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The College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs houses numerous research and service institutes:

Andrus Center for Public Policy
The Andrus Center for Public Policy is dedicated to independent, non-partisan policy formation on critical issues confronting Idaho and the United States. It provides a civil, non-partisan forum for the exchange of divergent views on controversial issues, and the white papers that emerge from the conferences reflect consensus findings.

Center for Applied Archaeological Science
The Center for Applied Archaeological Science (CAAS) is a research and contract archaeology program established in 1986 and housed within the Department of Anthropology at Boise State University.

CAAS has conducted research throughout Idaho and other western states. Its offices conduct small and large-scale cultural resource surveys and excavations and has the ability to manage multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.

Since its founding CAAS has completed over 300 cultural resource projects that include the development of archaeological research designs, archaeological and historical surveys, testing programs, data recovery protocols, full-scale and multi-year excavations, Section 106 compliance coordination, archival research, National Register Nominations, NAGPRA consultations, the production of scholarly and technical papers and monographs and popular posters and brochures.

Center for Idaho History and Politics
The center (CIHP) promotes historical writing and thinking about Idaho’s changing West. It specializes in books that place modern issues in historical context. It also publish a research magazine, a scholarly journal, and investigative reports on urban affairs. CIHP sponsor tours, web exhibitions, conferences, professional development workshops, a K-12 heritage education program, GIS mapping of cultural landmarks, and an active urban studies research program in Boise City Hall.

Child Welfare Center
The Child Welfare Center is a partnership between the Boise State University School of Social Work and the Idaho Division of Family and Community Services. The Child Welfare Center Serves as a resource and research center to strengthen the provision of child welfare services within the state of Idaho. Utilizing innovative program evaluation, research, education, and training, the Center aims to empower child welfare professionals, child welfare agencies, and communities to help nurture and protect their children.

Conflict Management Services
Conflict Management Services (CMS) of Boise State University was established in 1990 to serve Idaho by providing training, research, and consultation toward the peaceful resolution of conflict. CMS provides fee-based training, high-conflict meeting facilitation, and consultations with Idaho businesses, organizations, and citizens. CMS provides on site training on such topics as conflict management skills for managers, dealing with customer/client conflict, managing difficult customers/clients, and similar issues.

Energy Policy Institute and the Center for Advanced Energy Studies
The Center for Advanced Energy Studies is a public/private partnership comprised of the three Idaho public universities, private industry, and the Idaho National Laboratory. CAES integrates resources, capabilities and expertise to create new research capabilities, expand researcher-to-researcher collaborations, and enhance energy-related educational opportunities. From a broad energy perspective that includes fossil, renewable, alternative energy, environmental stewardship, energy policy studies, and a focus on the national renaissance of commercial nuclear power, CAES delivers innovative, cost-effective, credible energy research leading to sustainable technology-based economic development.

Environmental Finance Center
Boise State University is the site of the Environmental Finance Center (EFC) for US EPA Region 10. Our mission is to provide help to those facing the “how to pay” challenges of environmental protection. EFC-10 is committed to helping the regulated community build and improve the technical, managerial, and financial capabilities needed to comply with federal and state environmental protection laws.

Frank Church Institute
The Frank Church Institute, established in 1982 at Boise State University, combines both an endowed professorship and an annual conference on the issues of the day. It brings together academic interests and practical politics by involving students, faculty, and the community with renowned leaders. A long roster of distinguished participants include: former President Gerald Ford; former Vice Presidents Al Gore and Walter Mondale; former Senators Mark Hatfield, Slade Gorton, Edmund Muskie, and Gaylord Nelson; former White House Counsels Ted Sorensen, Leon Panetta, and Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.; and former Ambassadors Joseph Sisco, Andrew Young, and Paul Warnke.

The Public Policy Center
The Public Policy Center conducts applied research, organizes educational events, and provides training to state and local government officials.

Center for Basque Studies