The Idaho State Board of Education (SBOE) voted to pass a waiver granting the University of Idaho three years to balance a $1 million deficit which had threatened the status of multiple athletic programs.
The motion set by Richard Westerberg, SBOE athletic chair and business affairs and human resources chair, said UI has an extra year to repay the $1 million deficit and balance the budget.
The university must present progress reports to SBOE every year and the deficit must be fixed by fiscal year 2021.
The motion passed with no dissenting votes.
“This board has no interest in harming students or slashing away programs that would harm the institution, but we do need to have a fair amount of time to look at the process and take into consideration all of the factors,” said Linda Clark, president of SBOE.
UI could also start recruitment for three new sports — women’s triathlon, men’s swimming and rifle — which will be limited-scholarship, low-cost sports.
UI Director of Communications Jodi Walker said adding these sports would be an internal affair within the athletics department and could help the situation.
This story has been corrected from an earlier version.
Kali Nelson can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @kalinelson6