, gymnastics, golf, softball and tennis. Most of these teams compete in the Mountain West Conference. The wrestling team competes in the Pac-12 Conference because the Mountain West Conference does not sponsor college wrestling.

On December 7, 2011, Boise State was officially announced as joining the Big East Conference along with San Diego State University, Southern Methodist University, University of Houston and University of Central Florida as a football-only member. The other Boise State sports would move back to the Big West Conference from the Mountain West Conference in 2013.

On December 31, 2012, Boise State announced they had decided to stay in the Mountain West conference, leaving the Big East, much like TCU, without ever playing a game in it. With Boise State staying in the Mountain West, it was noted that San Diego State will indeed try to rejoin the Mountain West as well.

Football
The Broncos play their home games on campus at Bronco Stadium, widely known for its unique blue playing surface, which is the first non-green playing field in the history of American football.



The Broncos have experienced a great deal of recent success. Since 1999, the Broncos' record is 93–17 with nine conference titles (Big West Conference 1999 & 2000, Western Athletic Conference (WAC) 2002–06, 2008–09), and eight wins in eleven bowl appearances. The Broncos finished the season in the Top 25 polls in 2002 (12th), 2003 (15th), 2004 (13th), 2006 (5th), and started the 2005 season ranked 18th and the 2007 season ranked 22nd. The Broncos have had three undefeated regular seasons in the last five years.

During Boise State's recent streak of conference championships, Bronco Stadium has proven to be a tough place for opponents. As of December 3, 2011, the Broncos are 82–3 at home since the 1999 season with the only losses being to Washington State in 2001, AP #18 Boston College in the 2005 MPC Computers Bowl and to TCU in 2011. The Broncos won 47 straight home conference games from 1999 to 2011 and were undefeated in conference during their 10 years in the WAC (40–0). The Broncos are 78–2 in regular season home games since 1999. They had a winning streak of 65 regular season games from the 2001 to 2011 seasons.

During the 2006 season, Boise State won the WAC championship for the fifth straight time and finished the regular season undefeated for the second time in three years. Because of rule changes that made it slightly easier for a "mid-major" school to earn a Bowl Championship Series bid, the Broncos became eligible for a berth after finishing with a #8 national ranking (they needed to finish 12th or higher). The Broncos were selected to play the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl on January 1, 2007. The Broncos became the second team (after the 2004 Utah Utes) from a conference not guaranteed an automatic BCS bid to go to a BCS bowl game. The Broncos defeated the Sooners 43–42 in overtime. The winning score was a successful two-point conversion by running back Ian Johnson on a variation of the Statue of Liberty play that was made possible after a Hook and Lateral play on 4th-and-18 went for a touchdown to force the game into overtime. On the first play, the Sooners scored on a 25-yard Adrian Peterson run and successfully kicked the point after touchdown. Boise State countered with a trick play that sent starting quarterback Jared Zabransky in motion as a receiver. Running back/receiver Vinny Perretta threw a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Derek Schouman. Zabransky was named the game's offensive Most Valuable Player, while Marty Tadman was selected as defensive Most Valuable Player. Due to the 41–14 loss Ohio State suffered to Florida, Boise State became the only team to finish the 2006 season with an undefeated record. The Broncos extended their string of consecutive victories to 14 in 2007 with a 56–7 win over Weber State, but the streak (then the longest in the nation) ended with a 24–10 upset loss in Seattle to the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium on September 8, 2007. On November 26, 2010, the Broncos lost a shot at the 2010 national title game after losing to Nevada 34–31 in overtime.

On January 11, 2007, head coach Chris Petersen was awarded the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award as the nation's best head coach during the 2006 season.

The Boise State Spirit Squad consists of the BSU Cheerleaders and the Boise State Harvey Neef Mane Line Dancers. They perform at basketball and football games, as well as gymnastics meets and occasionally soccer games.

Bronco Stadium
Bronco Stadium is home to the Boise State football and Track & Field programs. It has played host to the NCAA Division I Track and Field Championships in 1994 and 1999, and is home to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

Bronco Stadium is best known for its blue playing surface. Originally nicknamed the "Smurf Turf", "the Blue", as it is commonly known to fans, was originally a bright blue AstroTurf installed in 1986. In 2002, BSU installed AstroPlay, similar to FieldTurf, a new generation of infilled synthetic turf that mimics the appearance, feel, and texture of grass. In 2008, the field was replaced a fourth time with FieldTurf.

Ground was broken for the stadium in 1969, and it opened in September 1970 with a capacity of 14,500. Subsequent expansions were completed in 1975 and 1997, and current capacity sits at around 37,000. In August 2010, the university unveiled a $100 million expansion plan for Bronco Stadium. The first stage will include: adding a new facility to the north endzone to house the football offices, weight room, training room, equipment room and locker room; removing the track; and adding a 13,200-seat grandstand behind the north endzone. Later stages include: lowering the field to add 3,300 seats; completing the south endzone horseshoe; building an east side skybox; and renovating the east concourse. Seating capacity for the fully expanded Bronco Stadium will exceed 55,000.

Taco Bell Arena
Known as the "Boise State University Pavilion" until June 2004, Taco Bell Arena (TBA) is home to BSU basketball, wrestling, women's gymnastics, community events, and several concerts each year. Opened in May 1982, the arena seats 12,380 on three levels. The TBA has hosted rounds one and two of the men's NCAA Division I basketball tournament on eight occasions from 1983–2009, and the third and fourth rounds of the NCAA women's Division I basketball tournament in 2002.

The construction of the pavilion began in February 1980 on the site of the tennis courts and a portion of the BSU baseball field. The Bronco baseball team played their home games in 1980 at Borah Field (now Bill Wigle Field) at Borah High School. Baseball was discontinued as a varsity sport following the 1980 season. The tennis courts were rebuilt immediately west of the arena, on the former baseball field (infield & right field).

Student life
In 2010, Boise State had over 20,000 full-time students, making it the largest university in the state of Idaho.
 * White 15,197  (80.3%)
 * Hispanic 1,202  (6.3%)
 * Asian-American 654  (3.5%)
 * African-American 361  (1.9%)
 * Native American 212  (1.1%)
 * Pacific Islander 70  (0.4%)
 * Not Reported 1,241  (6.5%)

Of those students enrolled in 2009, 86.1% are Idaho residents and 54% are female.

Housing
The dominant form of school-supported housing is in coed dorms which make up 60% of all accommodations. Seven residential halls (Chaffee, Morrison, Driscoll, Taylor, Keiser, Barnes Towers, Suites) house 1,492 students in shared (Driscoll, Chafee, and Towers) and single rooms (Taylor, Keiser, and Morrison). Units for disabled students make up 2%. There are 5 university owned apartment complexes as well.

Driscoll Hall
Driscoll Hall is the home of the Honors College, this is where a vast majority of the Honor students live and hang out.

Social fraternities and sororities
There are eight fraternities (Alpha Kappa Lambda, Delta Sigma Phi, Delta Upsilon, Sigma Chi and Tau Kappa Epsilon), and four sororities (Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Xi Delta, and Alpha Gamma Delta) on campus.

In recent years, Boise State has seen a growing interest in Greek life on campus. Over the past two years, the community added four fraternities (Tau Kappa Epsilon, Sigma Chi, Delta Sigma Phi (ΔΣΦ), and Delta Upsilon) and one sorority (Alpha Gamma Delta). An additional fraternity and sorority is expected in the fall of 2012. (Lambda Chi Alpha and Alpha Sigma Alpha)

There are aspirations to begin construction of a new greek row beginning spring semester of 2013.

Parking
Since most students live off campus, the majority of transportation to and from campus is by automobile. Students must obtain permits to use most on-campus parking facilities, with the exception of some hourly parking inventory. BSU is served by a parking garages on the west edge of the campus and across from the "SUB", and a wide variety of surface parking. Plans currently call for additional parking garages to serve the growing student population. Parking has frequently been a problem on campus, especially for General permit holders. On campus events such as concerts and football games can cause huge parking disruptions as some General lots are closed to student parking to allow for event parking.

Alternative methods
Boise Shuttle Service offers a circulating shuttle on campus, and walking and biking are encouraged. Limited mass-transit options are available. The city of Boise is served by the Boise Airport and the Greyhound Bus company.

Broadcast media
Boise State Public Radio is broadcast from the Boise State campus. Stations include KBSU-FM 90.3, KBSX-FM 91.5, KINF 730 AM, and KBSW-FM 91.7.