More than 1,200 students start fall semester at CEI

College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) students began fall semester Monday.

A snapshot of CEI’s first day of classes shows enrollment at more than 1,200 students.

That is approximately 60 percent more than the 2017 fall semester.

The female/male ratio is about 2 to 1. 63 percent female and 37 percent male.

CEI credit course offerings have increased to 277 sections, a 33 percent gain over the 2017 fall semester.

48 sections are full with 27 sections of those having waiting lists.

CEI expects the enrollment number to continue to rise as students are added from waiting lists and high school Dual and Concurrent Credit numbers are tallied in September.

With the start of fall semester 2018, CEI completes a “startup phase” as a new comprehensive community college. Bonneville County voters envisioned a mission beyond the technical training of EITC and voted to create CEI on May 16, 2017. The campus has gone through a major “rebranding” process. An enormous amount of time and effort has gone into transitioning EITC into CEI. Below is a list of endeavors:

As of July 1, CEI now owns its 60 acre campus, six buildings with no debt. CEI is working toward full upgrade of its Internet and networking infrastructure through connection with IRON (Idaho Regional Optical Network). The Board of Trustees recently approved our $16M operating budget for 2018-19 and also set the Bonneville County property tax rate at $15 per 100,000 of assessed value, keeping a campaign promise. CEI was authorized by the State Board of Education to deliver three degrees — AAS, AA and AS. CEI was recognized by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities as a community college with two new associate transfer degrees. CEI added a number of general education transfer classes, developed partnerships for Dual and Concurrent Credit with high schools, implemented pathway tracks into universities, and hired a significant number of full-time and adjunct faculty along with associated staff. CEI has received a number of generous grants which has provided for physical upgrades around campus to include a new nursing simulation suite, updated Diesel and Welding spaces in Building 1, added a new testing center and four upgraded science labs. CEI added a number of class sections to its summer semester as the College moves toward a solid three semester system. CEI has delivered several fully online classes (165 individual students this fall) with many more in the planning phase toward a full AA degree online. CEI is significantly increasing the automation in the student recruitment, enrollment, advising and support of students. Workforce Training and Community Education (WTCE) has greatly expanded its reach to our business community and has implemented a new business operations system with over 14,000 students this FY.

President Rick Aman stated, “Going forward we move into a ‘building phase’ where we will deliver quality teaching, learning, and service as we provide our university partners and regional businesses with excellent transfer students and well trained employees.”