Idaho State University Idaho State University ( ISU ) is a public university located in Pocatello , Idaho , United States . ISU is a Carnegie - classified doctoral research high and teaching institution founded in 1901 , attracts students from around the world to its Idaho campuses . At the main campus in Pocatello , and at locations in Meridian , Idaho Falls and Twin Falls . ISU ' s six colleges offer academic study in the natural and physical sciences , humanities , performing and visual arts , education , engineering , business , pharmacy and technology , with a total of over 285 available programs . Enrollment for the fall semester in 2011 stood at 14 , 489 total students , making ISU the second - largest major university in the State of Idaho in terms of full - time enrollment . The student - teacher ratio at ISU is 17 : 1 . History . On March 11 , 1901 , Governor Frank W . Hunt signed Senate Bill 53 , thus establishing 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 . In 1927 the school was renamed again , this time as the University of Idaho - Southern Branch . In 1947 it was renamed for the fourth time , to Idaho State College and became a four - year school . The following year , enrollment reached 2 , 000 . During World War II , Idaho was one of 131 colleges and universities nationally that took part in the V - 12 Navy College Training Program which offered students a path to a Navy commission . On April 10 , 1952 ten employees of Idaho State College organized the Idaho State College Federal Credit Union with just $ 5 each , to provide a cooperative system of low - cost loans for coworkers . On October 28 , 1963 the Credit Union was renamed the Idaho State University Federal Credit Union to reflect the college ’ s new name . In 1963 , the school was renamed for the fifth and final time to Idaho State University , reflecting its new status as a full four - year public university . In the ensuing years , ISU continuously expanded both its enrollment and the programs it offered . The presidency of Richard L . Bowen , from 1985 – 2005 , is particularly regarded as an era of growth : as of 2006 , ISU had colleges in arts and sciences , business , education , engineering , health , pharmacy , and technology . However , Bowen resigned after a vote of no confidence from the faculty , who were angered by generous pay raises for administration members in the midst of calls for fiscal austerity . On July 1 , 2006 , former Vice Chancellor of the University of Houston System and Vice President of the University of Houston Arthur C . Vailas became president of the university , replacing Michael Gallagher — who had served as president on an interim basis since Bowen ' s retirement in 2005 . In February 2011 the Idaho State University faculty voted no confidence in Vailas and called for his resignation . This was also followed by a vote of no confidence by the students . Although Vailas faced mounting criticism and pressure from faculty and students to step down , he refused to resign and campus tension intensified , as the Idaho State Board of Education decided to suspend the university ' s faculty senate . As a result , in June 2011 , the American Association of University Professors censured the ISU . Student life . Student government is administered by the Associated Students of Idaho State University ( ASISU ) . Each year a president and vice president are elected by the student body to administer and oversee a variety of activities either partially or fully funded by tuition - based fees . The ASISU Senate is the Association ' s legislative body . Made up of 20 student members elected by the students of each individual college ( allocation of seats being based on enrollment of each college ) , the ASISU Senate is primarily responsible for allocating the ASISU budget . The Student Activities Board , formerly the ASISU Program Board , oversees most of the student activity programming on campus . The board plans concerts , movie showings , homecoming activities , athletic - related events and other activities generally associated with student life . Off - campus , many Pocatello businesses are geared towards the university community . Many ISU students take advantage of Pocatello ' s proximity to outdoor activities in eastern Idaho and northern Utah . Reed Gym features recreational facilities including a climbing wall , swimming pool , tennis courts , and more . The Pond Student Union operates a movie theater , billiard room and bowling alley and hosts many student club activities . Fine arts events are regularly featured at the performing arts theater . Student housing . Idaho State University operates several residence halls and apartment complex es for its students . Residence halls include Rendezvous Hall , Turner Hall , Nichols Hall , Owen Hall , and Redfield Hall . On - campus apartments include Bengal Studios , McIntosh Manor ( Building # 57 ) , Pulling Courts ( Building # 53 ) , Ridge Crest Townhomes ( Building # 54 ) , Schubert Heights , University Courts , and West Campus Apartments . Students with dependent children may live in McIntosh Manor , Pulling Courts , and Ridge Crest Townhouses . Residents are within the Pocatello / Chubbuck School District . Zoned schools include Washington Elementary School , Franklin Middle School , and Century High School . Greek life . Male Fraternities : Female Fraternities : Co - ed Business Fraternities : Co - Ed Theatre Arts Fraternities : Athletics . The Idaho State University Bengals compete as a member school of the Big Sky Conference in the NCAA Division I FCS . ISU won the NCAA Division I - AA national championship in football in 1981 . It also won NCAA national championships in boxing as Idaho State College in 1953 and 1957 . In more recent years ISU has been competitive in track and field winning the Big Sky Conference Indoor title in 2005 and 2006 . The women ' s track and field team won their first outdoors women ' s Big Sky conference in 2007 with a score of 140 . 5 over Weber State . Dave Nielson was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year in Women ' s track and field and was later named the Mountain Region ' s Outdoor Women ' s coach of the year . Home football games are played at Holt Arena which has a seating capacity of 12 , 000 for football games and is the oldest enclosed stadium on a college campus in the United States . Holt Arena also hosts indoor track and field events . For years the Bengals enjoyed athletic rivalries with the Boise State Broncos and the University of Idaho Vandals . However , as far as football is concerned , these rivalries diminished significantly after both BSU and UI left the Big Sky in 1996 to move up to Division I - A . The Bengals still enjoy a healthy rivalry in basketball with both the University of Idaho , who they have dominated in recent years , and Boise State , who has dominated ISU in recent years . With the diminishment of the rivalries with both U of I and BSU in football , the Weber State Wildcats of nearby Ogden , Utah , Montana State Bobcats of Bozeman , Montana , and the Montana Grizzlies of Missoula , Montana have become ISU ' s main football rivals . Idaho State also offers a rugby program that plays in Division II . Idaho State offers scholarships to rugby players in the form of allowing out - of - state students to pay the in - state tuition rate . Idaho State finished the 2010 regular season ranked 9th in Division II . Idaho State reached the semifinals of the 2011 Mountain 7s tournament , and reached the semifinals of the 2012 Pacific Coast championship . Football . In the 2009 campaign , Bengal football boasted a one win record , which wasn ' t an improvement over the 2008 campaign . Bengal football hasn ' t had a season above . 500 since the 2003 campaign ( 8 - 4 ) with its best record since then being 5 - 6 in 2005 . In October 2009 Idaho State University Director of Athletics Jeff Tingey announced that the contract of head football coach John Zamberlin would be extended for two more years , meaning Zamberin will be on the Bengal sidelines manning the program through the 2011 season . Hired in late December 2006 , Zamberlin ' s record at ISU is just 4 - 25 . The decision has been highly criticized by many students , faculty , and community members . The administration have stood by their decision , citing an increase in athlete attendance in classes and graduation rates as a direct result of Zamberlin ' s coaching . In 2010 , the Bengals went 1 - 10 overall and 0 - 8 in the Big Sky Conference . Zamberlin was fired and former Eastern Washington and Montana State coach , Mike Kramer , was hired . Among his assistants are former University of Alabama football players Todd Bates and Rudy Griffin . Idaho State used to enjoy healthy rivalries with both the University of Idaho and Boise State University when all three schools were members of the Big Sky Conference . When both Idaho and BSU left the Big Sky in 1996 to move up to Division I - A , Idaho State University lost their main rivals . Both Idaho and BSU still occasionally play Idaho State in football , however since 1996 , both Idaho and BSU ' s dominance over Idaho State has solidified . Despite this , many students at both the University of Idaho and at Idaho State University would like to see this rivalry renewed into an annual event . Since 1996 , an old rivalry with the Weber State University Wildcats of nearby Ogden , Utah has intensified to become ISU ' s main rival in football . The Bengals also enjoy intense rivalries with both the University of Montana Grizzlies , and Montana State University Bobcats . Basketball . In March 1977 , the men ' s basketball team made national headlines by defeating the UCLA Bruins 76 - 75 in the West regional semifinal of that year ' s NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament . The win qualified the Bengals for their only appearance to date in the Elite Eight . This is by far the high - water mark for Bengals basketball , and marked the first time since 1966 that UCLA failed to reach the Final Four . The Bengals were subsequently eliminated in the West regional final by the UNLV Runnin ' Rebels . Idaho State University ' s men ' s basketball team plays their home games at Holt Arena , which has a seating capacity of 8 , 000 for basketball games . The most recent appearance of the men ' s team in the NCAA Men ' s Division I Basketball Championship was in 1987 , when it was eliminated 70 - 95 in the first round by UNLV . Idaho State University ' s women ' s basketball team plays their home games at Reed Gym , which has a seating capacity of 3 , 040 for basketball games . The most recent appearance of the women ' s team in the NCAA Women ' s Division I Basketball Championship was in 2012 , when it was eliminated 41 - 70 in the first round by the Miami Hurricanes . Idaho State University still maintains an active rivalry in basketball with both the University of Idaho Vandals and the Boise State University Broncos . In recent years , ISU has dominated UI in basketball , but in turn been dominated by BSU .