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Lawmakers press colleges and analysts on EWA formula, 3% cap and differing FY2025 outcomes
Summary
During budget hearings, members of JFAC questioned why enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) amounts varied across institutions; LSO and college leaders explained the formula is complex, a 3% cap from State Board guidance affects results and EWA is a State Board policy (not statute). The committee requested DFM and LSO calculations to be shared.
Members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee pressed college leaders and analysts about how the enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) was calculated and why different colleges appear to receive different EWA amounts.
Representative Petzke asked why College of Western Idaho’s EWA was $265,000 while the College of Southern Idaho (CSI) and College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) showed larger EWA additions ($475,000 and $413,000 respectively). Kevin Campbell of the Legislative Services Office responded: "To my knowledge, based upon the numbers that I have seen, all of the institutions have had the 3% cap applied in calculating the EWA." Administrator Wolf (DFM) told the committee DFM would assemble the spreadsheets and provide a cross-institution comparison to the committee.
Committee members and college leaders also noted procedural details that affect how EWA is applied. Gordon Jones (CWI) explained that the uncapped formula would have produced roughly $493,000 for CWI but State Board guidance imposes a 3% cap on what a given institution may increase through EWA in a single year; he said other items (healthcare and compensation enhancements) must be included before EWA fills the remaining gap. Another committee member observed: "As we've learned, this is looking back. So it's not looking currently or looking forward. It's always looking back."
A committee member added a clarification about governance: "EWA is State Board policy. It's not law," reminding lawmakers they can adjust implementation when crafting appropriations language.
Why it matters: EWA is a line-item mechanism that determines recurring funds for enrollment-driven growth; differing interpretations or caps can materially change base funding for fast-growing community colleges. The committee asked DFM and LSO to provide a reconciled spreadsheet showing how the 3-year rolling average and caps produced the EWA amounts shown for each institution.
