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Lewis‑Clark State asks for targeted operational funds as enrollment rebounds
Summary
Lewis‑Clark State College presented its FY2026 budget request to the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27, citing enrollment gains, reliance on tuition, a multi‑decade weighted credit‑hour formula that reduces its formula funding and a continuing faculty/staff salary gap it says requires additional state support.
Lewis‑Clark State College President Cynthia Pemberton told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee on Jan. 27 that the college is asking for modest operational capacity enhancements and endowment adjustments as it seeks to sustain recent enrollment gains and close persistent salary gaps.
Pemberton, testifying after a presentation by Kevin Campbell of the Legislative Services Office, said Lewis‑Clark (enrollment 3,881) has seen a recent rebound in students and that the state’s Enrollment Workload Adjustment (EWA) formula will reduce the college’s FY2026 allocation by $102,500. She said the college has requested $287,000 in operational capacity enhancement (OCE) for FY2026 that would be applied to competitive employee compensation (CEC). Campbell explained the presentation and how tuition/fee reappropriation is shown in college budgets.
The request also includes a $255,000 endowment adjustment and continued authority for reappropriated tuition and fees, Campbell said. He described the Normal School Income Fund and other endowments that support the college and noted statutory constraints on how those endowment distributions are used.
Why it matters: Lewis‑Cla…
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