College of Western Idaho tells JFAC enrollment climbed but capacity, staffing limit program growth

Gordon Jones, president of the College of Western Idaho, told the Joint Finance‑Appropriations Committee that CWI has seen rapid enrollment growth and is constrained by classroom space, instructor ratios and student‑support staff.

Kevin Campbell, a budget and policy analyst with the Legislative Services Office, opened the presentation by walking the committee through CWI’s base budget and request for FY2026. Campbell told the committee that the referendum creating the College of Western Idaho passed on 05/22/2007, that the first students enrolled in January 2009, and that the college reported “nearly 22,000” for‑credit students and “more than 30,000 students served” in the 2023–24 academic year in the legislative budget book.

Why it matters: Committee members asked whether the state’s enrollment workload adjustment (EWA) and a 3% State Board cap are keeping pace with CWI’s rapid growth and whether additional state funding is needed to expand career‑technical programs that feed Idaho employers.

Most important points

- Budget context: Campbell said the FY2024 appropriation to CWI…