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College of Eastern Idaho tells JFAC rapid workforce growth outstrips capacity; requests share of CTE funds
Summary
College of Eastern Idaho President Lori Barber told JFAC CEI has grown rapidly since 2017, now runs the state's largest workforce training division, and faces capacity limits including 465 CTE students the college could not place in fall 2024; CEI asked for ongoing general‑fund support from the proposed community/technical college CTE allocation.
College of Eastern Idaho President Lori Barber told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee that the college has expanded quickly since it became a community college district in 2017 and is now constrained by facilities, faculty and equipment needed to meet employer demand.
Budget analyst Kevin Campbell opened the CEI presentation, citing a FY 2024 appropriation to CEI of $7,003,700 and noting the college’s growth from about 700 students (when it was Eastern Idaho Technical College) to roughly 3,600 degree‑seeking students and more than 14,000 workforce‑training participants. Barber said CEI’s workforce training unit is the largest in the state and that nursing enrollment capacity has expanded from 35 students in 2017 to the ability to accommodate about 220.
Barber asked lawmakers to support the session’s designated CTE funding and said that for CEI “an…
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