North Idaho College says enrollment rebound is colliding with EWA cut; seeks help for nursing, welding and cyber defense

North Idaho College President Dr. Nick Swayne told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Oct. 12 that NIC is experiencing a strong enrollment rebound — roughly 15% growth reported for fall 2024 and similar gains in the spring — while the State Board’s Enrollment Workload Adjustment (EWA) formula results in an ongoing FY2026 reduction of $446,800.

Kevin Campbell, the Legislative Services Office analyst who presented NIC’s budget overview, noted that community‑college appropriations are made as a single trustee appropriation rather than by object category. Campbell also said NIC’s five‑year average base‑budget growth has been about 4.2% and that FY2023 saw an outlier increase tied to campus‑specific CEC and enhancements.

Why it matters: NIC officials told the committee that recent enrollment gains are largely across categories (traditional, dual credit and CTE) but that the trailing‑average nature of the EWA penalizes institutions as enrollment turns upward after declines. NIC leaders asked for assistance to hold the college harmless and to support targeted capacity investments.

Enrollment and program pressure

President Swayne described enrollment gains across multiple segments: roughly 5% in traditional transfer, large gains in dual credit (reported about 40% growth in dual credit in testimony), and approximately 30% growth in CTE programs. Officials reported roughly 571 new students on campus in the spring session cited during testimony.

NIC asked the committee to consider targeted additions to faculty to relieve program wait lists and meet employer demand:

- Nursing: The college is seeking five additional nursing faculty to increase admissions from about 40 students per semester to 60 students per semester (a 50% increase). Officials told the committee clinical‑supervision ratios and external accreditation requirements drive those staffing needs.

- Welding: NIC requested a welding instructor to expand first‑year cohorts and reduce attrition caused by students being hired mid‑program.

- Cybersecurity: Swayne described increased cyber‑security costs after regional attacks and said NIC’s annual cyber budget rose from about $250,000 to above $500,000; the college requested assistance to sustain defenses that protect student and employee data.

EWA mechanics and accreditation context

NIC leaders emphasized EWA is a trailing, three‑year average that can produce budget reductions even as current enrollment rises. President Swayne said the college’s long decline (about 3–6% annual declines before recent recruitment efforts) is reversing, but the EWA reduction of $446,800 is a “big bite” against NIC just as it is trying to absorb ongoing costs tied to growth.

Swayne also updated the committee on NIC’s accreditation status: NIC was placed on show cause in February 2023 and, as of the committee hearing, had been moved off show‑cause but remained under probationary status with continued work required on staffing stability and other items.

What NIC asked the committee to do

Officials asked for targeted funding to hire faculty in high‑demand, accreditation‑sensitive programs (nursing, allied health and welding), help with cyber‑security costs and consideration of temporary relief or hold‑harmless treatment related to the EWA reduction while enrollment turns upward.

Ending

Committee members asked for follow‑up data (county reimbursement details for out‑of‑district students, satellite campus services and exact waiting‑list counts). No formal votes were taken during the hearing; NIC officials said they would provide requested follow‑up figures to staff for distribution.