Boise State University: Encyclopedia - Boise State University

Boise State University

Boise State University

Boise State University is a state university located near downtown Boise, the capital city of Idaho.

More than 18,000 full and part time students attended at the school during 2004, making it Idaho's largest school in terms of enrollment. BSU offers 201 degrees in 190 fields of study - from doctoral programs to technical certificates.

Boise State University - Campus

The campus is nestled along 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. [1]

Bronco Stadium is one of the most high profile structures in the state, featuring 30,000 seats -- and a blue playing surface. The school's football team plays on the AstroTurf field, commonly referred to as "Smurf Turf", the only non-green turf in NCAA athletics. Plans to expand the stadium beyond 30,000 seats are currently in the works.

The former Pavilion at Boise State is home to BSU basketball, wrestling, womens gymnastics, community events and several concerts each year. The arena seats 12,000 people on three levels. The TBA plays host to rounds one and two of the NCAA Division I basketball tournament every four to six years.

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 off-broadway musicals and plays, and a number of concerts and other events.

The school's library, named for grocery pioneer and Boise native Joe Albertson is a 200,000 square foot (19,000 m²) facility in the center of the campus. It houses more than 530,000 books, and has 70 public terminals for student use. An extensive library remodel was completed in the mid-1990s.

The "SUB" brings together an eclectic mix of services under one roof, including the BSU Bookstore, Bronco Gear apparel shop, a bowling alley, arcade, several restaurants, banquet facilities, recreation rentals 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 annual political debates.

Boise State University - Other Campuses

Recently the Canyon County Center in Nampa began operations. This satellite campus facility specializes in applied technology programs as well as some academic and non-credit courses. Additional education centers can be found at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Gowen Field and in Twin Falls.

Boise State University - Life on campus

Boise State University - Housing

The dominant form of school-supported housing is in coed dorms - making up 60% of all accommodations. Units for women make up 12%, for men 10% -- and disabled students 2%. Single student apartments make up 10% of housing, and married apartments round out the final 6%.

The vast majority of Boise State students live off-campus - 92%. There are a total of three fraternities and three sororities on campus. Total pledged population is less than 3%.

Boise State University - Transportation

Since most students live outside the campus boundary, the majority of transportation to and from campus is by automobile. 90% of all students commute to campus by auto. 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 garage on the west edge of the campus, and a wide variety of surface parking. Plans currently call for additional parking garages to service the growing student population

ValleyRide operates a bus shuttle on campus, and walking and biking are encouraged. Limited mass-transit options are available, except Boise City's bus system. The city of Boise is serviced by the Boise Airport and the Greyhound Bus service.

Boise State University - 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 Gene Harris Jazz Festival is held in the spring, centered around the BSU campus. "Noon Tunes" and SummerFest are held each summer.

Boise State University - Demographics

In 2004, Boise State had 13,345 full-time, and 5,111 part-time students - making it the most attended school in the state of Idaho.

• 15,189/82% White
• 996/5.3% Hispanic
• 488/2.6% Asian-American
• 251/1.4% African-American
• 180/1% Native American
• 1,353/7.4% Unknown

54% of students are female, 46% are male. 91% of all students are Idaho residents.

Boise State University - Colleges

Boise State offers two doctoral degrees, 46 master's, 94 baccalaureate, 29 Associate of Applied Science, 9 associate, and 21 technical certificates.

In 2004 the school awarded six doctorates, 395 master's, 1823 baccalaureate, 403 associate, and 223 certificates -- 2,850 in all.

The school's 190 fields of interest are organized in to 9 colleges:

• Applied Technology
• Arts and Sciences
• Business and Economics
• Education
• Engineering
• Graduate Studies
• Health Sciences
• Social Sciences and Public Affairs.
• Honors

Boise State University - Athletics

The Boise State University Bronco football program is the state's top spectator sport. In 2004, the team sold out every game in Bronco Stadium, and finished regular season competition undefeated. The school lost the 2004 Liberty Bowl to the University of Louisville Cardinals by a final score of 44-40. The football team, under the direction of recently departed Dan Hawkins, finished the season in the top 25 of all NCAA division I programs each year from 2001 to 2005.

The school also fields teams in a wide variety of other inter-collegiate sports:

• Men’s teams Football, basketball, cross country, track and field, wrestling, golf and tennis
• Women’s teams Volleyball, basketball, cross country, soccer, track and field, gymnastics, golf, skiing and tennis

All sports are members of the Western Athletic Conference, except wrestling - which plays in the Pac 10, and women's gymnastics - competing in the Western Gymnastics Conference.

Boise State University - History

• 1932 Founded as Boise Junior College by the Episcopal Church.
• 1934 Episcopal Church ends affiliation and board of directors after assumes leadership.
• 1940 Campus moved from original location at St. Margaret’s Hall to present site.
• 1965 Baccalaureate degrees introduced to became Boise College.
  • Alumni Association is formed.
  • Enrollment reaches 5,000.
• 1968 Football team begins competition as four year school.
• 1969 State system of higher education takes over and name changed to Boise State College.
• 1970 Joined the Big Sky Conference (Division II) for men's athletics
  • Bronco Stadium opens with a capacity of 14,500 and Astroturf field
• 1974 Bronco Stadium adds upper deck to east side: 20,000 capacity.
• 1978 Big Sky Conference moves to Division I-AA.
• 1979 Enrollment reaches 10,000.
• 1980 Football team wins the I-AA national championship.
• 1982 BSU Pavilion (multi-purpose arena) opened in May.
• 1984 The Velma V. Morrison Center opened its doors on April 7.
• 1986 First colored Astroturf field (blue) installed at Bronco Stadium.
• 1992 First doctoral degree approved: Ed.D. in curriculum and instruction.
  • Enrollment reaches 15,000; school becomes state's largest.

• 1994 Football team reaches the I-AA national championship game.
• 1996 Majority of school's athletic programs move to Big West Conference (Wrestling remains in Pac 10).
  • Moved to NCAA Division I-A.
  • Bronco Stadium capacity expanded to 30,000
  • Football team wins Humanitarian Bowl against Louisville.
• 2000 Football team wins Humanitarian Bowl against UTEP
• 2002 Majority of school's athletic programs move to Western Athletic Conference (Wrestling remains in Pac 10).
  • Football team won Humanitarian Bowl against Iowa State University.
  • Football team won Fort Worth Bowl against TCU.
• 2004 Enrollment reaches 18,456.
  • BSU Pavilion renamed Taco Bell Arena.
  • Football team goes undefeated in regular season for first time in modern era, ending 19th in the nation in the BCS rankings, but loses its bowl game vs. Louisville.

Boise State University - Notable

• Varney Airlines, founded by Walter Varney was based on the land where the Boise State campus now stands. Varney is the root of United Airlines.
• NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw broadcast from the campus in 1996. Boise is the smallest U.S. city in which the program has originated.
• Bronco Stadium contains the only non-green field in all of collegiate athletics. Lyle Smith Field is primarily blue with white and orange accents. Among its nicknames: "The Smurf Turf"
• The school does not charge tuition. The Idaho constitution prohibits charging students for instruction. Instead, fees are charged - but may only be applied to expenses other than professor salaries.
• Troy McClain, a candidate/cast member on the first season of The Apprentice, was offered a full-ride scholarship to any school of his choice by Donald Trump. McClain chose Boise State.

Boise State University - Broadcast

BSU Radio is broadcast from the Boise State campus. Stations include NPR News91, KBSU, KBSW and Idaho's Jazz Station.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Boise State University", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki