State Board’s systemwide unit requests small FY26 items, highlights transfer of research funds to universities

Legislative analysts presented an overview of the College and University Systemwide budget, describing it as a funding mechanism housed in the Office of the State Board of Education that transfers funds to institutions and supports systemwide programs.

Kevin Campbell, budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Service Office, said systemwide is not a physical campus but an administrative vehicle to route funding for research and shared functions. He said systemwide has a base budget of about $6.4 million, of which roughly $4 million is typically transferred to Idaho's colleges and universities for research activities.

Campbell told JFAC the systemwide unit is organizationally within the State Board of Education, has 2.5 FTP and no vacancies in the period presented, and that recent FY2024 enhancements added FTP to support online learning platforms and Apply Idaho (the statewide application portal). For FY2026, Campbell said systemwide requested $15,000 for minors-on-campus training materials — a systemwide request intended to address the expanded presence of under‑18 students on campuses due to expanded dual-credit and on-campus programs — and $3,600 to correct a CEC calculation from FY2025.

Joshua Woodworth, director for the State Board of Education, was present with staff to answer questions. He told the committee the training materials are intended to help campuses manage situations in which under‑18 students are present for dual‑credit classes, camps or other programs and to address related risk and insurance considerations.

No committee action or vote was recorded on the systemwide budget during the presentation.