University of Idaho highlights financial recovery, OPEB liability and pending Phoenix talks to JFAC

University of Idaho President C. Scott Green told the Joint Finance‑Approiations Committee on Jan. 27 that the university has steadily improved its financial position since taking aggressive reductions several years ago but still faces accounting and reserve challenges tied to other post‑employment benefits (OPEB) and restricted funds.

Green and Legislative Services Office analyst Kevin Campbell presented an overview of the University of Idaho’s FY2026 requests and answered questions about enrollment, research grants, the WWAMI medical education partnership and a potential affiliation with the University of Phoenix.

Why it matters: The University of Idaho is the state’s land‑grant research university; its budget, research partnerships, and professional program arrangements affect statewide workforce capacity, research activity and long‑term fiscal sustainability.

Details and committee discussion

Campbell presented the university’s base budget and fund structure, noting the University of Idaho’s FY2025 base was about $196.3 million and reporting an enrollment of approximately 12,286 supported by roughly…