Idaho State University

Idaho State University

Former names	Idaho State College (1947–1963) UI—Southern Branch (1927–1947) Idaho Technical Institute (1915–1927) Academy of Idaho (1901–1915)
Motto	Latin: Veritas Vos Liberabit
Motto in English	"The truth will set you free"
Type	Public
Established	1901, 116 years ago
Endowment	$49 million
President	Arthur C. Vailas, Ph.D.
Academic staff	838 (2009 fall)
Administrative staff	1,269 (2009 fall)
Students	13,569 (2016 fall)
Undergraduates	11,892 (2016 fall)
Postgraduates	1,661 (2009 fall)
Location	Pocatello, Idaho, U.S. 42°51′40″N 112°26′02″W / 42.861°N 112.434°W / 42.861; -112.434Coordinates: 42°51′40″N 112°26′02″W / 42.861°N 112.434°W / 42.861; -112.434
Campus	1,000 acres (4.0 km2) 250 acres (1.0 km2) developed
Colors	Black, orange
Athletics	NCAA Division I FCS Big Sky Conference
Nickname	Bengals
Mascot	Benny the Bengal
Affiliations	APLU ORAU
Website	www.isu.edu

Idaho State University (ISU) is a Carnegie-classified doctoral research and teaching institution in the western United States, located in Pocatello, Idaho.

A public university founded 116 years ago in 1901 as the Academy of Idaho, ISU offers access to education in more than 280 programs at its main campus and at locations in Meridian, Idaho Falls, and Twin Falls. It is the state's designated lead institution in health professions and medical education.

There are 48 U.S. states and 59 countries represented at ISU and 285 programs, including Master's and Doctorate programs. The student-teacher ratio is 17:1, gender of students is 44 percent male, 56 percent female, and ISU has more than 160 clubs and organizations. Enrollment for the fall semester in 2012 stood at 14,209, including 12,143 undergraduate students and 2,066 graduate students.

On March 11, 1901, Governor Frank W. Hunt signed Senate Bill 53, to establish the Academy of Idaho, contingent upon private land donations being made for its site. Theodore F. Turner, mayor of Pocatello, settled the issue (Battle of the Blocks) of the placement of the academy. The Academy of Idaho was officially opened in Pocatello on May 1, 1901². Theodore Swanson, a member of the board of trustees, secured the services of John W. Faris as the first administrator, with the title of principal. Classes officially began in September 1902. By 1910, enrollment had reached nearly 300 students, and the academy had purchased four additional city blocks in Pocatello to help meet its growing needs.

In 1915, the Academy of Idaho was renamed Idaho Technical Institute. The end of World War I brought an influx of students to the school, and enrollment surged to over 1,000. The early 1920s saw the beginning of competition in intercollegiate athletics. At this time the institute adopted the Bengal as the school mascot; head football coach Ralph Hutchinson (1920–27) was an alumnus of Princeton, a school with orange and black theme colors and a tiger mascot.