College of Southern Idaho seeks funding to handle 20% enrollment surge, requests $475,700 EWA

College of Southern Idaho President Dr. L. Dean Fisher told members of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on the morning of the college’s presentation that CSI experienced a 20% enrollment increase in fall 2024 and has added roughly 3,800 students since fall 2021. Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, said CSI’s FY 2026 request includes an enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) of $475,700.

Why it matters: The committee was hearing whether state funding should help community colleges expand capacity to meet demand produced by the Idaho Launch program and other factors. CSI leaders said insufficient faculty and specialized learning spaces are the primary constraints to serving newly enrolled students and meeting workforce needs.

CSI’s funding picture and request: Campbell explained that Idaho’s community colleges receive appropriations as a single trustee and benefits line rather than by object category and pointed the committee in the legislative budget book to CSI’s request. He said CSI’s single-state appropriation was $18,600,000 in 2024 and that the college’s base budget grew at an average of 6.4% annually over a…