New college no threat to NIC funding

North Idaho College officials are excited about the opportunities a new community college in eastern Idaho would provide the state’s students.

Friday, the State Board of Education unanimously approved the recommendation of a new community college district in eastern Idaho’s Bonneville County. In May, the county will vote on whether or not to go through with the new taxing district.

“We think this is a good thing,” said Chris Martin, vice president for finance and business affairs at North Idaho College. “Any time we can provide access to quality and affordable education, it’s always something the college is in support of.”

Gov. Butch Otter and the Idaho Legislature have appropriated $5 million for start-up costs for the new community college if voters approve the district in fiscal year 2017.

The potential College of Eastern Idaho is unique in that the building and campus is already available. The plan would be to transform the Eastern Idaho Technical College in Idaho Falls into a community college.

Voters in Bonneville County will decide in May whether or not to be a community college district. If approved with a two-thirds vote, the college could open in September.

“The taxing district is a good size and we don’t have to build any buildings,” said Steve Taggart, a spokesperson for the Citizens for Affordable Higher Education, based in Idaho Falls. “The average cost would be $13 per household each year.”

Conversations in Boise have been supportive of the new community college as long as it doesn’t hurt funding of existing community colleges, said Graydon Stanley, NIC vice president for student services.

“When we were down in Boise, all we heard was that this would be without harm to existing community colleges,” he said. “We know community colleges serve local and regional groups, and having eastern Idaho served by a community college is great.”

The funds Eastern Idaho Technical College already receives from the state, about $7.5 million for FY 2017, would instead be given to the community college.

However, the other three community colleges receive more funding than $7.5 million. In FY 2017, the College of Southern Idaho was allocated $13.46 million, College of Western Idaho was allocated $11.66 million and North Idaho College was allocated $11.78 million.

Blake Youde, chief communications and legislative affairs officer for the State Board of Education, said the potential community college won’t start out as established as the other community colleges in the state. He said as the College of Eastern Idaho’s enrollment increases and as it starts to offer more courses, the state would appropriate more money to fund it — not take money away from the other community colleges.

Youde added that as a community college, the College of Eastern Idaho would also be open to receive funding from local tax revenue and potentially private and federal funding.

“The state funds that go to Eastern Idaho Technical College now would shift to the new community college,” he said. “I don’t see it having a negative impact on other community colleges in any way.”