With universities under threat, remember they’re key to Idaho’s future

As lawmakers in Washington consider ways to rein in federal spending and ensure government programs deliver real value, the conversation around higher education has returned to center stage.

Among the proposals currently on the table are significant cuts to federal student aid programs, including Pell Grants, federal work-study and income-driven repayment plans, as well as support services for vulnerable populations, like first-generation students.

Given that it’s a significant public investment, this is a conversation worth having, but one that would better serve as a clear-eyed reminder of how access to higher education helped make America become what it is today.

After World War II, the G.I. Bill opened college doors to millions of veterans, laying the foundation for one of the greatest expansions of economic opportunity in history. Alongside unprecedented advancements in research, these investments helped create a thriving middle class, powered small business growth and turned America into a global leader in innovation and productivity.

In the years that followed, Republican and Democratic administrations alike expanded access to college for more Americans through initiatives like the National Defense Education Act and the Higher Education Act of 1965. These efforts recognized that research and education fuel economic strength, social mobility and national resilience.

But that belief wasn’t new. Even in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln understood this. With the Morrill Act of 1862, Congress authorized states to sell federal land to fund new public colleges. These institutions were established to teach practical skills like agriculture and engineering, conduct important research to solve real problems and help rebuild a nation still reeling from war.

While Idaho State University is not a land-grant institution, our state-originated mission reflects a similar principle: educating Idahoans with knowledge and skills to improve lives and communities and contributing to our state and national well-being in countless ways. Meanwhile, the state’s land-grant institution, the University of Idaho, along with Boise State University, Lewis-Clark State College and the state’s four community colleges and additional private institutions all serve unique and vital educational, research and workforce roles.

ISU’s mission was evident this month as we celebrated more than 2,000 graduates at our spring commencement ceremonies. That number includes nearly 150 students at our Meridian Health Science campus who earned health-care-related associate degrees before completing their high school diplomas. Idaho students are stepping into their futures ahead of schedule thanks to state-supported access to early college, dual credit programs and an innovative partnership between ISU and the West Ada School District.

Today, as our nation faces new fiscal and social challenges, we should once again look to higher education as a strategic asset and investment, not a liability. Idaho needs more nurses, teachers, welders and engineers. Individuals need access to pathways to better jobs, not more barriers.

Advanced research on university campuses continues to develop solutions that address real-life challenges. And rural communities need homegrown talent who are educated, trained and ready to thrive.

Some reforms are certainly necessary. Accountability matters and not all programs are created equal. But we should be very careful not to throw out what works. Access to public higher education, including multi-faceted institutions, remains one of the best returns on investment for taxpayers, and one of the surest ways for individuals and families to climb the economic ladder.

At ISU, we’re focused on access, affordability and alignment with Idaho’s workforce needs. We contribute to our nation’s research and creative infrastructure. We believe in opportunity grounded in responsibility. That’s what built this country. And it’s what will keep Idaho strong in the years to come.

Let’s make sure higher education remains a source of economic vitality, strength and opportunity for our state and our country.

This story was originally published May 28, 2025 at 4:00 AM.