Idaho AI Education in the News

2026 News Articles

January 2026

• Idaho State Board of Education (2026, January 8). Idaho State Board of Education secures $4 million federal grant to elevate AI literacy. Boardofed.idaho.gov. https://boardofed.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/RELEASE-Idaho-State-Board-of-Education-Secures-4-Million-Trump-Administration-Grant-to-Elevate-AI-Literacy-.pdf

  • Summary: The State Board announced a major federal FIPSE grant aimed at integrating AI into teaching and learning at Idaho’s public colleges and universities, with a focus on human-centered innovation and student technical skills.

March 2026

• Boise State University (2026, March 9). Call for participation: 2026 AI Institute for Teaching and Learning. BoiseState.edu. https://www.boisestate.edu/digitalfuture/

  • Summary: The School for the Digital Future at Boise State opened applications for its annual AI Institute, which brings faculty together to develop responsible and innovative approaches to generative AI in the classroom.

• Reisenfeld, J. (2026, March 12). Provost expects large fall 2026 enrollment; AI recruiting chatbot for UI discussed. The Argonaut. https://www.uiargonaut.com/2026/03/12/provost-expects-large-fall-2026-enrollment/

  • Summary: During a Faculty Senate meeting, University of Idaho leaders provided updates on the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan (Pillar 5), specifically highlighting the development of “Jane Vandal,” a multilingual AI chatbot designed to automate student recruitment and support.

• Idaho State University (2026, March 16). Center for Learning and Instructional Excellence: Harnessing Adaptive AI in the Classroom. ISU.edu. https://www.isu.edu/news/2026-spring/center-for-learning-and-instructional-excellence-events-for-the-week-of-march-16.html

  • Summary: ISU hosted a Master Teaching Series session focused on “STACK,” a new instructional design model that uses adaptive AI to personalize student engagement and create responsive learning environments.

• Lincoln, K. (2026, March 26). ‘The genie’s out of the bottle:’ Little signs artificial intelligence education bill. IdahoEdNews. https://www.idahoednews.org/news/the-genies-out-of-the-bottle-little-signs-artificial-intelligence-education-bill/

  • Summary: Governor Brad Little signed Senate Bill 1227, establishing a statewide framework for AI in education. While primarily targeting K-12, the bill sets the standard for AI literacy and ethics that will pipeline directly into the state’s higher education system.

• Idaho Technology Council (2026, March 26). Idaho Advances AI in Education with Landmark Legislation, Strengthening Future Workforce Pipeline. IdahoTechCouncil.org. https://www.idahotechcouncil.org/idaho-advances-ai-in-education-with-landmark-legislation-strengthening-future-workforce-pipeline

  • Summary: Following the bill signing, the ITC released a statement praising the collaboration between the state and industry partners (like Micron and Microsoft) to ensure Idaho students graduate with the AI proficiency needed for the high-tech workforce.

2025 News Articles

February 2025

• University of Idaho / AI @ UI (2025, February 20). Confidently Navigate AI Education Resources. AI @ UI News. https://ai.uidaho.edu/confidently-navigate-ai/

  • Summary: This update highlighted new resources provided to faculty across Idaho to help navigate the rapid influx of generative AI tools. It marked an early 2025 push for standardized AI literacy resources supported by the State Board’s broader initiatives.

March 2025

• Boise State News Staff (2025, March 14). Exploring AI: Blomquist seeks better understanding, helps faculty grow with state fellowship. BoiseState.edu. https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2025/03/14/exploring-ai-blomquist-seeks-better-understanding-helps-faculty-grow-with-state-fellowship/

  • Summary: This article details the work of Jason Blomquist, one of two 2024-25 Generative AI in Higher Education fellows appointed by the Idaho State Board of Education. The piece outlines his collaboration with co-fellows to survey faculty statewide and develop a “skeptical optimist” framework for AI in nursing and general instruction.

May 2025

• IIDS News (2025, May 7). IIDS AI Faculty Fellowship Presentations: Shaping the Future of Research. University of Idaho. https://ai.uidaho.edu/events/

  • Summary: Faculty fellows presented the results of their year-long research into generative AI’s impact on Idaho’s higher education landscape. These presentations provided the groundwork for the State Board’s 2026 strategic scaling of AI literacy programs.

September 2025

• Idaho AI Catalyst (2025, September 5). GenAI Starter Pack for Idaho Higher-Ed Faculty. AI @ UI / OSBE Network. https://ai.uidaho.edu/genai-starter-pack/

  • Summary: Facilitated by the Idaho State Board of Education, the AI Catalyst network released a “Starter Pack” designed to give instructors immediate, actionable tools for the Fall 2025 semester. The pack focused on syllabus language, ethical use guidelines, and “human-in-the-loop” pedagogical strategies.

November 2025

• Gladd, J. (2025, November 17). AI + Academic Integrity: Idaho AI Catalyst Webinar #3. Idaho State Board of Education AI Network. https://ai.uidaho.edu/ai-academic-integrity/

  • Summary: This statewide webinar, part of an OSBE-facilitated series, addressed the rise of “agentic” AI browsers and their impact on academic honesty. It provided faculty with strategies to hold students accountable while encouraging responsible experimentation with AI tools.

2024 New Articles

KMTV News Staff (2024, June 25). State board awards fellowships to improve understanding of generative AI in higher education. KMVT.com.  https://www.kmvt.com/2024/06/25/state-board-awards-fellowships-improve-understanding-generative-ai-higher-education/ 

Ponce, L. (2024, July 17). Managing generative artificial intelligence in Idaho’s public higher education. Idaho Capital Sun. https://idahocapitalsun.com/2024/07/17/managing-generative-artificial-intelligence-in-idahos-public-higher-education/

Idaho State University (2024, August 1). “ChatGPT for the Brain:” Idaho State Prof. Helps Develop AI Foundation Model of the Human Brain. https://www.idahoednews.org/news/managing-generative-ai-in-idahos-public-higher-education/ 

Idaho State Board of Education (2024, June 25). State board awards fellowships to improve understanding of generative AI in higher education [Press release].  https://boardofed.idaho.gov/resources/state-board-awards-fellowships-to-improve-understanding-of-generative-ai-in-higher-education/

O’Mara, M., & Garceau, R. (2024, May 3). ‘Has the potential to be enormously helpful’: AI in Idaho schools. KTVB.com https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/has-the-potential-to-be-enormously-helpful-ai-idaho-schools/277-aa9351c7-2951-4b30-9ef0-0de41e4cffff

Arave, A. (2024, August 14). Artificial intelligence in nuclear: How computer and data scientists are enhancing the industry. Idaho National Laboratory. https://inl.gov/feature-story/artificial-intelligence-in-nuclear-how-computer-and-data-scientists-are-enhancing-the-industry/

Public Citizen (2024, March 27). Idaho becomes 10th state to regulate AI deepfakes. https://www.citizen.org/news/idaho-becomes-10th-state-to-regulate-ai-deepfakes-in-elections-as-state-progress-persists/

Boise State University (2024, August 16). Nursing faculty named generative AI fellow by State Board of Education https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2024/08/16/nursing-faculty-generative-ai-fellows-idaho-state-board-of-ed/

College of Western Idaho (2024, July 12). Hard work goes a long way for new AI fellowship winner. https://cwi.edu/news/news-room/hard-work-goes-long-way-new-ai-fellowship-winner

Richert, K. (2024, July 30). As Launch moves into Year Two, AI could play a role in its future. Idaho Education News. https://www.idahoednews.org/kevins-blog/as-launch-moves-into-year-two-ai-could-play-a-role-in-its-future/

Shoemaker, R. (2024, August 14). Boise School District AI policies enhance learning and encourage ethical use. KIVI.com https://www.kivitv.com/downtown-boise/boise-school-district-ai-policies-enhance-learning-and-encourage-ethical-use

Critchfield, D. (2024, June 30). Artificial Intelligence in Idaho classrooms: friend or foe? Idaho Education News. https://www.idahoednews.org/voices/artificial-intelligence-in-idaho-classrooms-friend-or-foe/ 

Idaho Today (2024, February). University Of Idaho Uses AI And Other Digital Tools To Improve Forest Health With ‘Smart Forestry’ KTVB.com. https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-today/university-of-idaho-uses-ai-and-other-digital-tools-to-improve-forest-health-with-smart-forestry/277-15cf2bd9-8907-42a0-9e51-7a40a93bc3f5

McGuire, K. (2024, August 19). Balancing expansion and the evolution of higher education. Idaho Education News. https://www.idahoednews.org/top-news/balancing-expansion-cwis-role-in-the-evolution-of-higher-education/

Wilt, A. (2024, August 28). ‘Super Helpful Tool’: BSU develops policies and promotes trainings for AI use in the classroom. KTVB.com https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/super-helpful-tool-bsu-develops-policies-promotes-trainings-for-ai-use-in-the-classroom/277-02bfa63c-6467-45ea-908c-ff122fb45bd3

Yellig, J. (2024, August 28). AI-Powered Weeder Developed at University of Idaho. AI Business. https://aibusiness.com/automation/ai-powered-weeder-developed-at-university-of-idaho#close-modal