College of Southern Idaho cites 20% enrollment jump, requests $475,700 enrollment adjustment and infrastructure support

College of Southern Idaho President Dr. L. Dean Fisher told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee that the college experienced a 20% enrollment increase in fall 2024 and has added about 3,800 students since fall 2021, and is seeking a $475,700 enrollment workload adjustment for FY2026 to help meet demand.

The request — described by Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, as the college’s FY2026 enrollment workload adjustment — is included in CSI’s enhancement packet and would fund new instructors to reduce class sizes and shorten wait lists. “The students are already there,” Fisher said when committee members asked whether the college was recruiting new students or trying to serve existing demand.

Why it matters: CSI officials said growth tied to Idaho Launch and other recruitment efforts has outpaced the college’s instructional capacity. That has produced waiting lists for clinical and technical programs and placed pressure on general-education courses needed by many new students.

Key details and context

- Enrollment growth and scale:…