North Idaho College

At our March 18, 2026 meeting, representatives from North Idaho College (NIC) joined us to share an encouraging update on the College’s progress and future direction. The presentation was led by NIC President Dr. Nick Swayne, along with Rayelle Anderson, Executive Director, and Melanie Droesch, Development Operations Manager.

The presentation provided an upbeat and forward-looking overview of NIC’s current position and its near- to mid-term plans.

The Trustee Board governance challenges of recent years have now been resolved, and NIC’s accreditation is once again in “good standing” as of February 9, 2026. President Swayne highlighted the work of the newly seated Board of Trustees, which has been recognized nationally for implementing best-in-class governance practices through updated policies and procedures. These improvements are expected to provide lasting benefits for the College and the broader community it serves.

The College has experienced strong student enrollment growth over the past couple of years. Dr. Swayne shared NIC is serving nearly 4,600 students in credit programs. Of that 4,600, over 1,700 students are high school dual credit students attending high school and taking NIC courses at the same time. NIC serves an additional 7,000 students through NIC’s Workforce Training Center which offers short-term, focused career and apprenticeship offerings.

Looking forward, NIC has many exciting plans for the future. President Swayne shared the following list and then stood for questions:

• Expanded partnerships with the University of Idaho and Lewis Clark State College
• Expanded workforce development partnerships
• Cardinal Classical pathway launching Fall 2026
• NIC X-Labs
• Continuous improvement in assessment metrics
• Enhanced student support and streamlined pathways
• Preparing campus facilities for the future
• Commitment to governance excellence and transparency
• Accreditors lack the tools to manage rogue boards – ELECTIONS MATTER

Photograph: (left to right) Melanie Droesch (NIC), Jim DeShazer, Rayelle Anderson (NIC), Dr. Nick Swayne (NIC), Kim Cummings (President Elect), Dick Jurvelin