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North Idaho College growth clashes with EWA reduction; president says nursing, welding and cyber needs require targeted funding
Summary
North Idaho College officials told JFAC that enrollment jumped in 2024 despite an ongoing enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) reduction of $446,800 for FY2026. College leaders asked for targeted faculty hires (notably five nursing positions and a welding instructor) and cyber-security funding to meet demand and reduce waiting lists.
Dr. Nick Swayne, president of North Idaho College, told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that NIC’s enrollment climbed sharply in 2024 even as the EWA formula produced an ongoing FY2026 reduction of $446,800. He and analysts said the trailing-average EWA calculation penalizes colleges in recovery years and is creating a budget gap while enrollment and program demand increase.
Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, presented NIC’s budget overview and reported that NIC’s FY2026 formula results in an ongoing EWA reduction of $446,800. "In FY 2026, the EWA formula results in an ongoing reduction of $446,800," Campbell said during the presentation.
Why it matters: NIC officials said the college is experiencing across-the-board enrollment gains (traditional, dual credit and CTE) and faces program-level constraints in nursing, welding and public-safety training. The college also highlighted growing…
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