NEWS

CEI new tech building update

Friday, January 23, 2026

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — If you have driven past College of Eastern Idaho lately, it would be hard to miss the construction of the brand new Battelle Energy Alliance Future Tech building that is nearing completion. 

"We are very excited that both Frontier Credit Union and Battelle Energy Alliance came together to name this building, and it's going to house some of our most high-tech programs here on campus," says…

How CEI is using AI and tech to fight the anticipated ‘Recession Baby’ enrollment cliff

Thursday, January 22, 2026

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — It’s been 18 years since the 2008 recession, and 2026 will be the first year "recession babies" reach college age. However, there will be fewer students nationwide due to a significant drop in birth rates.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, colleges and universities collectively experienced a 15% decline in enrollment between 2010 and 2021 due to various contributing factors.…

CEI Apprenticeship Enrollment Hits Record High, Meeting Growing Workforce Demand in Eastern Idaho

Friday, January 16, 2026

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) is proud to announce a record-breaking 625 students enrolled in its apprenticeship programs this year. An all-time high that reflects rapid regional growth and a surging demand for skilled trades.

The programs, which include Electrical, Plumbing, and HVAC, provide students with both classroom instruction and…

Cybersecurity interns demonstrate strength of Idaho programs

Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Though they’d never met before the summer of 2025, interns James Dawson and Andrew Bonilla were a dream team for the Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL) Cybercore Integration Center.

Dawson, from Idaho State University, specialized in industrial control systems and…

Gabby Petito and Dylan Round’s parents back in Idaho with a message about domestic violence

Monday, December 01, 2025

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — In a forum at the College of Eastern Idaho, it was all ears as the parents of Gabby Petito and Dylan Rounds shared messages about the signs and symptoms of domestic violence.

"You know, domestic violence, it has a pattern, and patterns are predictable and what's predictable is preventable," said Nichole Schmidt, the mother of Gabby Petito and president of the Gabby Petito Foundation. "What…

CEI Foundation Honors 2025 Award Recipients and Celebrates Over $400,000 in Student Support

Thursday, November 13, 2025

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — The College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) Foundation celebrated campus and community excellence at its annual Celebration of Giving event on Thursday, November 6, held at the Westbank Convention Center.
The evening recognized the achievements of faculty, staff, and community partners who have made outstanding contributions to CEI and its students. The 2025 award recipients are:…

College of Eastern Idaho Celebrates First-Ever POST Academy Graduation

Friday, November 07, 2025

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) celebrated a major milestone this week with the graduation of its first-ever Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Patrol Academy. The momentous occasion marked the culmination of an intensive 18-week program designed to prepare new officers for careers in law enforcement and the beginning of five new careers in agencies across eastern Idaho.…

CEI’s Dr. Jill Kirkham wins Innovative Educator Award

Thursday, October 23, 2025

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) is proud to announce that Dr. Jill Kirkham, Social Science and Humanities Instructor, has been awarded the Innovative Educator Award in the Social and Behavioral Ways of Knowing category at the 2025 Idaho General Education Summit. This is the second consecutive year a CEI faculty member…

CEI recognized as Greater Idaho Falls’ Top Trade/Technical School for fifth consecutive year

Friday, October 17, 2025

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) — The College of Eastern Idaho has once again been recognized for its unwavering commitment to excellence. For an incredible fifth year in a row, CEI has brought home the gold award for the best trade/technical school in Greater Idaho Falls.

This recognition celebrates CEI’s continued commitment to excellence, accessibility, and high-quality education and training, the college wrote on Facebook…

CEI Invited to Present to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee

Monday, October 06, 2025

President Lori Barber and Penny Lyon recently met with Representative Wendy Horman, Co-Chair of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC), over lunch to discuss CEI’s zero-based budgeting efforts and overall budget priorities. Representative Horman extended an invitation for them to present at the JFAC interim meeting in November — an exciting opportunity for CEI to share its progress and initiatives.